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 Joint 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). The Battalion Fire Support Officer (FSO) is the Officer in Charge of a Battalion Fire Support Element.
Forward Observers in the U.S. Army hold the Military Occupational Specialty of 13F for enlisted and 13A for officers designating them as members of the Field Artillery corps. After completion of Basic Combat Training enlisted soldiers attend a thirteen-week course on the fundamentals of Call-For-Fire techniques as well as general field craft and small unit tactics at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. From there those being assigned to Airborne units, most notably the 82nd Airborne Division, 173rd Airborne Brigade, and 75th Ranger Regiment will attend the United States Army Airborne School after the completion of training at Ft. Sill. Additionally Ranger School is open to both enlisted and officers serving as Forward Observers. Members of Forward Observer teams are required to attain and maintain a Secret security clearance due to the requirement for Forward Observers to be aware of not only the mission of their own unit but of other U.S. and allied units in the same operating area. Officers are referred to as Fire Support Officers (FSO) while enlisted troops hold the title of Forward Observers.
Once training is complete members are assigned to a Forward Observer Platoon generally part of a Headquarters and Headquarters Company inside a larger Infantry, Cavalry, Armor, or Artillery Battalion. Observer teams are expected to be able to move, communicate, interact and carry out missions as members of these units with a high level of proficiency in addition to their responsibilities as Forward Observers. 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. Currently three methods of directing artillery fire are taught in the U.S. Army. The first and most common is called a Grid Mission where artillery fire to directed based on the map grid coordinate of the target based on a standard map. The second is Shift From Known Point where artillery based on his direction and distance from a fixed, pre-established geographic or man made point. The third and least common is Polar where the observer gives their current grid location and provides distance and direction to the target. This is typically unpopular due to the FDC confusing the observer's location as the target.
Combat Observation Lasing Teams(COLTs) are a sub-specialization within the Army's 13F career field which train in the directing of long range fire such as rocket assisted artillery or GPS guided munitions like the 155mm EXCALIBUR series weaponry. They have a secondary spotting/reconnaissance capability and are trained to operate with other unconventional forces such as sniper and scout teams for long periods of time with minimal support. These COLT teams are now uncommon and rarely used.
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.
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.
Marine Corps The requirements for USMC observers are nearly identical to their Army counterparts. They attend training at Ft. Sill, are required to obtain a secret security clearance, and are generally assigned as specialist members of larger combat units or specialized units like Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company. The main difference is USMC observers are required to show a higher level of proficiency in directing naval gunfire, a skill which their Army counterparts are only required to have a general familiarity with.
Navy The U.S. Navy has a small corps of Naval Gunfire Liaison Officer trained to provide observation and correction of naval gunfire in support of Army and Marine Corps ground units during amphibious and coastal operations. As early as 1921 the United States Marine Corps identified Naval Gunfire as one of the six key elements for amphibious operations. The trajectory of high velocity naval artillery was significantly different from field artillery howitzers typically used for gunfire support. Infantry officers were surprised by the inability of flat trajectory naval guns to hit targets behind low hills; and the relatively wide distribution of fall of shot along the axis of fire sometimes endangered friendly troops behind or in front of the target. Shells intended to penetrate armored ships produced a relatively small damage radius against unfortified targets; and shipboard observation devices designed to observe shell splashes at sea were unable to determine whether their shells were striking intended shore targets. Although Marine Corps officers who have served aboard warships are more familiar with naval artillery, Army officers without such experience are often in positions requiring gunfire support during amphibious landings. Naval officers familiar with shipboard guns are able to advise infantry officers ashore concerning the capabilities of naval artillery to engage specific targets. The naval officer's familiarity with shipboard communications systems enables him to translate the infantry objectives and fall of shot observations to the appropriate shipboard personnel for effective engagement of targets. The tentative manual of 1934 became Fleet Training Publication 167 in 1938; and the Army issued a field manual with virtually identical text in 1941. The use of Naval Gunfire Support reached its peak during WWII with the numerous amphibious landings, to include a small number who completed the Army's elite Airborne School and parachuted into Normandy to provide gun fire support for paratroopers during the D-Day landings.
In the modern age NGLOs are assigned to a Marine Artillery Battalion or Marine Artillery Regiment to assist in providing naval gunfire support. When deploying as part of a Marine Expeditionary Unit, the NGLO is typically attached to the Operations Section (S-3) of the Ground Combat Element and is responsible for a Shore Fire Control Party consisting of RT Operators and Forward Observers.
While NGLOs are trained to spot Naval Gunfire, their primary responsibilities are in the Fire Support Coordination Center to plan and coordinate naval gunfire with other firing agencies (artillery, close air support, and mortars) in conjunction with the Fire Support Coordinator and Fire Support Team Leaders, and advise him on its employment. NGLOs can also be assigned to Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Companies (ANGLICO), or the various Marine Expeditionary Force or Division Headquarters staff.
