personnel qualification standard (pqs) - I Marine Expeditionary ...

106 Ground Combat Element (GCE)
perform the four tasks. It accomplishes its mission by furnishing a continuous
volume of naval gunfire that supports forces in contact and the commander’s
concept of operation. It integrates its support with the scheme of maneuver
through liaison officers who plan fire support areas (FSAs) to support the scheme
of maneuver.
106.10 Discuss the role of the Fire Direction Center (FDC).
The regiment FDC exercises tactical fire direction of organic artillery battalions and
attached artillery units; e.g., attached multiple launch rocket system (MLRS). It exercises
tactical fire direction to the degree consistent with the communications capability,
positioning of units, and range capability. The regiment FDC receives fire missions from
several sources, including the division FSCC and its own observers; e.g., survey,
weapons-locating radars, etc. It also receives requests for reinforcing fires from artillery
battalions. The regiment assigns fire missions to a battalion or attached unit. To avoid
diverting DS artillery from its primary mission, artillery units in GS are normally tasked
first. The regiment FDC directs the massing of artillery battalions on targets worthy of
such attack.
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