text: Fire Support and the Operations Process
  Table 3-7. Fire support element during course of action development
  MDMP STEP 3: COURSE OF ACTION DEVELOPMENT
  Staff Actions Key FSE Actions FSE Output
  • Assess relative combat • Assist G-2 and intelligence cell in • For each COA developed include−
  power. conjunction with the G-3 in • Scheme of fires.
  • Generate options. d coe lv lee clo tip oi nn g p lt ah ne ain nf do r im tsa st uio pn port for • Initial FSCMs.
  • Array forces. targeting. • Draft high-payoff target list.
  • Develop a broad concept. • Determine where to find and attack • Target list worksheet. (digital or manual)
  • Assign HQ. adversary or enemy fire support • Draft FS execution matrix.
  formations.
  • Develop COA statements and • Target list/overlay.
  sketches. • Identify high-payoff target in those
  formations. • Draft observer and TA plan.
  • Conduct a COA briefing.
  • Refine EFSTs. • Draft targeting synchronization matrix or
  • Select or modify courses of
  modified (high-payoff target list, target
  action for continued analysis. • Plan assessment for EFSTs,
  selection.
  including measures of performance
  and measures of effectiveness. • Target selection standards and attack
  Quantify the execution for EFSTs. guidance matrix).
  • Analyze relative fires combat • Draft FS input to the unit airspace plan.
  power. • Draft risk management plan.
  • Ensure staff considers all fire • FS-related portions of reconnaissance
  support aspects of combat power. and surveillance plan.
  • Develop scheme of fires for each • Initial EFSTs and associated measures
  COA and assess risk, including of performance and measures of
  fratricide. effectiveness.
  • Nominate high-payoff targets for • Refined asset locations.
  each COA.
  • Refined FSCMs.
  • Integrate CEMA and other nonlethal
  input. • Draft Annex D, Fires.
  • Array FS assets/resources needed  Begin request of assets for
  to support each COA and propose reconnaissance and surveillance,
  generic FS organization for combat. CAS, nonlethal effects to include
  Identify planned attack locations cyber electromagnetic activities.
  and sequence of attacks:  Determine radar positioning and
  • Allocate assets to acquire targets. sector search for all radars.
  • Allocate assets to attack targets.  Determine radar maintenance and
  cueing schedule.
  • Apportion force protection for FS
  assets.
  • Ensure FS is integrated with
  movement and maneuver and other
  warfighting functions.
   Integrate triggers with
  maneuver COA.
   Prepare scheme of fires for
  each COA and sketch for
  each COA.
  • Develop FSCMs.
  CAS – close air support, CEMA – cyberspace electromagnetic activities, COA – course of action, EFST – essential fire
  support task, FS – fire support, FSCM – fire support coordination measure, FSE – fire support element, G-2 – assistant
  chief of staff, intelligence, G-3 – assistant chief of staff, operations, MDMP – military decision-making process, TA – target
  acquisition
  Developing Essential Fire Support Tasks
  3-69. The purpose of the EFSTs are to ensure that the supported commander's guidance for fires is
  accomplished. The audience for EFSTs is the supported commander and staff. The EFSTs let the commander
  know that fires personnel understand and have specific tasks that accomplish the intent for fires. EFSTs drive
  the development of Annex D. The task describes what effects (for example, delay, disrupt, divert or destroy)
  fires must create on a target. The purpose describes why the task contributes to commander's objective. The