Forward observers in the U.S. military
Forward observers in the U.S. military are
U.S. Army
Forward Observers in the U.S. Army hold the
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 is 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.[3]
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
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.
Field Artillery Forward Observer 1189
Field Artillery Forward Observer 1189 was a World War II Army Officer position. Officer Classification, Commissioned and Warrant Military Classification and Coding.[4]
The primary duties of the 1189 was "Direct 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."
U.S. 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.[5] Both the Army and USMC observers may be certified as a Joint Fires Observer (JFO) which allows them to assist the Joint Terminal Attack Controller in conducting arial strikes. Unlike the Army, USMC forward observers can attend TACP school to become a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC ) for their Fire Support Team.
The U.S. Navy has a small corps of
In the modern age NGLOs are assigned to a
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 (
Specific training consists of the Naval Gunfire Liaison Officer Course, a five-week resident course taught in
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 are JTACs, Joint Terminal Attack Controllers who are specialized in calling in air support; and TACPs (Tactical Air Control Parties), who may or may not be JTAC-certified, and typically embed within both conventional and special operations units from the Army.[11]
Joint Fires Observer
The Joint Fires Observer (JFO) course is a two-week course which provides select personnel from all branches of the military with standardized training to engage targets with joint fires through the detailed integration with Terminal Attack Controllers (TACs) and Fire Support Teams (FSTs). Students who graduate this course will be able to request, control, and adjust mortar, field artillery, and naval gunfire support; provide targeting information for
JFOs in the Army and Marine Corps are typically officers or enlisted forward observers or special operations personnel who are awarded the L7 additional skill identifier. The first certifying JFO course was established at Nellis Air Force Base in 2004. It was then moved to Fort Sill in 2006, and also Einsiedlerhof, Germany at the Warrior Preparation Center. The Marines have also established their own JFO course in Quantico, Virginia.[13]
The JFO course consist of seven graded simulations with numerous fire missions and CAS missions. In these simulations the trainee will conduct mortar, artillery, naval, attack aviation and special operations call for fire missions, and CAS with JTAC or FAC(A), using
Notable U.S. military forward observers
- George P. Hays , Medal of Honor recipient
- John R. Fox, Medal of Honor recipient (posthumous)
- Forrest E. Peden, Medal of Honor recipient (posthumous)
- James E. Robinson Jr., Medal of Honor recipient (posthumous)
- Ronald E. Rosser, Medal of Honor recipient
- Lee R. Hartell, Medal of Honor recipient (posthumous)
- Harold Bascom Durham Jr., Medal of Honor recipient (posthumous)
- Paul H. Foster, Medal of Honor recipient (posthumous)
- Brian Miles Thacker, Medal of Honor recipient
- Jared C. Monti, Medal of Honor recipient (posthumous)
- Ryan M. Pitts, Medal of Honor recipient
- Maynard James Keenan, lead singer of American rock band “Tool”
- Craig Morgan, country music singer
- Luke Thomas, MMA journalist
- Lombardo Boyar, film and television actor
- Mel Brooks, Actor, Comedian, Composer, and Filmmaker
Podcasts
- Former Action Guys Podcast
- Forward observers in Vietnam
See also
- Field artillery team
- Fire Support Team
- Forward air control
Notes
References
- ^ "Joint Fire Support Specialist".
- ^ "MOS 13F Fire Support Specialist Duty Descriptions".
- ^ http://dtic.mil/doctrine/new_pubs/jp3_09.pdf Archived 2016-10-21 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL PDF]
- ^ (War Department Technical Manual TM 12-406)
- ^ "How do You Become a Fire Support Marine?".
- ^ Potter, E.B.; Nimitz, Chester W. (1960). Sea Power. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. pp. 530–534.
- ^ Potter, E.B.; Nimitz, Chester W. (1960). Sea Power. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. pp. 630–634.
- ^ Band of Brothers
- ^ NAVMC 3500.42_ Tactical Air Control Party Training and Readiness Manual
- ^ How to Become a Artillery Or Naval Gunfire Observer
- ^ Close Air Support. United States Department of Defense, 2014
- ^ "EWTGLANT". Archived from the original on 2013-06-18.
- ^ "Joint Fires Observers make battlefield impact".
- U.S. Army FM 6-30
- U.S. Army FM 21-18 Procedures and Techniques of Foot Marches
- U.S. Army ATP 3-09.30