Fire Support Team Certification

Photo By Pfc. Susan Blair | Pfc. Heath Needham, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, lays down tracer rounds on the target during the Fire Support Team certification at Observation Ppoint 5 June 15. Needham lays down the traacer rounds so the AH-64 Apache will know where to engage the target. (U.S. Army photo by PFC Susan Blair, 2ND BCT, 82D ABN DIV PAO)  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

06.23.2006

Courtesy Story

82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs Office

FORT BRAGG, N.C. " Calling for an AH- 64 Apache Helicopter to lay down hundreds of 35 mm rounds on a target that's only 200 - 300 meters away from where you're standing takes nerves of steel.

To polish these skills, the Forward Observers who place themselves so close to friendly and enemy rounds make sure they are fully trained and confident in their ability to call for fire support.

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team coordinated with 1st Battalion 130th Aviation Regiment, North Carolina Army National Guard to conduct a Fire Support Team certification at Observation Point 5 June 13-15.

"The purpose of the training is to familiarize and make the paratroopers better when they call for fire with the attack aviation," said Sgt 1st Class Chad Rich, 2nd BCT fire support Non-commissioned Officer.

To become certified to call for fire support from Apache gunships, the paratroopers have to take a written test, pass land navigation, and conduct ten fire missions.

Part of the training involves conducting different close air aviation attack scenarios that vary in levels of difficulty.

Before aviation assets can fire a shot they have to know where their target is located. From the ground, the forward observers find the target location and relay the information to the Apache pilots, said Chief Warrant Officer Stephen Madrid, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd BCT.

Being aware of the surrounding is also something that both the Apache pilots and the Forward Observers have to take into account before any round can be fired. The pilots have to know where the "friendlies" in the area are, said Madrid. Once the observers know where the friendlies are the Observers will then give the Apache the distance and target from the friendly position, Madrid said.

The forward observers will then lay down tracer rounds to let the Apache know where to fire.

During last weeks iteration, the forward observers called in for fire support. The Apache came flying directly over the paratroopers" heads and started firing at the target that was only a few hundred meters a way.

"You this is me, adjust fire over," said the Radio and telephone Operator completing his FIST certification. On the first attempt the apache over shot the target. The RTO gave him the correction and put the Apache back on the correct location.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, on the second attempt the Apache was dead on with the target.

The different types of scenarios are good for seasoning the forward support. It opens their eyes and wakes them up, said Rich. It's helpful so that when the paratroopers go down range they're used to calling in for support from the aviation.

"This is the exact same scenarios as to how it will be for them down range," said Rich.

• Date Taken: 06.23.2006
• Date Posted: 06.23.2006 13:26
• Story ID: 6946
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US