text: Chapter 1
  Table 1-2. Fire support considerations for the imperatives of operations (continued)
  Imperatives Fire support considerations (not all inclusive)
  Create and exploit positions of physical, information • Target physical, information, and human factors through
  and human advantage in pursuit of decision use of lethal and non-lethal methods.
  dominance. The employment of lethal forces is based on
  • Coordinated Sensor and Zone management to proactively
  the premise that destruction and other physical
  target IFC.
  consequences compel enemy forces to change their
  decision making and behavior, ultimately accepting defeat. • Position assets forward to maximize range.
  The type, amount, and ways in which lethal forces compel • Ongoing military decision-making process and updated
  enemy forces varies, and this depends heavily on enemy
  running estimates to inform current and future decisions.
  forces, their capabilities, goals, and the will of relevant
  populations. Understanding the relationship between • Leverage all available assets
  physical, information, and human factors enables leaders to (Joint/Multinational/National) across multiple domains.
  take advantage of every opportunity and limit the negative • Understand enemy critical capabilities and critical
  effects of undesirable and unintended consequences. vulnerabilities to create windows of opportunity and
  relative advantage.
  Make initial contact with the smallest element possible. • Use the lowest echelon possible to produce the desired
  Army forces are extremely vulnerable when they do not effect.
  sufficiently understand the disposition of enemy forces and
  • Manage cueing schedule to minimize radar signature.
  become decisively engaged on terms favorable to enemy
  forces. To avoid being surprised and incurring heavy losses, • Develop AGM to standardize fire orders.
  leaders must set conditions for making enemy contact on • Target systems as opposed to large formations.
  terms favorable to the friendly force. Leaders should
  anticipate when and where to make enemy contact, the • Focus on execution of HPTs as opposed to “random”
  probability and impact of making enemy contact, and targets.
  actions to take on contact. Quickly applying multiple • Leverage all available assets
  capabilities against enemy forces while preventing the bulk (Joint/Multinational/National) across multiple domains.
  of the friendly force from being engaged itself requires
  understanding the forms of contact.
  Impose multiple dilemmas on the enemy. Imposing • Target the depth of enemy zones
  multiple dilemmas on enemy forces complicates their (Disruption/Battle/Support).
  decision making and forces them to prioritize among
  • Leverage all available assets
  competing options. This is a way of seizing the initiative and
  (Joint/Multinational/National) across multiple domains.
  making enemy forces react to friendly operations.
  Simultaneous operations encompassing multiple domains • Provide deception fires in support of deception
  conducted in depth and supported by deception present operations to reinforce pre-conceived notions of the
  enemy forces with multiple dilemmas. Employing enemy commander.
  capabilities from multiple domains degrades enemy freedom • Distribute C2, collection, and firing unit locations.
  of action, reduces enemy flexibility and endurance, and
  disrupts enemy plans and coordination. The application of • Use reactive and proactive counterfire to deny enemy
  capabilities in complementary and reinforcing ways creates permissive fires environment.
  more problems than an enemy commander can solve. This
  erodes enemy effectiveness and the will to fight.
  Anticipate, plan, and execute transitions. Transitions • Forecast changes to Command and Support
  mark a change of focus in an operation. Leaders plan relationships based on demands for future operations.
  transitions as part of the initial plan or parts of a branch or
  • Anticipate how the FS system will adjust for branches,
  sequel. They can be unplanned and cause the force to react
  sequels, and significant operational changes (Offense,
  to unforeseen circumstances. Transitions can be part of
  Defense, Stability).
  progress toward mission accomplishment, or they can
  reflect a temporary setback. • Plan for CP transitions (Main CP/Tactical CP) based on
  mission requirements.
  • Understand the effects of how weather/seasonal
  transitions will impact operations and support
  capabilities (weaponeering).
  Designate, weight, and sustain the main effort. • Use FS execution principles (see chapter 3) to anticipate
  Commanders frequently face competing demands for limited the dynamics of large-scale combat operations, maintain
  resources. They establish priorities to resolve these situational awareness of the OE, and leverage
  demands by designating, weighting, and sustaining the main interoperable FS C2 systems and attack/delivery
  effort. They provide the main effort with the appropriate capabilities.
  resources and support necessary for its success. When
  • Assign Command and Support Relationships to provide
  designating a main effort, commanders consider
  adequate support, flexibility, and most effective fire
  augmenting a unit’s task organization and giving it priority of
  support means.
  resources and support. The commander designates various
  priorities of support, such as for air and missile defense, • Suitably allocate joint assets to the main effort.
  close air support and other fires, information collection,
  mobility and countermobility, and sustainment.