Large Red FIST Wax Back Forward Observer Patch - Artillery Spotter US Army USMC for Sale

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Large Red FIST Wax Back Forward Observer Patch - Artillery Spotter US Army USMC For Sale

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Large Red FIST Wax Back Forward Observer Patch - Artillery Spotter US Army USMC:
$10.00

HIGHLY DETAILED 4Wax Backed Forward Observer Patch - Artillery Spotter US Army USMC -US Artillery
4" X 4 1/4" MERROWED EDGE - WAX BACKING
FORWARD OBSERVER

Forward observers in the U.S.militaryForward observers in the U.S. military are artilleryobservers who carry the Military Occupational Specialty designator of 13F inthe United States Army and 0861 in the United States Marine Corps. They areofficially called Fire Support Specialists in the U.S. Army and Fire SupportMen in the U.S. Marine Corps. They are colloquially known as FiSTers,regardless of whether they are members of a FiST (Fire Support Team), FSE(Fire Support Element) or COLTs (Combat Observation and Lasing Teams). TheBattalion Fire Support Officer (FSO) is the Officer in Charge of a BattalionFire Support Element.Duties
There are two main duties associatedwith Fire Support Teams according to general military doctrine and the U.S.Army Technique Publication (ATP) 3-09.30. Primary responsibilities of FiSTsare to "bring all means of indirect fire in support of the ManeuverCommander." This includes all Indirect Fire(IDF) Assets (Artillery, Mortars,Naval Gunfire and close-air-support). Secondary duties consist ofcommunicating battlefield intelligence such as enemy locations, strength,and activities to Command. COLT(all FiST) and LRS(mixed FiST-CavScout-Pathfinders) are brigade-level reconnaissance assets.They arealso assigned to Special Forces and Special Operations Units as terminalcontrollers and Fire Support Non Commissioned Officers.Requirements
Soldiers in this MOS must meet a number of requirements not demanded ofother military careers. The observer must be acutely aware of the positionand movements of friendly troops as well as those of opposing forces.Because of the strategic importance of this information, observers in theArmy must qualify for a security clearance; the depends on the specificposition. Observers must be able to work independently for long periods oftime and, because the clandestine nature of their work and their frequentplacement on or behind enemy lines, the ability to operate with minimalsupport is of great importance as some missions can often last for days orweeks.Physical demands on forward observers are often extremely highsince they fight alongside or in support of airborne infantry, lightinfantry, mechanized infantry, a joint task force or a sister service whilecarrying a much greater equipment load (radios, secure communicationequipment, laser rangefinder and target designator, etc.) than the maneuverelement they are attached to.Most, and eventually, all US ArmyArmored and Infantry battalions have converted to the Modular Forceorganization (Combat Teams). FiST's are assigned to the maneuver battalions,and attached to the maneuver troops/companies of the combined-arms, heavy,light or Stryker battalion they are serving with.Training
Infantry training provides the individual soldier with a direct action skilllevel that provides them with an optimal survival rate. The FiSTer isqualified to attend many military schools because of their Combat Armsdesignation such as, Airborne, Air Assault, Ranger, and Special Forcestraining. FiSTers are also given difficult cardiovascular, stamina andstrength training in addition to their FiST training. As FiSTer are attachedto direct action units, this training is meant to ensure they have thecapability to perform their more cerebral duties, while under the samestress the maneuver unit is exposed.Deployment
Fire SupportSpecialists may be attached to a mechanized infantry or an armored division.When mechanized infantry or armored, fire support teams consist of a driver,a commander, a Fire Support Non-Commissioned Officer, and a Fire SupportSpecialist of rank of E4 Specialist). This team works within an M7 BradleyFighting Vehicle, called a B-FIST or Bradley FIST, which is designed for thetask of Coordinating indirect fire. FO teams are often attached toMechanized infantry dismounted teams. In this scenario they break off withsmall infantry teams and travel on foot as light infantry and search for theenemy. They can also break off in two man teams and establish an observationpost.COL-Team
The Combat Observation and Lasing Team (COLT) is ahigh-technology, deeply inserted, spotting/reconnaissance team often calledon to maximize the use of GPS guided munitions like the EXCALIBUR seriesweaponry/155mm shell. The standard COLT consists of a driver/Grenadier(PFC/E-3), a gunner/RTO/Observer (Specialist/E-4) and a Team Chief(SPC-CPL-SGT), the vehicle commander who oversees the operation on the OP,and approves fire missions. While others, such as sniper teams, may work inconjunction with the COLT, FiST personnel remain its core element.COLT's are now equipped with the FS3 (Fire Support Sensor System) which hasconsolidated all of the M707 Knight Series MEP target acquisitioningequipment, previously mounted on KNIGHT HMMWVs (a M1025 variant), and is nowmounted atop the M1200 Armored Knight series Fire Support Team Vehicle(FiST-V), itself a redesign of the M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicleused by the U.S. Army's Military Police Corps. These teams typically workclosely with attack aircraft to guide air-delivered laser-guided munitions,while still providing ground support for maneuver battalions and acting as areactive strike force supporting special operations units. Reconnaissanceand targeting tasks are geared toward locating and destroying the enemy'scommand-and-control centers(Division level and higher), and major supply(POL, ordnance) dumps.The majority of COLT's in Iraq were attachedto the organic field artillery battalion's Headquarters and HeadquartersBattery, to serve as the nucleus of patrol columns consisting of supporttroops or cannon crewmen (13B) not normally trained or expected to performmounted or dismounted operations.With the need for coordinatedindirect-fire support control at higher levels, Fire Support Specialists arealso assigned to the “Fire Support Element,” at the battalion level, and asthe "Fires" section of the Operations Staff from brigade/regiment levelthrough to the corps level.Since 2003 the U.S. Army has also usedthe RQ-7B Shadow Unmanned Aircraft, flown by soldiers in the 15W MOS, inIraq and Afghanistan for artillery correction, close air support andreconnaissance.Joint Fires Observer
