Dismounted Reconnaissance Troop - Army Electronic Publications ...
Dismounted Reconnaissance Troop - Army Electronic Publications ...
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