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Preparing for a Deliberate Defense

by SFC Sean E. Harris

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A deliberate defense may very well be the most difficult mission a combat arms company can be assigned--especially light infantry companies. Because of the lack of organic firepower in a light infantry company, the accurate and timely employment of indirect fires in support of the company will often make the difference between success and failure. The fire support officer (FSO) is the fire support coordinator (FSCOORD) for the company in a defense, a very difficult job. He is responsible for planning, coordinating, rehearsing, and executing a fire plan that supports both the battalion and company's scheme of maneuver. When the company receives a warning order directing it to prepare for a deliberate defense, the FSO must immediately begin to plan and coordinate fires in support of the company.

The numerous things that must be done to properly prepare a defense make time management critical to success. For the FSO, the only thing more important than time management is ensuring he understands his role in the battalion fire support plan and exactly what the company commander expects indirect fires to accomplish during each phase of the operation. The vast amount of tasks that must be accomplished in a limited amount of time requires a checklist (see Figure 1).

FIST REHEARSAL CHECKLIST Whenever possible, include the entire FIST and do it face to face. The company mortar section NCOIC must attend and the mortar squad leaders should attend. Conduct it prior to the company combined arms rehearsal. The FSO should represent FIST HQ and the CO CP. Each platoon FO represents his platoon. The FSNCO serves as the narrator. Designate someone to record issues that arise during the rehearsal. Rehearse by phase. Establish an order and use it over and over. Have each fire supporter brief what his maneuver unit's and his actions are during each phase or portion of the mission. Use a map or terrain model or schematic with graphics to keep everyone focused. The FSO answers issues that arise or directs the recorder to make a note of the issue. Include callsigns, frequencies, and nets in the discussion. For example, "At that point, I would call Blue7 on frequency 45.000, the BN mortar net to cancel target number 4200." The narrator should ask pointed questions such as: "What are your actions upon making contact with a five-man element w/an MG?" The narrator must ensure every member of the team knows what his actions are if he identifies any of the HPTs. For example, the FO responds with "adjust and then fire for effect with 105-mm ICM on the FD net with H36." Responses like this ensure the right actions are understood. Confirm primary and backup observer for planned targets. Rehearse triggers and/or events that initiate fires. Ensure that clearance of fires are clearly spelled out. After the FOs brief, the narrator (FSNCO) asks questions to ensure everyone understands their tasks and responsibilities. Prior to the fire support rehearsal, the FSO and FSNCO must rehearse the rehearsal.

Figure 1

This article provides the company FSO with a base document to develop a company fire support standing operating procedure (SOP) for conducting a deliberate defense. The SOP must be designed to serve as a checklist in the field. Both the 6 and 7 series of field manuals (FMs) provide valuable information concerning defensive operations, but company FSOs and forward observers (FOs) need more specific guidance. Also included is a separate checklist for those FSOs who have organic mortars (see Figure 2).

FSO AND COMPANY MORTARS CHECKLIST Ensure the mortars have accurate eight-digit grids to the FOs, COLTs, and the company command post. Ensure the mortars use their PLGR in the averaging mode to self locate. Ensure the 60-mm mortar's azimuth of fire supports the counter-reconnaissance fight. Register the company mortars as soon as possible. Plan and assign a priority target (or an FPF) to mortars. Ensure the company mortars have a fire support execution matrix. When digging assets arrive at the company CP, ensure the mortars are dug in. Adjust in the FPF. Ensure the company mortars have a refined and updated target list. Ensure the stockpiled mortar Class V has overhead protection. Ensure the mortars have the current FSCMs plotted on their map and inputted into the MBC. Ensure the mortars have an alternate firing position.

Figure 2

Defensive Operations Checklist

• Immediately develop a fire support plan to support the company's reconnaissance and security operations. Fire support must be prepared to assist in winning the counter-reconnaissance fight.

• Because time management is critical during deliberate operations, establish a timeline, that includes tasks from higher headquarters (HQ), final protective fires adjusted in, mortar registration complete, fire support rehearsal, refinement deadline, in position and ready to defend time, etc. Critical tasks should be included on the company's timeline. If a critical task is not accomplished on time, the commander should be notified and a new deadline established. When a brigade or a battalion establish a timeline, the FSO must incorporate this into his timeline. The FSO must use the reverse planning sequence based on the no later than (NLT) defend time and prioritize what tasks must be accomplished. Note: If the fire support annex in the battalion's operations order does not contain specific guidance concerning deadlines or a timeline, the FSO must ask for NLT times for critical tasks--registrations complete, bottom-up refinement complete, planned targets fired, and refined, etc.

• Taking into consideration the targets the company is responsible for, consider positioning the FOs forward if their platoon sectors do not support good observation. The decision to separate a platoon FO from his platoon should be approved by the commander and will require detailed planning and coordination. Difficult questions like how the necessary class IV materials will be moved to the forward OP and how will the FOs be sustained must be addressed.