The joint fires observer(JFO) has an additional skill identifier (ASI) of L7. The JFO (13F L7) aretrained to call in indirect surface fires, Naval surface fire support,attack aviation close combat attack, and AC-130 calls for fire. They alsoare trained to provide a (JTAC or FAC) with targeting information for closeair support (CAS) Type 2 and Type 3 controls where the controller cannot seethe target. The concept of operation is that multiple JFOs will observe alarge battle area and liaise with one Joint Terminal Attack Controller(JTAC) from the Air Force/Marine Corps/Navy, multiplying the effective areaof operations for that JTAC.13D's were also given this identifier atFort Wainwright Alaska. The JFO team did a mobile training session for theposts 13F's & 13D's.Field Artillery Forward Observer 1189
FieldArtillery Forward Observer 1189 was a World War II Army Officer position."Directs the fire of an artillery unit from a forward position. Observesshell bursts and adjusts fire by forward observation or computation methods;consults with commanders of supported unit in determination of appropriateartillery targets, normal barrage, and zones of defense; trains personnel inprocedures of artillery operation; organizes observation posts; sets up andmaintains communication systems."Must know artillery methods indirection of fire, use of fire direction instruments, such as aiming circle,BC telescope, and range finder. Must be familiar with military maps andtheir interpretation. Should have experience with a firing battery and knowpotentialities and limitations of particular type of artillery involved.Knowledge of mathematics through trigonometry desirable. Military experienceincluding graduation from artillery officers' school essential. Thepresent-day title is a Fire Support Officer (FSO).
After a longday and an exhausting patrol in vicinity of west Baghdad, when the platoongot the call over FM radio that no one wants to hear after spending morethan 12 hours patrolling Iraqi neighborhoods in the hot sun.“Turnaround and go back out to help the Iraqi Army,” said Spc. William Babineau,a native of Charlotte, N.C., and forward observer with 3rd detachment,Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 120th InfantryRegiment, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team.While flicking the ashesfrom a burning cigarette, Babineau recalled the scene on the ground.“When we arrived, the IA soldiers were taking heavy contact from two floorsof a three story building, and at that time, we decided to call in close airsupport. I told the Iraqi army major to get his guys back because we aregoing to drop a bomb on the building.”Babineau said after theyreceived clearance from higher headquarters to execute the CAS request, theywere able to drop a 500-pound precision guided bomb on the building, whichneutralize the enemy threat and allowed the IA forces to break contact andregroup at a local base with no injuries.“A forward observer and hisradio are capable of destroying anything on the battlefield,” Babineau saidwith a grin.He shares this story and others like it with fellowforward observers to help bring perspective to the forward observer’s roleon the battlefield.“It helps them relate what they are doing intraining to what can actually happen,” according to Babineau.Training, as with all military occupational specialties, is necessary tomaintain tactical and technical proficiency.To assess their combateffectiveness, the guardsmen conduct their annual field training exercise atmultiple locations and ranges at Fort Bragg, N.C.“This is thepremiere collective training event for the unit this year,” said Lt. Col.Tobin R. Clifton, a Charlotte native and battalion commander, 1st Battalion,113th Field Artillery Regiment, 30th ABCT, N.C. Army National Guard. “Thisis our chance to conduct full-blown battalion operations as we prepare toprovide direct fire support for the 30th ABCT.”Like their activeduty counterparts, National Guard soldiers must maintain individual, sectionand unit level certifications.“We will come out of this exercisewith certified paladin sections, fire supporters and fire direction crews,”said Clifton. “It’s also our best chance to incorporate forward observersand their teams in the collective training.”With many skills thatare often times considered perishable, the forward observers get trainingwhenever and wherever they can.“You have to brush up during your offtime at home, or else you will lose your skills,” said Staff Sgt. DonavanBell, a team leader from 3rd Detachment, HHC, 1st Battalion, 120th InfantryRegiment, 30th ABCT, N.C. National Guard. “It is important to know all ofthe ways to do this job.”A forward observer must use a variety oftechniques to employ timely and accurate effects on targets by close airsupport, naval gunfire, cannon or mortar fire in order to provide firesupport to units and commanders on the battlefield.“I am the king ofbattle,” said Babineau. “It is my job to rain death on the enemies of mycountry with every asset the United States has to offer.”Throughoutmilitary history, the field artillery has become known as the “king ofbattle”, and nothing displays the king’s power more than the forwardobserver.