Transforming the FA Battalion for the IBCT - U.S. Army Initial Brigade Combat Team - Brief Article - Column

Supporting the Maneuver Commander

There are many questions about the transformation and operations of the first FA battalion in the Army's first Initial Brigade Combat Team (IBCT)--the 3d Brigade, 2d Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington--that will have to be answered over time as the IBCT evolves. The IBCT with its organic FA, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery (1-37 FA), is maintaining a high operational tempo, fielding equipment and training to realize the Chief of Staff of the Army's vision for the initial medium brigade.

This article outlines what 1-37 FA's mission is; how the battalion is organizing, equipping and training; and how it will operate as part of the IBCT. Ultimately, our preparations are to execute FA operations during the IBCT's rotation at the Joint Readiness Center (JRTC), Fort Polk, Louisiana, in late FY02 or early FY03 and in any real-world missions that may follow.

Mission. 1-37 FA is leaning forward and on its way to accomplishing its new mission and helping the Chief of Staff of the Army achieve his vision. The Chief's vision is for the IBCT to deploy within 96 hours of the first aircraft with wheels up to conduct operations ranging from a small-scale contingency (SSC) to a major theater war (MTW). The IBCT is optimized for low- to mid-level SSCs but will deploy to MTWs with augmentation.

Within that vision, 1-37 FA's mission is to deploy rapidly by air to a designated contingency area of operations and provide direct support (DS) artillery fires and synchronize fires and effects for the IBCT. (Although 1-37 FA is organic to the IBCT, "direct support" is the FA standard tactical mission that most closely describes our mission.) The IBCT is designed for a 50-by-50 kilometer area of operations, depending on the mission, enemy, terrain, troops and the time and number of civilians on the battlefield (METT-TC).

The battalion must be ready to deploy as a whole but also to tailor its force deployments. As outlined in the "IBCT Organizational and Operational Concept" (O&O) document, the firing batteries and other selected FA battalion assets may be deployed as a mission ready battery (MRB) within a brigade force package. During the early entry phase of operations, the situation could dictate the deployment of an initial ready battery (IRB).

When the brigade conducts distributed operations in an expanded area of operations, the firing batteries may move and position with the maneuver battalions. Distributed operations and METT-TC considerations may warrant the use of firebases and artillery raids.

The brigade's organic cannon battalion provides counterfire and close support fires in all environments but with an emphasis on complex terrain and urban areas to support dismounted infantry, the primary way the brigade will fight. The delivery of smoke, illumination, high-angle fires and howitzer direct fires are effective means of artillery support for maneuver forces in urban areas. With coordination through the fires and effects coordination cell (FECC) at the IBCT's command post, the FA battalion capitalizes on the brigade's integrated collection assets to execute both proactive and reactive counterfire operations.

Organization. The battalion has been reorganizing and conducting new equipment training (NET) to transition from an M109A6 (Paladin) battalion to an M198(155-mm towed) battalion. In 1-37 FA, each of the three batteries has four howitzers (3x4), unlike the 3x6 organization of other M198 battalions. In addition to the three firing batteries, the FA battalion consists of a headquarters and service battery (HSB) with a medical platoon and a target acquisition platoon (TAP), the latter consisting of two Q-36 Firefinder radars (one Q-36 in lieu of a Q-37), a meteorological section and a survey team.

In September 2000, the battalion inactivated the headquarters and headquarters battery (HHB) and service battery and activated the HSB as part of the reorganization. With virtually no organic logistics assets under the new modified table of organization and equipment (MTOE), 1-37 FA receives most of its combat service support (CSS) from the brigade support battalion (BSB).

Additionally, under the IBCT MTOE, the battalion fire support elements (FSEs) and personnel are assigned to the maneuver battalions and the reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA) squadron, while the IBCT FECC is assigned to headquarters and headquarters company (HHC) of the 3d Brigade, which includes the functions of the brigade FSE, among others. The transfer and reassignment of fire support personnel and their equipment was complete by 15 September 2000, the official IBCT effective date. (See the article "Transforming Fire Support for the IBCT: Supporting the Maneuver Commander" in this edition.)

The Interim BCT is scheduled for fielding after the two initial brigades, tentatively in FY03, and will include the third FA battalion to undergo transformation.

As detailed in the O&O, the organization and functions of the Initial FA Battalion as compared to the Interim FA Battalion are the same, with two exceptions. The howitzers in the firing batteries will change, and the TAP will have the Q-47 Firefinder radar, which will replace the Q-37 radar.

