text: The Offense
  likely enemy positions, which may include templated enemy positions. Successful massing of indirect fires
  and fixed-wing attacks requires a fire cell that can proficiently track friendly indirect fire asset positions and
  movements and that knows the various systems effective fire ranges. It also requires a tactical air control
  party proficient in the timely execution of close air support.
  3-31. Units must weigh the probable effects of preparation fires against achieving a greater degree of surprise
  against enemy forces. Friendly fires always run the risk of receiving counter fires. Units balance this risk
  with the requirements of the mission to determine whether to employ preparation fires. They may decide to
  employ terminally guided munitions to destroy select high-payoff targets or use these munitions in mass
  against part of the enemy defense to facilitate a breach and negate the requirement for long-duration
  preparation fires by using area fire munitions.
  3-32. Units may choose to make an initial assault without using preparation fires to achieve tactical surprise.
  However, they always plan fires to support their units’ operations so that they are available if needed.
  Preparation fires are normally high-volume fires delivered over a short period to maximize surprise and shock
  effect. These preparation fires also include the conduct of electromagnetic warfare and cyber operations.
  Preparation fires can continue while ground maneuver elements are moving. This consideration applies to
  the conduct of all offensive operations.
  3-33. Artillery and mortars must occupy positions that are well forward and still within supporting range of
  the flanks of maneuver forces to provide responsive indirect fires. Units consider the effect that movement
  by echelon or battery has on the amount of fire support available. They should support the unit’s main effort
  with priority of fires. If the operation contains phases, the main effort generally has priority of fires. Units
  place coordinated fire lines (CFLs) as close as possible to friendly maneuver forces and plan on-order CFLs
  on phase lines so that those CFLs can quickly shift as their forces advance. This allows the rapid engagement
  of targets beyond the CFL by the maximum number of available systems. Units establish critical friendly
  zones to protect critical actions, such as support-by-fire positions and breaching efforts.
  3-34. Linking Army forward observers, joint fires observers, and target acquisition assets to quick fire or
  exclusive networks also provides responsive fires. Responsive fire networks allow the lead observers to
  communicate directly with specific field artillery or mortar fire units. These kinds of communication
  arrangements enhance responsiveness through streamlined network structures and focused priorities.
  Communications planning should also include the need for communications networks for the clearing of
  targets for rotary- and fixed-wing attacks.
  3-35. Units employ information capabilities to support the offense. As friendly forces move through the
  enemy force’s disruption zone and close into the enemy’s main battle zone, electromagnetic warfare jamming
  resources concentrate on neutralizing enemy fire control, target acquisition, unmanned systems control
  nodes, and information collection systems. They use military deception to prevent the enemy force from
  determining the location and objective of the friendly main effort. In addition, intelligence sensors continue
  to provide combat information and guidance to both friendly jammers and lethal indirect fire weapon systems,
  so attacking units can destroy enemy command and control nodes, reconnaissance and surveillance assets,
  artillery, and other high-payoff targets. Units synchronize the timing and conduct of these offensive actions,
  so they achieve maximum effectiveness.
  Joint Fires
  3-36. Joint fires assist ground forces in shaping operations. Joint fires are fires delivered during the
  employment of forces from two or more components in coordinated action to produce desired effects in
  support of a common objective (JP 3-0). The principles in the application of joint fires are generally the same
  between offensive, defensive, and enabling operations. Joint surface-to-surface fires include—
  * Army indirect fire, cyber, and electromagnetic warfare assets tasked with supporting Air Force,
  Navy, or Marine Corps operations.
  * Navy missile and naval gun fire, cyber, and electromagnetic warfare assets supporting Army units.
  * Marine Corps indirect fire assets supporting Army units.