WAX back Gold-Brown Camo Forward Observer Tab FO Artillery Spotter US Army USMC
1" X 3 1/2" Gold-Brown (Note - Gold-Brown material varies, so no two tabs are the same) MERROWED EDGE - WAX BACKING
FORWARD OBSERVER
| Forward observers in the U.S.
military
Forward observers in the U.S. military are artillery
observers who carry the Military Occupational Specialty designator of 13F in
the United States Army and 0861 in the United States Marine Corps. They are
officially called Fire Support Specialists in the U.S. Army and Fire Support
Men in the U.S. Marine Corps. They are colloquially known as FiSTers,
regardless of whether they are members of a FiST (Fire Support Team), FSE
(Fire Support Element) or COLTs (Combat Observation and Lasing Teams). The
Battalion Fire Support Officer (FSO) is the Officer in Charge of a Battalion
Fire Support Element.
Duties There are two main duties associated
with Fire Support Teams according to general military doctrine and the U.S.
Army Technique Publication (ATP) 3-09.30. Primary responsibilities of FiSTs
are to "bring all means of indirect fire in support of the Maneuver
Commander." This includes all Indirect Fire(IDF) Assets (Artillery, Mortars,
Naval Gunfire and close-air-support). Secondary duties consist of
communicating battlefield intelligence such as enemy locations, strength,
and activities to Command. COLT(all FiST) and LRS(mixed FiST-Cav
Scout-Pathfinders) are brigade-level reconnaissance assets.
They are
also assigned to Special Forces and Special Operations Units as terminal
controllers and Fire Support Non Commissioned Officers.
Requirements
Soldiers in this MOS must meet a number of requirements not demanded of
other military careers. The observer must be acutely aware of the position
and movements of friendly troops as well as those of opposing forces.
Because of the strategic importance of this information, observers in the
Army must qualify for a security clearance; the depends on the specific
position. Observers must be able to work independently for long periods of
time and, because the clandestine nature of their work and their frequent
placement on or behind enemy lines, the ability to operate with minimal
support is of great importance as some missions can often last for days or
weeks.
Physical demands on forward observers are often extremely high
since they fight alongside or in support of airborne infantry, light
infantry, mechanized infantry, a joint task force or a sister service while
carrying a much greater equipment load (radios, secure communication
equipment, laser rangefinder and target designator, etc.) than the maneuver
element they are attached to.
Most, and eventually, all US Army
Armored and Infantry battalions have converted to the Modular Force
organization (Combat Teams). FiST's are assigned to the maneuver battalions,
and attached to the maneuver troops/companies of the combined-arms, heavy,
light or Stryker battalion they are serving with.
Training
Infantry training provides the individual soldier with a direct action skill
level that provides them with an optimal survival rate. The FiSTer is
qualified to attend many military schools because of their Combat Arms
designation such as, Airborne, Air Assault, Ranger, and Special Forces
training. FiSTers are also given difficult cardiovascular, stamina and
strength training in addition to their FiST training. As FiSTer are attached
to direct action units, this training is meant to ensure they have the
capability to perform their more cerebral duties, while under the same
stress the maneuver unit is exposed.
Deployment Fire Support
Specialists may be attached to a mechanized infantry or an armored division.
When mechanized infantry or armored, fire support teams consist of a driver,
a commander, a Fire Support Non-Commissioned Officer, and a Fire Support
Specialist of rank of E4 Specialist). This team works within an M7 Bradley
Fighting Vehicle, called a B-FIST or Bradley FIST, which is designed for the
task of Coordinating indirect fire. FO teams are often attached to
Mechanized infantry dismounted teams. In this scenario they break off with
small infantry teams and travel on foot as light infantry and search for the
enemy. They can also break off in two man teams and establish an observation
post.
COL-Team The Combat Observation and Lasing Team (COLT) is a
high-technology, deeply inserted, spotting/reconnaissance team often called
on to maximize the use of GPS guided munitions like the EXCALIBUR series
weaponry/155mm shell. The standard COLT consists of a driver/Grenadier
(PFC/E-3), a gunner/RTO/Observer (Specialist/E-4) and a Team Chief
(SPC-CPL-SGT), the vehicle commander who oversees the operation on the OP,
and approves fire missions. While others, such as sniper teams, may work in
conjunction with the COLT, FiST personnel remain its core element.
COLT's are now equipped with the FS3 (Fire Support Sensor System) which has
consolidated all of the M707 Knight Series MEP target acquisitioning
equipment, previously mounted on KNIGHT HMMWVs (a M1025 variant), and is now
mounted atop the M1200 Armored Knight series Fire Support Team Vehicle
(FiST-V), itself a redesign of the M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle
used by the U.S. Army's Military Police Corps. These teams typically work
closely with attack aircraft to guide air-delivered laser-guided munitions,
while still providing ground support for maneuver battalions and acting as a
reactive strike force supporting special operations units. Reconnaissance
and targeting tasks are geared toward locating and destroying the enemy's
command-and-control centers(Division level and higher), and major supply
(POL, ordnance) dumps.