Each firing battery in the Initial FA Battalion has four M198 howitzers. Each howitzer has a 10-man section: the section chief, gunner, ammunition team chief, assistant gunner, driver and five Cannoneers--all of whom are necessary to employ and operate the eight-ton indirect fire weapon system.

The M198 has a maximum effective range of 30 kilometers with the rocket-assisted projectile (RAP) and 18.1 kilometers with high-explosive (HE) rounds; it provides the IBCT maneuver forces lethal, air-deployable, 155-mm artillery.

The Interim FA Battalion will have the developmental M777 lightweight 155-mm towed howitzer (LW 155) with the towed artillery digitization (TAD) system that will be fielded starting in FY05. The LW 155 is more deployable, weighing 4.5 tons, about half what the M198 weighs, and has a six-man crew. The LW 155 will attain the same ranges as the M198 and fire all known and developmental 155-mm munitions. TAD gives the LW 155 Paladin-like capabilities, significantly increasing its responsiveness to maneuver forces. With TAD, the howitzer has on-board self-location and a fire control system.

The TAP's Q-47 Firefinder radar in the Interim FA Battalion will increase the battalion's target acquisition range significantly. The Q-37 Firefinder has a maximum range of 50 kilometers for cannons and rockets while the Q-47 will detect cannons out to 60 kilometers, rockets to 100 kilometers and missiles to 300 kilometers.

Training and Equipment. 1-37 FA began fielding equipment and training on it in June 2000 and will continue fielding through June 2001. Training in the brigade is based on a building-block approach, starting with the individual soldier and working sequentially through sections, platoons, batteries, battalions and then brigade collective training. We currently are training at the battery level.

In August, the battalion leaders attended the Tactical Leader's Course (TLC), one of the brigade-wide series of TLCs. The FA TLC helped the battalion better understand how to employ FA assets in urban and complex terrain, in distributed operations and in operations across the full spectrum of conflict.

The simulation portion of the TLC focused on the FA battalion military decision-making process (MDMP) and exercised the entire FA chain from the brigade FECC to the FA batteries. The training used a Janus tactical scenario in the Fort Lewis Battle Simulation Center.

1-37 FA's priority to date has been fielding new equipment and conducting the subsequent new equipment training sessions (NETs) in accordance with the centralized task training list (CTTL). The Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) developed the IBCT CTTL for training during transformation. The FA portion of the CTTL outlines the minimum tasks the battalion must train to proficiency. These tasks are based on expectations for future IBCT operations and apply across the spectrum of conflict.

The CTTL will serve as a model to help the battalion develop a mission-essential task list (METL) to support our operational mission. Arguably, these CTTL tasks will be part of the METL when the battalion receives its operational mission after the IBCT JRTC rotation. The IBCT FA battalion CTTL tasks are Deploy/redeploy by air; Control battalion moves; Conduct counterfire operations; Control the delivery of fires; and Coordinate and monitor CSS operations.

As we train the CTTL in preparation for future contingency operations, tactical standing operating procedures (TACSOP) development and revision will be critical to the battalion's success. The change from the M109A6 to the M198 howitzer made most battalion SOPs obsolete. Quarterly SOP revision will be the norm, not the exception, as we continue to field new equipment and refine our operations for the IBCT.

In addition to the SOPs, 1-37 FA revised its safety certification program and trained on the cannon artillery tables, which were used during section certification in October at the Yakima Training Center, Washington. The artillery tables are taken from Army Training and Evaluation Program (ARTEP) 6115 Mission Training Plan (MTP) for the Field Artillery Cannon Battalion Command and StaffSection, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, and Service Battery and coincide with the maneuver tables. The tables are designed to develop realistic, effective and standardized training and remain the base line for all section, battery and battalion training during the transformation.

Key items yet to be fielded in 1-37 FA are Force XXI battle command brigade and below ([FBCB.sup.2]), the enhanced position location-reporting system (EPLRS), medium tactical vehicle (MTV) and a digital tactical operations center (TOC). The figure on Page 14 depicts the fielding of our new systems as correlated with the training strategy to integrate the systems into battalion operations. The fielding and training culminates with the first rotation at the JRTC. The following are descriptions of some of our new systems' capabilities.

