DarkDot FSO
Fire Support Officer
An officer responsible for advising the supported commander on the employment of fire support assets, coordinating supporting fires, and integrating the fires of all supporting arms with maneuver.
The FSO sits with the supported unit commander and maintains continuous coordination with the Fire Support Element (FSE) at higher headquarters. At platoon level this role is filled by the Forward Observer (FO); at company and above, a dedicated FSO is assigned.
Core Functions
- Targeting: Identify, prioritize, and sequence targets in support of the maneuver plan
- Integration: Synchronize fires with scheme of maneuver to prevent fratricide and maximize effect
- Coordination: Maintain communication with FA battalion, mortars, JTAC, and adjacent units
- Restrictive measures: Establish and enforce Coordinated Fire Lines (CFL), No-Fire Areas (NFA), and Restrictive Fire Areas (RFA)
Fire Support Planning Products
- Fire Support Plan: Targets, trigger points, and priority of fires by phase
- Target List Worksheet: All planned targets with grid coordinates, description, and attack guidance
- Fire Support Coordination Measures: Graphic overlay of restrictive and permissive boundaries
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