text: Appendix E
  have low probability of error resulting in less chance of fratricide and collateral damage while achieving
  lethal effects on targets. Aircraft are more effective against mobile, armored targets and can engage targets
  of opportunity immediately upon discovery during a mission. Pilots can provide BDA and additional
  intelligence via inflight reports during or shortly after target engagements, enabling commanders to make
  well informed decisions. Traditional surface-to-surface fires also support air-ground operations by providing
  specific target engagements to suppress enemy air defense systems. Surface-to-surface fires can provide
  simultaneous precision strikes of targets at long ranges that aircraft cannot attack without significant risk.
  SECTION II – AIR SUPPORT REQUEST NUMBERING PROCESS
  E-17. Each AIRSUPREQ requires a unique number for tracking, processing, and pairing with the tasked air
  mission(s). The Army air support list can’t be processed digitally at the JAOC unless each AIRSUPREQ in
  the list is correctly numbered; AIRSUPREQ numbers are a required field in the USMTF D670 AIRSUPREQ
  message. AIRSUPREQ numbers are also a recognized field by which C2 information systems can sort the
  ATO, allowing requesting units to quickly locate information about which aircraft have been tasked to
  support them. Army echelons that don’t use AIRSUPREQs to nominate targets for execution should assign
  AIRSUPREQ numbers to each target nominated for execution. This will aid in identifying on the ATO which
  air missions are servicing Army-nominated targets.
  E-18. The senior Army HQ is responsible for establishing AIRSUPREQ numbers for use by Army units.
  Units are assigned a series of AIRSUPREQ numbers via the operations order (OPORD), Annex D (Fires),
  Appendix 5 (Air Support). While AIRSUPREQ numbers do not originate in the special instructions, they
  may be published in special instructions to ensure joint force visibility. The AIRSUPREQ number is
  comprised of 2 letters which identify the ATO day, three letters that identify the requesting unit, and a three-
  digit sequence number. See figure E-3.
  Figure E-3. Air Support Request Number
  E-19. AIRSUPREQs are planned for specific ATO days. The AIRSUPREQ number uses its first two
  characters to identify which ATO day joint airpower and effects are requested for. The next three letters
  identify the specific Army unit that is submitting the AIRSUPREQ. The first letter identifies the senior Army
  HQ (for example Theater Army, JFLCC). The second letter identifies the upper echelon tactical HQ (Corps
  or Division). The third letter identifies the lower echelon tactical HQ (DIV or BDE). (See figure E-4).