• FOs must know what their defensive priorities of work are for each phase of the defense. Priorities of work should be prescribed in the SOP and be detailed for specific duty positions. At the company level, the infantry commander will establish general priorities of work for the platoons; the FSO must ensure his commander knows what fire support tasks must be accomplished and what the deadline is for these critical tasks.

• Plan for a Field Artillery (FA) and mortar final protective fire (FPF) and set up for a precision lightweight global positioning system receiver (PLGR) eight-digit grid and attitude for each tentative location. When one is allocated to the company, have the commander approve that location.

• Ensure the fire support team (FIST) HQ has both voice and digital communications with the fire support assets supporting the task force.

• Plot the targets planned by higher headquarters and then identify those that plot in the company's sector. It is not enough to plot the targets; the task and purpose for each target brigade and battalion has planned in the company sector must be understood. Two questions need to be answered as a minimum: Why was a target planned? What does the higher headquarters expect to happen at this target? For example, "Two BMPs neutralized at target AF0025" or "One squad of dismounts destroyed at AF3005." The FSO must understand where the brigade and battalion intend to kill the enemy and what role his company plays in the plan. The company FSO must ensure that every target the company is responsible for has a primary and backup observer and an adequate trigger (see Figure 3). Whenever possible, the FSO should utilize his FOs for these targets; however, this may not always be possible. Regardless of the observer, the FSO must ensure the observer can see his trigger and that it is far enough away from the target to allow for fire mission processing times. (See the Triggers in the Defense chart (see Figure 3) for example distances based on normal mission times and rates of movement.)
  
  Figure 3

• Accompany the commander whenever he walks the platoon sectors. During this reconnaissance, the FSO should:
  • Be prepared to call for fire.

  • Pinpoint and refine the targets planned in sector.

  • Identify potential planned targets based on guidance from the commander.

  • Inspect the platoon observation posts (OPs).

  • Check for correct triggers.

  • Look for positions that support the employment of ground or vehicular laser locator devices (G/VLLDs).

  • Pinpoint any fire support coordinating measures (FSCMs) planned in the company sector.

• Determine if the commander has additional tasks for indirect fires in support of the company scheme of maneuver. Once these tasks are identified, determine if the company has been allocated sufficient resources to accomplish the essential fire support tasks (EFSTs).

• Determine if there are any restrictions to employing fire support in your sector. Ensure that the commander, platoon leaders, and FOs understand the restrictions. Determine if the commander has specific guidance concerning the employment of smoke, illumination, or other special munitions.

• With the commander, develop and write the fire support annex to the operations order. Include:
  • Scheme of fires.

  • Fire support execution matrix.

  • Target list worksheet.

• Prior to briefing fires, identify and rehearse exactly what will be briefed. (Reference FM 6-71, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Fire Support for the Combined Arms Commander, p. 3-8,9 for an orders brief checklist.)

• Once the final company command post location is selected, begin preparing a fighting position. In the field, reference GTA 7-6-1 to ensure the position is constructed to standard.

• Refine all planned targets in the company's sector, based on ground truth and the commander's guidance, by the cutoff time established by battalion. Whenever possible, use a CRYPTO-filled PLGR and record 8-digit grids and altitudes to all targets.

• FM 6-20, Fire Support in the AIRLAND Battle, states that a battalion fire support plan will have from 10 to 20 targets; therefore, the company will be limited in the number of targets it can plan. The company FSO and commander must decide what targets in the company sector will be sent to battalion. The remainder will be placed on the company target list. This list will serve as a ready reference for all calls for fire to those assets who may not have all the company-planned targets.

• Once observation points have been selected, send 8-digit grids of the company command post, company mortars, and FOs to the battalion FSE.

• Confirm coordination with adjacent units has been conducted.

• Verify that all likely avenues of approach, areas of dead space, key terrain, etc., are targeted.

• Ensure all obstacles have been targeted and have eyes on them. Targeted can be as simple as an accurate 8-digit grid. Eyes on can be any member of the company who knows what his trigger is and what actions he must take at the trigger.

• Create a sector sketch to plot targets, obstacles, squad locations, observation posts (OPs), etc. This will help determine how well the fire support plan supports the company sector.

• If the company has organic mortars, make sure they create a company target list that supports the needs of the company.

• Inspect every OP. A checklist is provided to help conduct this inspection (see Figure 4). The FSO (or FSNCO) should:

  OBSERVER INSPECTION CHECKLIST Confirm the 8-digit grid to the OP. Ensure the observer understands the task and purpose for his targets. Confirm that backup observers have been identified for the observer's targets. Verify that a realistic trigger has been identified for the observer's targets. Confirm that the observer knows what obstacles are in his platoon sector. Ensure the observer has targets, graphics, FSCMs, plotted on his map. Inspect the observer's terrain sketch and visibility diagram for his OP. Ensure the observer knows current call signs, high-payoff targets, clearance of fires procedures. Verify that the observer knows with whom he can expect to have FM communications during the battle and who he will have to relay through. Inspect the OP fighting position to ensure it is constructed to standard. Ensure weapon and equipment maintenance has been (is being) conducted. Ensure the observer and his radio telephone, operator (RTO) have their mission-oriented protective posture (MOPP) gear. Ensure the FOs have a plan that supports operation during limited visibility. Triggers must be visible during the day and night. Ensure the observer knows what friendly units are to his flanks, front, and rear.

