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Dismounted Reconnaissance Troop - Army Electronic Publications ...

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AVIATION<br />

Augmenting Combat Power<br />

<strong>Troop</strong> mortars firing direct lay or direct alignment achieve quicker and greater success. They are<br />

able to observe the rounds' impact and adjust accordingly.<br />

Ideally, the firing units register prior to firing close support missions. If not, the first rounds fired<br />

might be off target by a considerable distance. Once the firing units are adjusted on a target, then<br />

any shifts from that target are much more reliable.<br />

Risk estimate distances should always be considered when firing close to friendly units. (For<br />

further information on risk estimate distances, see FM 3-21.10.)<br />

7-45. Aviation fires may come from joint service fixed-wing aircraft or <strong>Army</strong> aviation rotary-wing aircraft.<br />

The troop commander should be aware of the assets available to support his mission and plan the use of<br />

aviation fires. Aviation fires should be based on mission need, to include preplanned targets if required, and<br />

immediate missions for unscheduled attacks. (For more information on aviation support, see FM 3-21.10.)<br />

CLOSE AIR SUPPORT<br />

7-46. The DRT may employ CAS from fixed-wing aircraft to augment other supporting fires or to attack<br />

targets in the HPTL. The speed, range, and maneuverability of aircraft allow them to attack targets that<br />

other supporting arms may not be able to effectively engage because of limiting factors such as target type,<br />

range, terrain, or the ground scheme of maneuver. Ground commanders are the ultimate authority for all<br />

supporting fires in their respective AOs. The ground commander at the lowest level is responsible for<br />

employment of CAS assets unless responsibility is specifically retained by a higher level commander in the<br />

ground force chain of command. (See FM 3-09.32 for additional information on the role of JTAC personnel<br />

and JFOs.)<br />

TYPES OF CLOSE AIR SUPPORT MISSIONS<br />

7-47. Close air support missions may be either preplanned or immediate.<br />

Preplanned Close Air Support<br />

7-48. Preplanned CAS missions are requested 72 hours in advance of the operation. They may or may not<br />

include detailed target information due to the lead time for the mission. These requests, however, must<br />

include potential targets, desired effects, proposed times, and a general priority. Preplanned CAS is<br />

categorized as follows.<br />

Scheduled Mission<br />

7-49. This entails CAS strikes on a planned target at a planned time or time on target (TOT).<br />

Alert Mission<br />

7-50. Alert (or on-call) CAS entails strikes on a planned target or target area executed upon request.<br />

Usually, this mission is launched (or scrambled) from a ground alert status, but may be flown from an<br />

airborne on-call alert status. Alert CAS allows the ground commander to designate a general target area<br />

within which targets are to be attacked. The ground commander designates a conditional period within<br />

which he will later determine specific times for attacking targets.<br />

Immediate Close Air Support<br />

7-51. Requests for immediate CAS are used for requirements that were identified too late to meet the air<br />

tracking order cutoff time. If there are no immediate CAS sorties available and HPTs have been identified,<br />

then other aircraft may be diverted to engage these targets or provide CAS for DRT missions.<br />

16 November 2010 ATTP 3-20.97 7-11

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