Live Fire Training

Squad Live Fire Exercise Squad Live Fire Exercise PlanningPlanning

Squad Live Fire Exercise Squad Live Fire Exercise PlanningPlanning

AGENDA

• ARMY LFX PHILOSOPY / TC 7-9

• SQUAD LFX DEVELOPMENT

• NOTES FROM AR 385-63

• RESOURCING

• AMMUNITION (STRAC)

• LFX ASSESSMENT

REFERENCES

• TC 7-9 Infantry Live-Fire Training• TC 25-8 - Training Ranges• AR 385-63 - Policies and Procedures for Firing

Ammunition for Training, Target Practice, and Combat

• DA Pamphlet 350-38 - Standards in Weapons Training

• Weapons FMs and TMs, Doctrinal FMs• Local 350-1 and other Range Control

Regulations• Unit Files (AARs, S-3 files, etc.)

Why Do We Do Live Fire Training?

• Build confidence in our units and weapons

• Understand true weapons’ effects

• Build proficiency at critical tasks and weapons’ skills under realistic conditions

What TC 7-9 Says

• Select area where leaders can select the direction and method of fire and maneuver based on MTETTC

• Integrate all organic and non-organic weapons systems and personnel (direct/indirect)

• Exercise all combat-related activities (CASEVAC, CSS, etc.)

• Use realistic targetry and return fire (MILES and simulators)

What TC 7-9 Says

• Avoid a “range mentality”• Use Crawl/Walk/Run (dry, blank, live)• Provide marksmanship feedback• Squad training should focus on positions,

volume of fire, fire control, fire distribution, fire discipline

• Plt training should focus on same major items as squad training

• Do safety briefings and risk assessments

IDEAL CYCLE IAW TC 7-9

• Stage 1 - Individual• Stage 2 - Crew• Stage 3 - Buddy Team• Stage 4 - Fire Team• Stage 5 -Squad• Stage 6 - Platoon• Stage 7 - Company and Larger• Remember - Available time will dictate the real

cycle

STAGE 1- INDIVIDUAL

• BEGINS IN INITIAL ENTRY TRAINING AND SUSTAINED IN UNIT AND INCLUDES:– ZERO WEAPON– QUALIFY WITH ASSIGNED WEAPON (RIFLE,

PISTOL)– FAMILIARIZE WITH HAND GRENADE AND M203– ENGAGE ENEMY WITH MULTIPLE SYSTEMS

(RIFLE, BAYONET, GRENADE, ETC); CONDUCT MOBILE MARKSMANSHIP (ASSAULT FIRE, QUICK FIRE, ETC); CONDUCT INDIVIDUAL MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES (IMT)

– REHEARSE (BLANKS/MILES)– MAINTAIN INDIVIDUAL WEAPON

STAGE 2 - CREW• COLLECTIVE TRAINING BEGINS IN THIS

STAGE AND INCLUDES:– ZERO ASSIGNED CREW -SERVED WEAPON.– QUALIFY WITH ASSIGNED CREW-SERVED

WEAPON.– CONDUCT CREW-DRILL ON ASSIGNED CREW-

SERVED WEAPON.– DRY FIRE (ENGAGE ENEMY WITH MULTIPLE

SYSTEMS).– REHEARSE (BLANKS/MILES).– MAINTAIN ASSIGNED CREW-SERVED WEAPON.

STAGE 3 - BUDDY TEAM• FIRST COORDINATED MOVEMENT EXERCISE

(FIRE AND MOVEMENT)• REFINE IMT AND COMMUNICATION (TO

INCLUDE HAND AND ARM SIGNALS) • TAUGHT TO 11 SERIES MOS’ IN INITIAL ENTRY

TRAINING AND MUST BE SUSTAINED IN UNITS. • INCLUDES:

– DRY FIRE (ENGAGE ENEMY WITH MULTIPLE SYSTEMS)

– REHEARSE (BLANKS/MILES)– CONDUCT LFX (BUDDY TEAM FIRE AND MOVEMENT)

STAGE 4- FIRE TEAM• FIRST STEP THAT REQUIRES COMMAND

AND CONTROL• TRAINED AND SUSTAINED BY UNIT

COMMANDERS• INCLUDES:

– DRY FIRE (ENGAGE ENEMY WITH MULTIPLE SYSTEMS.

– REHEARSE (BLANKS/MILES)– CONDUCT LFX (BASED ON AMMUNITION

AVAILABILITY, THIS LFX CAN BE INTEGRATED INTO THE SQUAD LFX).

STAGE 5 - SQUAD TRAINING• MANEUVER AND COMMAND AND

CONTROL PROCESS EXERCISED (FIRE TEAM LEADERS AND SQUAD LEADER)

• FORCE ON FORCE EXERCISES MUST PRECEDE ALL LIVE FIRE EXERCISES AT THIS LEVEL AND HIGHER:– CONDUCT DRY FIRE (ENGAGE WITH

MULTIPLE SYSTEMS)– REHEARSE (BLANKS/MILES)– CONDUCT LFX

STAGE 6 - PLATOON TRAINING• COMMAND AND CONTROL BY FIRE TEAM,

SQUAD, AND PLATOON LEADERS IS MORE DIFFICULT

• INTEGRATE SUPPORTING FIRES• INCLUDES:

– INFANTRY PLATOON ORGANIC AND NONORGANIC SYSTEMS SUCH AS THE BFV, ANTI-ARMOR SYSTEMS, MORTARS, AND ARTILLERY.

