Issues and updates: FFA HQ, FA units as "truck companies," training and others.

In this column, I deal with some tough issues facing the FA and the Army and provide updates on training initiatives and other opportunities in the FA.

Force FA Headquarters (FFA HQ). With the most recent transfer of authority (TOA) in Iraq between the land component headquarters of III US Corps and XVIII US Corps, we are reminded of both the differences and the shared capabilities of our nation's military combat power. Focusing on the two corps artillery headquarters involved in this TOA, you readily see the extreme value and capability of the FFA HQ.

The role of this headquarters is not simply to enforce and enable subordinate artillery formations to continuously follow and precisely master the five requirements for accurate predicted fire. The FFA HQ does much more than enable the traditional gunnery team solution; in this fight, it also serves as the critical core of effects coordination for the MultiNational Corps-Iraq's (MNC-I's) Joint Fires and Effects Cell (JFEC) teamed with the MNC-I's Air Support Operations Group (ASOG) and information operations (IO) elements. Full-spectrum, lethal and nonlethal and totally joint in design and in effects capability, this organization is truly the "go-to place" and synergizer for effects planning, coordination and execution.

Given the structure of the FFA HQ function in a corps artillery of a mere 55 (+/-) Field Artillerymen, it would seem reasonable that as we move forward into modularity that we recognize this relatively small headquarters as a true joint "bargain." At the three-star UEx level, we cannot afford not to include an FFA HQ. At the two-star UEx level, clearly it appears the Fires Brigade will have the responsibility of the FFA HQ.

Being a FFA HQ requires both science and art. The science is readily covered by "cutting edge" technologies and modernized equipment in the hands of trained, disciplined Artillery Soldiers. The art is based on the personal relationship, mutual trust and mutual confidence that the effects coordinator, or ECOORD, (read Fires Brigade commander) establishes with his UEx commander as part of that commander's inner circle of advisors, decision-makers and executers.

Given the decision to resource six Fires Brigades in each of the Active Component (AC) and Reserve Component (RC) formations, 12 total, it becomes obvious that the FFA function will be a geographical challenge as we move into modularity at the UEx level. We will have to work this hard. It's not about command relationships but about relationships among commanders.

It is reasonable to expect that Fires Brigades will be an early and integral supporting brigade for the UEx in every deployment and fight. The task and purpose of this UEx commander is not only to fight the UEx deep in the precision strike fight with UEx-level sensors and responders, but, most importantly, to shape and set conditions that enable its brigade combat team (BCT) fight to be overwhelmingly successful. In the unit life cycle management system as we set the teams, train and certify them for deployment, and then commit them, it traditionally has been the experienced eye of an FA colonel that best can assess and certify for the BCT commanders that their FFA HQ and Fires Battalions are ready.

Not having a FFA HQ led by an Artillery 06 at each UEx station is not a "red star cluster" or an indicator that "the sky is falling"; however, as we "see ourselves," it is critical we continue to create the relationships of trust and confidence with our maneuver commanders. As Artillerymen, we must always ensure our Soldiers and the joint fires formation are, indeed, trained and ready to exactingly high standards. We will "roll up our sleeves" on this one and get to the hard work.

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Let me hear what you think. Sound off with letters to the editor and (or) to me at email [e-mail].

Deploying "Re-Missioned As" Rather Than for "In Lieu of" Missions. Make no mistake, the decide, detect, deliver and assess ([D.sup.3]A) cycle continues to be executed daily in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Don't believe everything you see on the television or read in the papers. Lethal, kinetic fires continue to occur virtually everyday in both theaters. Knowing that the thunderous devastation of precisely aimed and responsive cannon fires are less than two minutes away is a point of highest confidence and insurance to the guys on the ground doing the "heavy lifting" in those theaters.

That said, a continued source for the Army for trained combat arms Soldiers is our Artillery formations. Recently redeployed from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) II, the Soldiers from the 2d Battalion, 147th Field Artillery (2-147 FA), South Dakota Army National Guard, did not serve on their guns but in the non-traditional FA role of providing fixed-site security, safeguarding captured enemy ammunition (CEA) and driving truck convoys.

We all recognize that the most vulnerable mission in Iraq today is executing ground convoys, and FA battalions are readily trained to execute this challenging mission. In my view, the mission is clearly acceptable and a mission-essential task list (METL) task in most FA formations.

No question about it--give an FA battalion the mission to "serve in lieu of" a 300-Soldier truck formation and the same leadership and tenacity that puts 95-pound projectiles accurately and responsively on the heads of the bad guys also will get the truck formation from point A to point B.

Under the current plan, some corps artillery formations will deploy to Iraq as truck units. What is concerning is that we may separate the FA battalion leadership, retrain the battalion and then remission these artillery formations to deploy as truck companies rather than as artillery batteries assigned to execute an "in lieu of" mission. This is a troubling issue. We have situational awareness of this and are working it hard.

Some Training Updates. Fort Sill recently was designated as one of the Army's four Basic Officer Leader's Course Phase II (BOLC II) sites. BOLC II is expected to begin the Second Quarter of FY06 and be a six-week resident Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) common-core course attended by officers from all branches following commissioning. This means it's likely that some FA lieutenants will attend BOLC II at a site other than Fort Sill.

