Joint fires observer

FA Journal, Sept-Oct, 2005 by Michael A. Longoria, D. Wayne Andrews, Steven P. Milliron

The course consists of 25 hours of academics and 26.5 hours of simulations with a one-day field exercise. The academic instruction focuses on the integration and execution of joint fires, including artillery, mortars, naval surface fires, CAS, rotary-wing close combat attack (CCA) and AC-130 aircraft.

JFOC graduates come away with an enhanced ability to plan and execute joint fires at the tactical level. Students learn the basic doctrinal issues of JCAS and the command and control needed to employ it effectively. They learn the fundamentals of CAS execution, which include map-reading skills, brevity terms, aircraft and weapons capabilities, and types of CAS terminal attack control. They receive additional instruction on integrating surface fires with CAS, calculating the maximum ordinate (MAXORD, the highest point a projectile achieves during its trajectory) for artillery and mortars, applying naval surface fires, developing and using airspace coordination areas (ACAs), calling in and employing AC-130 aircraft and applying Army rotary-wing aircraft conducting CCA.

But the bulk of the training occurs when the JFO teams with a JTAC to coordinate an air attack. This event demonstrates the criticality of teamwork and the practical demarcation of roles between the JTAC, JFO and attacking platform. Once trained, a JFO must work with JTACs and aircraft periodically to exercise the skills he has learned. Figure 3 provides an example of how a JFO provides information to the JTAC for Type 2 CAS control.

JAGOG currently can train 12 JFOs per course under a provisional syllabus agreed upon by JAGOG and the FA School. Initially, the JFOC syllabus supports training Army FOs--to date, only those preparing for deployment have attended.

The FA School and JAGOG have established an additional JFOC at Fort Sill with the pilot course held starting on 29 August. The Army's Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) is adding the JFOC to the Army training requirements and resources system (ATRRS) for Soldier enrollments.

This second JFOC location will allow for an additional 17 classes a year with an annual throughput at Fort Sill of more than 500 JFOs, bringing the total throughput between the two locations to more than 600 JFOs a year.

However, at some point in the future, the intent is to modify the Army FO syllabus to train selected combat arms personnel as JFOs to increase the JFO capability for warfighting organizations. The proposed new syllabus for JFOC is at Air Combat Command for final approval, which is expected within the next few months.

The Air Force detachment at Fort Sill eventually will grow into a training squadron size, and Fort Sill is improving the installation's runway and other air-ground related facilities. Fort Sill also is in the process of increasing the number of targets in the impact area and modifying the airspace over Fort Sill and southern Oklahoma to allow for fixed-wing CAS sorties to support JFO training.

The return of fixed-wing CAS sorties to southern Oklahoma not only supports JFO training, but also supports Fort Sill's designation as the Army's Center of Excellence for Joint Fires and Effects.