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.