The majority of COLT's in Iraq were attached
to the organic field artillery battalion's Headquarters and Headquarters
Battery, to serve as the nucleus of patrol columns consisting of support
troops or cannon crewmen (13B) not normally trained or expected to perform
mounted or dismounted operations.
With the need for coordinated
indirect-fire support control at higher levels, Fire Support Specialists are
also assigned to the “Fire Support Element,” at the battalion level, and as
the "Fires" section of the Operations Staff from brigade/regiment level
through to the corps level.
Since 2003 the U.S. Army has also used
the RQ-7B Shadow Unmanned Aircraft, flown by soldiers in the 15W MOS, in
Iraq and Afghanistan for artillery correction, close air support and
reconnaissance.
Joint Fires Observer The joint fires observer
(JFO) has an additional skill identifier (ASI) of L7. The JFO (13F L7) are
trained to call in indirect surface fires, Naval surface fire support,
attack aviation close combat attack, and AC-130 calls for fire. They also
are trained to provide a (JTAC or FAC) with targeting information for close
air support (CAS) Type 2 and Type 3 controls where the controller cannot see
the target. The concept of operation is that multiple JFOs will observe a
large battle area and liaise with one Joint Terminal Attack Controller
(JTAC) from the Air Force/Marine Corps/Navy, multiplying the effective area
of operations for that JTAC.
13D's were also given this identifier at
Fort Wainwright Alaska. The JFO team did a mobile training session for the
posts 13F's & 13D's.
Field Artillery Forward Observer 1189 Field
Artillery Forward Observer 1189 was a World War II Army Officer position.
"Directs the fire of an artillery unit from a forward position. Observes
shell bursts and adjusts fire by forward observation or computation methods;
consults with commanders of supported unit in determination of appropriate
artillery targets, normal barrage, and zones of defense; trains personnel in
procedures of artillery operation; organizes observation posts; sets up and
maintains communication systems."
Must know artillery methods in
direction of fire, use of fire direction instruments, such as aiming circle,
BC telescope, and range finder. Must be familiar with military maps and
their interpretation. Should have experience with a firing battery and know
potentialities and limitations of particular type of artillery involved.
Knowledge of mathematics through trigonometry desirable. Military experience
including graduation from artillery officers' school essential. The
present-day title is a Fire Support Officer (FSO).
After a long
day and an exhausting patrol in vicinity of west Baghdad, when the platoon
got the call over FM radio that no one wants to hear after spending more
than 12 hours patrolling Iraqi neighborhoods in the hot sun.
“Turn
around and go back out to help the Iraqi Army,” said Spc. William Babineau,
a native of Charlotte, N.C., and forward observer with 3rd detachment,
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry
Regiment, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team.
While flicking the ashes
from a burning cigarette, Babineau recalled the scene on the ground.
“When we arrived, the IA soldiers were taking heavy contact from two floors
of a three story building, and at that time, we decided to call in close air
support. I told the Iraqi army major to get his guys back because we are
going to drop a bomb on the building.”
Babineau said after they
received clearance from higher headquarters to execute the CAS request, they
were able to drop a 500-pound precision guided bomb on the building, which
neutralize the enemy threat and allowed the IA forces to break contact and
regroup at a local base with no injuries.
“A forward observer and his
radio are capable of destroying anything on the battlefield,” Babineau said
with a grin.
He shares this story and others like it with fellow
forward observers to help bring perspective to the forward observer’s role
on the battlefield.
“It helps them relate what they are doing in
training to what can actually happen,” according to Babineau.
Training, as with all military occupational specialties, is necessary to
maintain tactical and technical proficiency.
To assess their combat
effectiveness, the guardsmen conduct their annual field training exercise at
multiple locations and ranges at Fort Bragg, N.C.
“This is the
premiere collective training event for the unit this year,” said Lt. Col.
Tobin R. Clifton, a Charlotte native and battalion commander, 1st Battalion,
113th Field Artillery Regiment, 30th ABCT, N.C. Army National Guard. “This
is our chance to conduct full-blown battalion operations as we prepare to
provide direct fire support for the 30th ABCT.”
Like their active
duty counterparts, National Guard soldiers must maintain individual, section
and unit level certifications.
“We will come out of this exercise
with certified paladin sections, fire supporters and fire direction crews,”
said Clifton. “It’s also our best chance to incorporate forward observers
and their teams in the collective training.”
With many skills that
are often times considered perishable, the forward observers get training
whenever and wherever they can.
“You have to brush up during your off
time at home, or else you will lose your skills,” said Staff Sgt. Donavan
Bell, a team leader from 3rd Detachment, HHC, 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry
Regiment, 30th ABCT, N.C. National Guard. “It is important to know all of
the ways to do this job.”
A forward observer must use a variety of
techniques to employ timely and accurate effects on targets by close air
support, naval gunfire, cannon or mortar fire in order to provide fire
support to units and commanders on the battlefield.
“I am the king of
battle,” said Babineau. “It is my job to rain death on the enemies of my
country with every asset the United States has to offer.”
Throughout
military history, the field artillery has become known as the “king of
battle”, and nothing displays the king’s power more than the forward
observer.
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