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Spc. Clayton Jones, forward observer, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, prepares a lightweight laser designator rangefinder for operation on an observation post during fire support team certifications Jan. 6, 2016. The weeklong gantlet of challenges with increasing difficulty tested 13 fire support teams from four different maneuver battalions across the brigade. (Photo by Sgt. William Howard)
By Sgt. William Howard
1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
Forward observers reaffirmed their lethality during fire support team certifications Jan. 5-8, 2016.
The certification was the first training event of the year for the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
“A forward observer is a field artillery Soldier who’s responsible for adjusting indirect fires from artillery, mortars and close combat attack (helicopter support). Some of us are joint fires observers, and we’re able to do close-air support missions,” said Sgt. 1st Class Earl McCormick, brigade fires operations NCO, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st SBCT. “We provide support for the brigade’s deep fights.”
The weeklong gantlet of challenges with increasing difficulty tested 13 fire support teams from four different maneuver battalions across the brigade.
“Since we found out about the certification we’ve been doing basically everything possible to prepare — training on call for fire, getting our Stryker ready, getting our personal skills ready and learning to operate as a team,” said 2nd Lt. Jonathan Mayo, fire support officer, HHB, 2nd Bn., 12th FA Reg. “What I really appreciate about this is it highlights how we can improve.”
The Soldiers were required to pass a written examination of skill-level knowledge, artillery skills proficiency test, land navigation, occupying and securing an observation post, target identification and call-for-fire missions based on individual skill level in order for the whole fire support team to certify.
“These Soldiers have to know their job at all times, be able (to) perform their job and any job the maneuver elements asks of them,” said Capt. Matthew Van Vliet, assistant brigade fire support officer, HHB, 2nd Bn., 12th FA Reg.
Indirect fire support is essential to the success of combined arms operations and requires accurate and qualified observers to locate targets and adjust fires.
“This allows the teams to actually go out with their maneuver elements and call in real rounds because they are now certified by the brigade to support those maneuver elements and use indirect fires,” said Van Vliet. “(It’s) like how the maneuver elements have to go through a gunnery to certify with their weapon systems.”