Gun Laying and Positioning System (GLPS). This is the newly fielded tripod-mounted positioning and orienting device in the firing batteries. The GLPS provides accurate directional control through a north-seeking gyroscope and gun position location through a laser rangefinder (LRF) and interfaces with the precision lightweight global positioning receiver (PLGR). With an azimuth determined by the gyro, a distance measurement (range) from the LRF and a position location from the PLGR, the firing battery can establish its own survey control and firing capability autonomously from the battalion position without using the position and azimuth determining system (PADS). A PADS system is still necessary to establish common survey among all three firing units, the radar sections and, as the situation allows, the brigade mortars.

M198 Howitzer. The battalion fielded 12 M198 (155-mm towed) howitzers (3x4) in July 2000. A mobile training team (MTT) from the Cannon Division of the Gunnery Department at the Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, conducted a three-week M198 NET in August.

An additional MTT from Fort Sill provided a three-week (120-hour) U6 Artillery Mechanics Course to 13 1-37 FA soldiers. The U6 course produced an additional skill identifier (ASI) for our soldiers, allowing them to work on the howitzers at the section level.

Along with the M198, each howitzer section fielded the gun display unit (GDU) and M94 Chronograph.

Advanced FA Tactical Data System (AFATDS). AFATDS is fielded in the FECC, maneuver battalion FSEs, FA battalion fire direction center (FDC), FA battalion operations, FA battalion S2 and the firing battery FDCs and battery operations centers (BOCs).

The AFATDS NET consisted of a 120 hours of training followed by an end-of-course examination. After the NET, the battalion and personnel from the FECC and maneuver FSEs conducted a digital AFATDS validation exercise to test the collective artillery chain's use of AFATDS.

The battalion conducted its final phase of AFATDS NET in the deployment to the Yakima Training Center. There, 1-37 FA focused on the CTTL task of "Delivering indirect fires," using AFATDS and handheld terminal units (HTUs). The battalion worked the digital links from sensor-to-shooter (Q-36 through the FECC to the FA battalion) and developed tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) for its AFA TDS SOP.

Single-Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) Advanced System Improvement Program (ASIP). Throughout the two-week ASIP NET, the battalion's communications personnel (31 U) trained in unit maintenance through a 24-hour subcourse; key NCOs received a 32-hour ASIP Assistant Instructor Course; battalion and battery FDC personnel received a 16-hour Net Control Station (NCS) Subcourse; and soldiers and leaders throughout the battalion attended an eight-hour Operators Course. The ASIP system replaced all SINCGARS and was used during the Yakima Training Center rotation in October.

[FBCB.sup.2] This is the primary digital system for situational awareness (SA) and command and control ([C.sup.2]) throughout the brigade. [FBCB.sup.2], a main Army battle command system (ABCS) component, consists of software and display screens to provide real-time SA and [C.sup.2] to combat, combat support and CSS elements down to the individual soldier. It provides automated support in the form of orders, operational graphics, unit status reports and message traffic.

In the FA battalion, [FBCB.sup.2] will be networked through EPLRS. EPLRS will provide secure, near-real-time data communications, position-location reporting, and navigation and identification services between elements of the Army tactical command and control system (ATCCS). In addition to [FBCB.sup.2]'s other support, the FA battalion will use [FBCB.sup.2] to track the maintenance status of key assets, move resupply vehicles and verify positioning guidance for batteries in relation to maneuver units.

During the brigade's [FBCB.sup.2]NET, two NCOs from the battalion were certified as master trainers and six personnel, both officers and NCOs, were certified as part of the "expert core" of instructors in the brigade. Each of these courses had 80 hours of instruction. At the unit level, battalion instructors allow for flexibility in training the battalion operators during the 40-hour course as well as during future sustainment training. Battalion leaders also received an eighthour course on the system and will receive refresher training, as needed.

Operations. Although supporting the first IBCT is certainly a unique mission, 1-37 FA remains guided by FM 6-20-1 TTP for the Field Artilley Cannon Battalion and FM 6-50 TTP for the Cannon Battery. Two operations are especially challenging under the IBCT: counterfire and CSS operations.

Counterfire Operations. 1-37 FA provides both proactive and reactive counterfire. Given that the IBCT is designed for its infantry to fight dismounted, proactive counterfire becomes an especially critical task. The FA battalion is an invaluable asset for the FECC's counterfire cell during planning and for the intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) integration efforts led by the brigade S2.

