Description

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This training circular, TC 3-09.31 (FM 3-09.31) Fire Support Training for the Brigade Combat Team Commander November 2013, describes fire support training for the brigade combat team (BCT) commander. The TC is not all inclusive but is intended as a quick study "smart book" for the BCT commander to use in developing his own strategy for fire support training based on Army Doctrine Publication (ADP) 7-0. This TC begins with a summary of the BCT's organization and capabilities for fire support and then provides an overarching view of what fire support training is needed at each echelon of the BCT with suggestions for who should conduct it and when. It also suggests appropriate doctrinal and training references. The primary audience for this training circular is the commanders of armor, infantry, and Stryker BCTs as well as the commanders of subordinate and supporting units of those BCTs. Others include those in combined arms chains of command, field and company grade officers, middle-grade and senior noncommissioned officers (NCO), and battalion and squadron command groups and staffs. This TC also should be of interest to the corps and division commanders and their staffs who may employ BCTs in full spectrum operations. Other Army organizations may use this TC to assist in their planning for training in support of BCTs. This TC includes a chapter summarizing the BCT's organization and capabilities for fire support; a chapter on fire support training for the brigade echelon; a chapter on fire support training for the BCT's subordinate battalions and the cavalry squadron, and a chapter on training for the BCT's organic fires battalion. Embedded throughout the TC are lists of questions for BCT commanders to consider and to ask of their staff and their subordinate commanders and staffs. The lists of questions are to stimulate thought; they are not all inclusive. Answers to the questions are not necessarily included within the text of this training circular. Summaries of BCT fire support tasks from the CATS for the armor, infantry, and Stryker BCTs are included as tables in the three appendices of this TC. Collectively, these summary tables should prove to be a handy reference to facilitate focusing on doing a few necessary tasks very well rather than checking the block on a "laundry list." The tables should also facilitate commander-to-commander dialogue among the BCT commander and his battalion commanders over where to focus on the tasks to be trained, the conditions for training, and the risks associated with not training on specific tasks or operational themes. This TC provides the BCT commander with an overarching view of "what" fire support and fire support related training for the BCT is needed, "why" it is needed, "who" should conduct it, and "when" it should be conducted. Each chapter is also intended for leaders of BCT staff sections and command post integrating cells, and the BCT's subordinate battalion and cavalry squadron commanders and their respective fire support personnel to use as a "take away" guide for their own fire support training. Chapter 1 provides a summary of BCT organization and capabilities for fire support. Chapter 2 describes fire support training for the brigade echelon. Chapter 3 describes fire support and fire support related training for the BCT's maneuver battalions, the cavalry squadron, and brigade special troops battalion. Chapter 4 describes training for the BCT's organic fires battalion. Appendix A provides a summary of CATS tasks for fire support training at the brigade echelon of the BCT. Appendix B provides a summary of CATS tasks for fire support training in the BCT's maneuver battalions, its cavalry squadron, and its brigade special troops battalion. Appendix C provides a summary of CATS tasks for fire support training for the BCT's organic fires battalion.