Specific training consists of the Naval Gunfire Liaison Officer Course, a five-week resident course taught in Coronado, California. NGLOs assigned to ANGLICO units may receive further training as Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) at the discretion of the assigned unit and are Jump qualified.
U.S. Air Force Although the U.S. Air Force has no formal forward observer training of its own, members of the Special Tactics community are generally required to have a basic familiarity with techniques of call for fire and artillery spotting in addition to their normal duties. The closest thing the Air Force has to a Forward Observer is a JTAC, whom specializes in air support. They are also referred to as TACP.
Call for Fire Request
Call for Fire is the process by which a forward observer or element leader contacts the artillery or mortar assets and provides them with the information necessary to shoot at a target they can not see. It follows a prescribed format that demands the application of technical skills, be able to visualize all aspects of the battlefield and synchronize assets throughout time and space
Typically, leaders are assisted in the process by Forward Observers. The FO is the expert in calling for indirect fires. He will know the process but be very clear - it is the leader who is responsible.
Observer Identification This element of the call for fire tells the FDC who is calling for fire. Example: [ARTILLERY], this is, [YOU]
Warning Order The warning order clears the net for the fire mission and tells the FDC the type of mission and the type of target location that will be used. The warning order consists of the type of mission, the size of the element to fire for effect, and the method of target location. It is a request for fire unless prior authority has been given to order fire.
Type of Mission
Adjust Fire When the observer believes that an adjustment must be made (because of questionable target location or lack of registration corrections), he announces ADJUST FIRE.
Fire For Effect The observer should always strive for first-round FFE. The accuracy required to fire for effect depends on the accuracy of target location and the ammunition being used. When the observer is certain that the target location is accurate and that the first volley should have the desired effect on the target so that little or no adjustment is required, he announces FIRE FOR EFFECT.
Suppression To quickly bring fire on a target that is not active, the observer announces SUPPRESS (followed by the target identification). Suppression (S) missions are normally fired on pre-planned targets, and a duration is associated with the call for fire.
Immediate Suppression Immediate Suppression and Immediate Smoke. When engaging a planned target or target of opportunity that has taken friendly maneuver or aerial elements under fire, the observer announces IMMEDIATE SUPPRESSION or IMMEDIATE SMOKE (followed by the target location). Though the grid method of target location is the most common, any method of target location may be used in firing an immediate suppression or immediate smoke mission.
Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses
Size of Element to Fire (OPTIONAL) The observer may request the size of the unit to fire for effect; for example, BATTALION. Usually, he does this by announcing the last letter in the battalion FDC's call sign. For example, T6H24 is announced H. The observer should never refer to a battery or other unit in the clear. He should refer to it by call sign. If the observer says nothing about the size of the element to fire, the battalion FDC makes that decision. It is based on the target attack guidance received and the graphical munitions effectiveness table (GMET) or joint munitions effectiveness manual (JMEM) solution.
Method of Target Location
Grid (Standard if method not specified)
Polar
Shift from a known point
Target Location
In a grid mission, six-place grids normally are sent. Eight-place grids should be sent for registration points or other points for which greater accuracy is required. The OT (Observer to Target) direction normally will be sent after the entire initial call for fire, since it is not needed by the FDC to locate the target.
In a polar plot mission, the word polar in the warning order alerts the FDC that the target will be located with respect to the observer's position. The observer's location must be known to the FDC. The observer then sends the direction and distance. A vertical shift tells the FDC how far, in meters, the target is located above or below the observer's location. Vertical shift may also be described by a vertical angle (VA), in mils, relative to the observer's location.
In a shift from a known point mission, the point or target from which the shift will be made is sent in the warning order. The point must be known to both the observer and the FDC. The observer then sends the OT direction. Normally, it is sent in mils. However, the FDC can accept degrees or cardinal directions, whichever is specified by the observer. The corrections are sent next:
The lateral shift (how far left or right the target is) from the known point.
The range shift (how much farther [ADD] or closer [DROP] the target is in relation to the known point, to the nearest 100 meters).
The vertical shift (how much the target is above [UP] or below [DOWN] the altitude of the known point, to the nearest 5 meters). (The vertical shift is ignored unless it exceeds 30 meters.)
Target Description
Type (Trucks, Infantry, Supplies etc…)
Size (Squad, Platoon, Three trucks etc…)
Activity (Digging in, In Assembly Area, Patrolling etc…)
Degree of Protection (in the open, in foxholes, in bunkers with overhead protection
Shape (The target size and shape if these are significant. If the target is rectangular, the length and width (in meters) and the attitude (azimuth of the long axis 0000-3199) to the nearest 100 mils should be given; for example, 400 BY 200. If the target is circular, the radius should be given; for example, RADIUS 200. Linear targets may be described by length, width, and attitude.
Method of Engagement
Type of Adjustments Two types of adjustment may be employed-precision and area. Unless precision fire is specified, area fire will be used.