After completing BOLC II, FA officers will attend BOLC III at Fort Sill, which will instruct branch core competencies for assignments as FA platoon leaders, fire support team (FIST) chiefs and fire direction officers (FDOs) in a 15-plus week curriculum.

Our second Joint Fires and Effects Course will be 4 to 16 April at Fort Sill and is in high demand with all seats taken. The next course will be in August. Seats are available through the Army Training Requirements and Resources System (ATRRS) or by contacting the Fort Sill G3 at DSN 639-2199/5124 or [phone]/5124 or the Joint and Combined Integration (JACI) Directorate at DSN 639-1701/8671 or [phone]/8671.

TRADOC's pilot Tactical IO Course, focusing on IO and effects-based operations at the brigade level and below, is scheduled for 25 April through 13 May at Fort Sill. This will be a terrific course for NCOs, warrants and officers who serve in JFECs coordinating the lethal and nonlethal effects of IO at the BCT level and below. Seats are available through ATTRS or by calling the G3 at DSN 639-2199/5124 or [phone]/5124.

The pilot FA Master Gunner's Course is scheduled for 27 July. Its target is E7 Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 13B Cannoneers and 13M Missileers who will receive Additional Skill Identifiers (ASIs) A7 and A9, respectively. This four-week technical course will cover training management, maintenance and advanced gunnery. Those senior NCOs who want to attend the course should email [e-mail].

Training Joint Fires Observers (JFOs) remains a priority task for all FA units. For those units preparing to deploy, training JFOs with simulations is the next best thing to live-fire conducted at home station or at the Combat Training Centers (CTCs).

Most units have a guard unit armory device, full-crew interactive simulation trainer (GUARDFIST). GUARDFIST enables basic fire mission processing, but it lacks the ability to train close air support (CAS), has a marginal capability for training fires in urban terrain and does not have state-of-the-art technology and granularity.

Many of you have read about and may have seen the Joint Fires and Effects Trainer System (JFETS) now at Fort Sill that has the Call-for-Fire Trainer (CFFT) imbedded in it, including in the urban terrain module. (See the article "CFFT and the JFO" in this edition.) The great news is that the CFFT will replace the GUARDFIST and close the training gaps.

However in the near term, JFETS with the CFFT is found only in Fort Sill courses and in a Special Operations Command (SOCOM) course. For FA units not at Fort Sill with immediate predeployment training needs, there are some very good commercial indirect fire trainers available for CAS training. Units can obtain information about these simulators from the General Services Administration (GSA) catalog. The Army will field both Active and Guard units with CFFTs beginning the latter part of FY05 and into the FY06.

Trainees in Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill now are conducting convoy live fire as part of Warrior Ethos training. Mounted in trucks with modified center row seating, Artillery Soldiers engage enemy insurgents in both open and then closed ambush scenarios.

Also, every trainee now has had to go "eyeball to eyeball" with an opponent in combative scenarios, including timed bouts. They arrive at their units understanding the basic moves and techniques.

Additionally, our Field Artillery Training Center cadre now uses the weapon immersion concept of issuing each new Soldier a personal weapon (not a "rubber duck") immediately following the Soldier's first basic rifle marksmanship training. The Soldier maintains the weapon along with a magazine of blank ammunition during all training and in the barracks. This technique teaches each trainee better weapon's discipline and responsibility as well as instills better muzzle awareness.

Consider Becoming an Artillery Warrant Officer. Given the expansion of FA modularity, there is plenty of room to grow and serve your branch in the technical specialties of FA warrants. The skill set required to be successful as a 131A Targeting/Radar Warrant tracks most closely with the skills found in our MOS 13F Fire Support Specialist and 13R Firefinder Radar Operator NCOs, but the most important "ingredients" are leadership coupled with a penchant for attention-to-detail found today in all our FA NCO ranks.

I encourage leaders in every formation to talk about this career opportunity with promising promotion potential for our Soldiers. In mid-May, Chief Warrant Officer Four Walter G. Ayer, Fort Sill's Senior Targeting Warrant Officer, will discuss FA branch warrant officer opportunities in a video stream on our Fires Knowledge Network site on Army Knowledge Online (AKO). Check this out, and give it some thought.

"Sad Face" for Fort Sill and "Smiley Face" for our Army. No Soldier likes to lose a Battle Buddy, and that goes doubly if you are the FA Commandant. Recently our senior enlisted Field Artillery NCO, Command Sergeant Major Tommy A. Williams, was selected to depart Fort Sill to assume new duties as the CSM of America's Corps, I Corps, at Fort Lewis, Washington. Truly Fort Sill's loss is a win for the FA as we all recognize the tremendous honor of having an FA leader serve as a corps-level CSM. Fort Lewis and I Corps Soldiers are gaining a leader of the highest order.

And we know that CSM Williams will keep a close eye on the summer crop of Warrior Forge ROTC Cadets while at Fort Lewis as well as the Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) Redlegs at Fort Lewis to ensure our branch remains strong and maintains the highest of standards. Create the Thunder!

Major General David P. Valcourt 

Chief of Field Artillery