The FA battalion S2 is a key contributor to the brigade S2's patterns and trends analysis process. The FA battalion S2 section continues to track and maintain suspected enemy artillery locations through predictive templating. The S2 communicates with the brigade S2 via the all-source analysis system (ASAS) and the FECC's counterfire cell via AFATDS to provide information for proactive counterfire operations.

As outlined in the FA battalion intelligence section CTTL, the S2 is part of the brigade targeting team and plays a major role in answering artillery-related intelligence requirements. Through analysis of the enemy's indirect fire capabilities, the S2 helps the brigade S2 propose high-payoff targets (HPTs) and named areas of interests (NAIs) to answer artillery priority intelligence requirements (PIRs). Additionally, the FA S2 helps the FECC's targeting and counterfire cell and the brigade S2 establish target acquisition radar zones to cover NAIs. Under our new MTOE, the 1-37 FA is authorized and has a Military Intelligence captain as the battalion S2.

Critical to the successful execution of the counterfire mission, the TAP can acquire threat mortar, artillery and rocket systems to protect the BCT. The TAP's acquisitions will enable the FECC to control the brigade's reactive counterfire operations using the artillery delivery systems in the FA battalion or any supporting artillery.

The TAP also generates artillery target intelligence critical to the brigade ISR plan. The TAP's counterfire capability in 1-37 FA historically has been at the FA brigade or division artillery level.

The radar sections in the TAP are structured to deploy as part of the platoon or independently as an element of a task-organized force. Following deployment to a theater of operations the FECC will control the tactical employment of the TAP radars.

The FA battalion S3 controls the employment of the meteorological section and survey team in coordination with the TAP leader. The survey team has only one PADS. However, the firing batteries can establish position and directional control using the PLGR/GLPS or the hasty survey capabilities within the HTU without always having to rely on the battalion's PADS.

With the Met and radar sections in the TAP, the battalion can meet all five of the requirements for accurate, predicted fire with its organic assets. The BCT's fire supporters assigned to the maneuver battalions and RSTA squadron provide accurate target locations in their observed fire role.

CSS. With virtually no organic CSS assets in the battalion, coordinating and monitoring CSS operations will be a major focal point for the battalion executive officer (XO) through the battalion's CSS section in the brigade support area (BSA). Under the FA battalion MTOE, the CSS section consists of the S1 section, the S4 section and the battalion ammunition officer and NCO. The CSS section is equipped with the CSS computer system (CSSCS) and tracks all logistics and maintenance requirements for the FA battalion.

The battalion ammunition officer (BAO) and his one NCO project and coordinate Class V support for the battalion, based on guidance from the battalion XO and S3. Under the new MTOE, HSB is no longer authorized an ammunition platoon and, thus, the BAO requests and facilitates the transportation of ammunition from the BSA to the firing batteries in assets provided by the BSB.

Conclusion. The battalion recently deployed for training to the Yakima Training Center--including deploying a firing battery by air on a C-5 airframe from McChord Airbase, Washington, to the Yakima Municipal Airport, a key CTTL and O&O task. In addition, 1-37 FA also live fired its new howitzers during the training. Accuracy, timeliness and synchronization of fires and effects remain the "bread and butter" of the battalion.

1-37 FA has invested its energy and resources in reorganizing, fielding and training on new equipment, and developing internal systems to train and sustain the battalion's proficiency on its mission tasks through transformation and future deployments. Transformation is exciting and the right azimuth for fires and effects in support of the 21st century force.

Lieutenant Colonel Henry S. (Skip) Larsen III commands the 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery, part of the 3d Initial Brigade Combat Team, 2d Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington. His previous assignments include serving as the Chief of the Policy and Strategy Division of US Southern Command, Miami, Florida; S3 for the 17th Field Artillery Brigade and Executive Officer for the 3d Battalion, 18th Field Artillery, also in the 17th Brigade, III Corps Artillery, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; and Chief of Division Plans for the 2d Infantry Division, Korea. He commanded B Battery, 3d Battalion, 82d Field Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division, during Operations Desert Shield and Storm in the Persian Gulf.

Major William I. Fox III is the Operations Officer of 1-37 FA at Fort Lewis. He commanded C Battery, 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery (M109A3) of the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) and served as the Fire Support Officer for the 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, both in Germany. Major Fox is a graduate of the Naval Command and Staff College, part of the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, and holds master's degrees in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and in International Relations from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri.

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