  Figure 4

• Conduct a fire support rehearsal: See Figure 1 for helpful hints for conducting company fire support rehearsals. (Reference: FM 6-71, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Fire Support for the Combined Arms Commander, p. 3-10,11, for a FS rehearsal checklist. Also reference: CALL Newsletter No. 98-5, Rehearsals, March 98.)

• Ensure the company rehearsal is a combined arms rehearsal. The company FSO must take the lead on this; he must ensure his forward observers are prepared to rehearse targets and triggers. If conducted correctly, the fire support rehearsal will properly prepare the FOs for the combined arms rehearsal. (Reference FM 6-71, p. 3-10, for a combined arms rehearsal checklist.)

• Ensure the fire support team (FIST) HQ is prepared to support the company command post with indirect fires. Often this is overlooked; the FSNCO should take the lead in ensuring indirect fires have been planned to defend the company command post.

• Ensure every member of the FIST HQ's MOPP gear and equipment are complete and readily available.

• Ensure all FPFs are adjusted in with the appropriate firing element.

• Adjust in critical targets based on ammunition constraints, the counterfire threat, and guidance from higher HQ. The brigade or battalion FSE will decide if the brigade's field artillery or battalion mortars will be adjusted on to any of the brigade or battalion targets (obstacles). Based on this guidance, the FSO must be prepared to position observers and coordinate to safely adjust in these targets. Whenever possible, the fires should be adjusted in prior to the construction of the obstacle associated with the target. In most cases, the fires should be adjusted short of the obstacle where the enemy is anticipated to bunch up while they are attempting to breach or bypass the obstacle. Because of the close proximity to friendly forces that company mortars will be employed, whenever possible, the company mortars should be adjusted on to the targets the commanders believe will most likely be fired first.

• Ensure that every FIST HQ member and all FOs know what the planned targets are on the task force consolidated target list.

• Ensure the current graphics and all fire support coordination measures in effect are plotted. The FIST HQ should ensure the commander's map is up to date; FOs should ensure their platoon leader's map is up to date.

• Ensure the commander has the company's planned targets plotted on his map and understands what targets battalion has and what targets have been planned for the company mortars (when applicable). FOs must do the same for their platoon leaders.

• Ensure all assets supporting the brigade have accurate 8-digit grids to the FIST HQ and FO Ops. The polar plot method of target location is the best choice for timely and accurate location of targets of opportunity in the defense.

• When fighting positions are confirmed, ensure the FIST HQ and all FOs conduct communication checks with the BN FSE and all indirect assets supporting the task force. This allows RTOs to know who they should be able to communicate with during the battle. It may also affect triggers based on the necessity to relay through other stations. When using dismounted radios, replace the batteries prior to the expected enemy attack time.

• Conduct weapon and equipment maintenance.

• Know when close air support will be on-station, how the task force intends to employ it, and how to request air support.

• When Army Aviation is available, FOs must know how to request helicopter close air support (H-CAS) when necessary. Contingency plans must be briefed and rehearsed.

• If FOs, combat observation lasing teams (COLTs), scouts, enlisted terminal air controllers (ETACs), or firepower control teams (FCTs) are deployed forward of the company, consider and recommend that no fire areas (NFAs) be placed around them based on the tactical situation.

• If the commander places a platoon in reserve or gives up one for tactical operations center (TOC) security, consider placing that FO in a forward OP to trigger a target and report battlefield information.

• Plan for a counterattack and be prepared to reorganize and reconsolidate.

Note: Light FISTs must have a plan to get items of equipment to them during defensive operations that may not normally be carried in their rucksacks when they initially deploy with their infantry companies, items such as the mini-eye-safe infrared observation set (MELIOS) or digital devices. In most cases, the battalion FSE can transport and store these items until they are needed.

CONCLUSION

Success in the defense is only partially based upon the FO's ability to execute. He must be set up for success. The responsibility to set the FO up for success begins with the FSCOORD and includes the FA BN FDO and the FO's battalion and company FSO. A company fire support SOP for defensive operations, created by the fire support officers and NCOs in a FIST platoon, will greatly assist the company FSOs in ensuring his FOs are fully prepared to execute. In most cases, time will always be at a premium; therefore, the checklists and standards found in good SOPs will help company FSOs prioritize and manage the multitude of things that must be accomplished prior to the "be-prepared-to-defend-no-later-than" time. Important items, such as precombat inspections, rehearsals, registrations, bottom-up refinement, FPFs adjusted in, triggers established, must happen in a timely manner so the defender can have the advantage. Combined with field manuals, existing SOPs, and operational experience, this article will serve as an additional resource when developing standing operating procedures.

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