How To Call For Fire

Every combat troop should know the proper techniques for calling for fire.  However, this is something that often goes untrained and put to the wayside due to time constraints and lack of funding.

We have decided to put together a quick call for fire tutorial that can act as a good bookmark for any service member, NCO, or officer to reference when conducting training or refreshing their skills before deployment.

This is just a basic guide on how to call in a fire mission and does not discuss bracketing.  For more information check out Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Observed Fire (FM 6-30).

Call For Fire Format

Observer ID/Call Sign

WARNO

Type of Mission

1. Fire for Effect
2. Suppress
3. Adjust Fire
4. Immediate Suppression

Size of Element to Fire

Method of Target Location

1. Grid-6 digit
2. Polar-distance from you
3. Shift from a known point

Target Location: a-Grid- 6 digit b-Polar- distance and direction to target c-shift from a known point

1. Lateral Shift- Left/Right Meters
2. Range Shift- Add/Drop Meters
3. Vertical Shift- Up/Down Meters

Target Description:

Method of Engagement:

Method of Fire Control:

• Fire when ready
• At my command
• Cannot Observe
• Time on Target
• Check Fire
• Fire Again

The following is an explanation of each line on how to call in the 9 Line: The first Transmission is as follows: 1. Observer ID/Call Sign- “FDC this is Alpha 2 Call for Fire to Follow” 2. WARNO: “Warning Order” a-Type of Mission- “Fire for Effect, suppress, etc.”

How to Call in a 9 Line MEDEVAC and MIST Report

• Fire for Effect- Used after the battery has properly dialed in on the target. Full Battery Fire
• Suppress- most often used for a pre-designated TRP
• Adjust Fire- One Round fire
• Immediate Suppression- Full Battery Fire

b-Size of Element to Fire- Omission indicates a request for one battery c-Method of Target Location- Always use at least a 6 digit MGRS Grid. Example “Method of Target Location is Grid”

• Grid-6 digit
• Polar-distance from you- Most common
• Shift from a known point- If the elevation is over 35 meters give a new elevation

The seconds transmission is as follows: 3. Target Location:  Example “Target is at location 13S TU 1234365” “Target is two zero degrees at two zero zero meters from my location” “Target is three zero one degrees at three five zero meters from objective tango”

NATO 9 Line MEDEVAC Format

• Grid-6 digit
• Polar-distance from you- Most common
• Shift from a known point- If the elevation is over 35 meters give a new elevation

Lateral Shift- Left/Right in meters Range Shift- add/drop in meters Vertical Shift- Up/Down in meters, the 3rd transmission is as follows: 4. Target Description: Number, type, personnel Example “Two armored personnel carriers, six personnel” 5. Method of Engagement: Let FDC know if danger is close 6. Method of Fire Control:

• Fire when ready- Fires at FDC’s discretion
• At my command- FDC fires when told
• Cannot Observe- Person firing rounds cannot view the impact of rounds
• Time on Target- Fire at a specific time
• Check Fire- Recheck fire data
• Fire Again- Fire using the same data

RE Factor Tactical 9 Line Bro Card

Once all data has been given using the Call for Fire Checklist use the following verbiage:

When the shot is fired the FDC will communicate “Shot Over” you will respond with “Shot Out” The FDC will then call out “Splash Out” when round is 3 seconds to impact When impact has occurred you will call “Rounds Complete, over” you will reply with Rounds Complete, Out” After viewing the battle damage observer will send “End of Mission” and give the following BDA “Target Neutralized”- Something may still be alive “Target Destroyed”- Total destruction of target “No effect” “Estimate x number of casualties”