15 September 2009
By WO1 Damon Mitchell, Master Gunner, School of Artillery
Joint Fires Observer - what does that mean? Where has this skill set evolved from? To fully understand the answers to these questions there is other terminology that is required to be understood.
Within NZDF the requirement to coordinate aerial fire support to ground forces was the responsibility of a Forward Air Controller (FAC), either airborne or ground mounted. In recent years the ground mounted FAC responsibilities have evolved and the term now widely associated with the role is a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC). A JTAC’s responsibilities range from coordinating close air support (CAS), from both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft, to coordinating troop movement by air assets and coordinating CASEVAC requirements. The NZ Army has been sending individuals overseas on courses to gain this skill and qualification for the last few years. So what about the Joint Fires Observer(JFO)?
A study conducted in the United States in 2004 determined a number of issues that needed to be addressed. They were:
- an increasing interest from Army in air delivered fire support,
- Army requirements will increase the demand for JTACs,
- Army organic fires remain the most efficient means to meet the routine unplanned requests for fire support, and
- Air attack and ground manoeuvre should be planned as mutually enabling activities.
The findings illustrated the need for an asset to increase the critical combat capability the JTAC brings to the air ground battle— a JFO. Although the concept of the JFO is not new, the Army’s recognition that the JFO’s role in light of the increased need for JTAC’s is a logical and effective step.
So what can a JFO do? A JFO is “a trained service member who can request, adjust and control surface to surface fires, provide targeting information in support of Type 2 and 3 CAS terminal attack controls and perform autonomous terminal guidance operations (TGO)”.
The various types of CAS controls, types 1, 2 and 3, determine the criteria that must be met prior to an aircraft firing/ releasing munitions. A JFO is not a certified JTAC and will never replace a certified JTAC. A JFO can serve as the eyes and ears of a JTAC to provide timely and accurate targeting information. When a JTAC is not available and the tactical risk mandates the use of an unqualified controller, the JFO will be capable of controlling CAS.
The School of Artillery has recently conducted the first Joint Fires Observer (JFO) course in New Zealand with the assistance of two Australian JTACs to supplement the NZDF JTACs as instructors. Royal New Zealand Navy instructors also supported the course by providing instruction in Naval Gunnery Support procedures. The course duration is ten days involving theoretical lessons and practical assessments utilizing the Indirect Forward Air Controller Trainer (IFACT) simulator.
The personnel who have been identified as being potential JFO’s range from RNZA personnel to QAMR and RNZIR reconnaissance personnel. The JFO’s are seen as the personnel who will bridge the gap from soldiers with limited CAS training conducting Emergency CAS, through to JTACs. The initial courses will focus on RNZA personnel gaining qualification followed by personnel from other Corps.
Equipment that will assist JFOs in conducting their job is currently being identified and investigated for procurement, with the assistance of Capability Branch staff. JFOs are required to know how to employ and utilize Laser Target Designators, high power Infra Red Markers, Infra Red Strobes, Remote Viewing Terminals to enable video downlinks with aircraft and Transponder Beacons to assist in identifying friendly force locations. This equipment is in addition to radios that are capable of UHF and VHF communications, AN/PRC 117 and AN/PRC 148 radios.
Ideally, live aircraft are preferred for testing but the entire course can be conducted and assessed in a simulated environment. The NZ Army holds two IFACT computers that link into existing Indirect Fires Observation Trainer (IFOT) computers. The computers in the Weapon Training Simulator (WTS) ranges and the IFOT buildings are the same. Because Waiouru has dedicated IFOT and WTS facilities the IFACT computers are able to be connected to that hardware, providing additional simulation venues. For this reason future JFO courses can only be conducted in Waiouru.
Once students are qualified there is a requirement for ongoing currency training. This involves a combination of CAS and surface to surface controls of Offensive Support Assets. The currency requirements are able to be conducted within a simulated environment, IFOT and IFACT.
The battlefield of today and tomorrow will require highly- trained personnel at all echelons to be joint fires experts. Joint interdependence is not a buzzword, it is the future of our armed services and we need a formal process to gain and maintain the degree of training needed to ensure soldiers are capable of leveraging all available fires. JFO training will increase the ability of JTACs to manage critical CAS fires in combat and, ultimately, allow commanders to win quickly and decisively on tomorrow’s battlefields.
For further information on JTAC and JFO training / employment contact the Master Gunner, School of Artillery.