Area Fire (default) Area fire is used to attack an area target. Since many area targets are mobile, the adjustment should be as quick as possible, consistent with accuracy, to keep the target from escaping. A well-defined point at or near the center of the area to be attacked should be selected and used as an aiming point. This point is called the adjusting point during adjust fire missions. To achieve surprise, fire may be adjusted on an auxiliary adjusting point and, after adjustment is completed, the fire for effect shifted to the target. Normally, adjustment on an area target is conducted with one adjusting weapon.
Precision Fire (registration or destruction missions) Precision fire is conducted with one weapon on a point target. It is used either to obtain registration corrections or to destroy a target. When the mission is a registration, it is initiated by the FDC with a message to observer. If the target is to be destroyed, the observer announces DESTRUCTION.
Danger Close DANGER CLOSE is included in the method of engagement when the target is (rounds will impact) within 600 meters of friendly troops for mortar and artillery, 750 meters for naval guns 5-inch and smaller, and 1,000 meters for naval guns larger than 5-inch. For naval 16-inch ICM, danger close is 2,000 meters.
Mark MARK is included in the method of engagement to indicate that the observer is going to call for rounds for either of the following reasons:
To orient himself in his zone of observation.
To indicate targets to ground troops, aircraft, or fire support.
Trajectory
High Angle (Default for mortars)
Low Angle (Default for artillery)
Ammunition. High Explosive projectile/fuse quick will be used as the default if no other ammunition is specified
Volume of Fire (The observer may request the number of rounds to be fired by the weapons firing in effect. For example, 3 ROUNDS indicates that the firing unit will fire three volleys.)
Distribution
Parallel (default for mortars)
Circular (default for mortars)
Open
Converged
Special
Method of Fire and Control (Optional) The method of fire and control element indicates the desired manner of attacking the target, whether the observer wants to control the time of delivery of fire, and whether he can observe the target. Methods of control at my command (AMC) and time on target (TOT) are especially useful in massing fires. The AMC and TOT missions achieve surprise and maximize the effects of the initial volley on a target. When used by the observer, these methods of control can reduce the sporadic engagement of the target, or "popcorn effect," which can be the result of rounds fired when ready. Methods of fire and control are announced by the observer by use of the terms discussed below.
Method of Fire In area fire, the adjustment normally is conducted with one howitzer or with the center gun of a mortar platoon or section. If for any reason the observer determines that PLATOON RIGHT (LEFT) will be more appropriate, he may request it. (Adjusting at extreme distances may be easier with two guns firing.) The normal interval of time between rounds fired by a platoon or battery right (left) is 5 seconds. If the observer wants some other interval, he may so specify.
One gun in adjust (default)
Platoon
Section
Left or Right by piece
Method of Control (Artillery will be fired when it is ready if no other method of control is specified)
At my command If the observer wishes to control the time of delivery of fire, he includes AT MY COMMAND in the method of control. When the pieces are ready to fire, the FDC announces PLATOON (or BATTERY or BATTALION) IS READY, OVER. (Call signs are used.) The observer announces FIRE when he is ready for the pieces to fire. AT MY COMMAND remains in effect throughout the mission until the observer announces CANCEL AT MY COMMAND, OVER.
Cannot observe CANNOT OBSERVE indicates that the observer cannot see the target (because of vegetation, terrain, weather, or smoke); however, he has reason to believe that a target exists at the given location and that it is important enough to justify firing on it without adjustment.
Time on Target (TOT) The observer may tell the FDC when he wants the rounds to impact by requesting TIME ON TARGET (so many) MINUTES FROM...NOW, OVER or TIME ON TARGET 0859, OVER. The FO must conduct a time hack to ensure that 0859 on his watch is 0859 on the FDC's watch.
Close air support TOT
Coordinated illumination The observer may order the interval between illuminating and HE shells, in seconds, to achieve a time of impact of the HE coincident with optimum illumination; or he may use normal AT MY COMMAND procedures.
Continuous illumination If no interval is given by the observer, the FDC determines the interval by the burning time of the illuminating ammunition in use. If any other interval is required, it is indicated in seconds.
Cease Loading The command CEASE LOADING is used during firing of two or more rounds to indicate the suspension of loading rounds into the gun(s). The gun sections may fire any rounds that have already been loaded.
Check Firing CHECK FIRING is used to cause an immediate halt in firing.
Repeat REPEAT can be given during adjustment or FFE missions.
During Adjustment. REPEAT means fire another round(s) with the last data and adjust for any change in ammunition if necessary. REPEAT is not sent in the initial call for fire.
During Fire for Effect. REPEAT means fire the same number of rounds using the same method of fire for effect as last fired. Changes in the number of guns, the previous corrections, the interval, or the ammunition may be requested.
Followed By This is part of a term used to indicate a change in the rate of fire, in the type of ammunition, or in another order for fire for effect; for example, WP FOLLOWED BY HE.