– AVAILABLE INDIRECT FIRES MUST BE INTEGRATED AT THIS LEVEL.

– DRY FIRE (ENGAGE WITH MULTIPLE SYSTEMS)– REHEARSE (BLANK/MILES)– CONDUCT LFX

STAGE 7 - COMPANY AND BN

• THIS IS RUN SIMILAR TO STAGE 6 WITH INCREASED EMPHASIS ON NONORGANIC AND/OR COMBINED ARMS SYSTEMS.

SQUAD LIVE FIRE EXERCISES

• FIRST LEVEL OF TRAINING THAT INVOLVES THE UNIT

• CULMINATION OF ALL PREVIOUS TRAINING• ANTICIPATION AND MORALE ARE HIGH • UNIT LEADERSHIP MUST ENSURE THAT

THIS IS A REALISTIC, WELL-PLANNED EXER

• ARTEP MTP TASKS ARE TIED TOGETHER AND STXs ARE CONDUCTED

SQUAD LFX OBJECTIVES• REINFORCES PRINCIPLES OF C2 THRU THE

FOLLOWING EMPHASIS:– CONCEPTS OF SUPPORTING FIRE, BASE OF FIRE, AND

SYNCHRONIZATION OF FIRES,– CONCEPTS OF STARTING, STOPPING, LIFTING, AND

SHIFTING FIRES (FIRE DISTRIBUTION AND CONTROL)– CONCENTRATION ON MANEUVER (INCLUDING

SECURITY AND FRATRICIDE PREVENTION), FIRE CONTROL MEASURES, AND FIRE DISCIPLINE

• COMMUNICATIONS (COMMUNICATION IS THE LINCHPIN OF SYNCHRONIZATION)

• USE OF TERRAIN AND ITS IMPACTS ON MANEUVER AND C2.

SQUAD LFX OBJECTIVES• WEAPON SYSTEM INTEGRATION USING

ORGANIC AND NONORGANIC WEAPONS NORMALLY FOUND AT SQUAD LEVEL (M16, M203, M249, HAND GRENADES, CLAYMORES ETC).

• INTEGRATION OF A FIRE SUPPORT PLAN (INCLUDES CALLING FOR AND ADJUSTING INDIRECT FIRES).

• TARGET IDENTIFICATION, ACQUISITION, AND ENGAGMENT (EMPHASIS ON FRATRICIDE PREVENTION).

LFX Scenario Development

• Build so that range safety/limitations are part of the tactical plan - should be nearly invisible to training unit.

• Target emplacement and OPORD/graphics, etc. get unit to go where they need to go and fire where they need to fire to meet range restrictions (the fewer “barber poles and range markers the better)

• Complexity based on unit capabilities

AAR TENT

PatrolBase

ASLT PSN

N

Concept Sketch

PLTAA

Move Tactically

React to Contact

React to Far Ambush

Conduct TLP’s

Conduct a Rehearsal

Prepare for Combat

Consolidate and Reorganize

Control Fires

Contact2 man OP

Contact4 man patrol

Knockout Bunker

AmmoAAR TENT

SET 2

SET 3

SET 4

SET 5SET 1Lone soldier

SET 6

TargetOperator/Medic

PatrolBase

SBF LEFT = 110°

152 °

SBF

ASSAULT LEFT = 36°

SBF & Assault Right limit

DOA 65°

ASLT PSN

N

SET 1: SINGLE CONTACTSET 2: LEAD TEAM ENGAGES 3 MAN PATROLSET 3: SHIFT TGTs FOR BASE OF FIRESET 4: ASSLT ELEMENTSET 5: COUNTER ATTK 1SET 6: COUNTER ATTK 2

Targetry and Scheme of Mnvr

15-40°

Target Placement Considerations• Must fit in SDZs• Wargame to avoid fratricide• Always consider the richochet hazard – Area A• Clearly ID friend from foe• Do a good line of sight analysis from a shooter’s

point of view• Angle so can be fired at from different angles if at

all possible• Protect the target mechanism• Tactically/doctrinally sound

SQUAD LFX PLANNING

• SAMPLE TRAINING PLAN FOUND IN TC 7-9 ..PG 5-4 THRU 5-6.

• SURFACE DANGER ZONE (SDZ) DEVELOPMENT IN APPENDIX G, TC 7-9, AND IN AR 385-63...

• COMPOSITE SDZs– MUST BE DEVELOPED FOR EACH SYSTEM TO BE

FIRED – ANALYZED FROM EACH FIRING POINT (FP)

AGAINST EACH TARGET ARRAY– THIS ENSURES APPROPRIATE MANEUVER

CONTROL MEASURES ARE IMPLEMENTED AND THE TACTICAL INTEGRITY OF THE SCENARIO IS MAINTAINED.

Some Key Points According to Doctrine

• Safety is paramount during all live fire and laser operations - TC 25-8

• Waivers of AR 385-63 requirements granted at major Army command (MACOM) level

• Red flags (day) and red lights (night) required on the range when firing

• Personnel training must be separated from ammunition storage areas

• If any round or explosive malfunctions,firing of that ammo lot will cease immediately and use of weapons involved will be discontinued

• Material involved in malfunctions will be preserved

Notes from AR 385-63

• 15 degrees is the minimum angle between supporting small arms fire and a manuever element

• Don’t modify ammunition (include de-linking tracers from 4X1 ammo)

• Carefully research the rules on any laser device you may be using

• Overhead Firing – NEXT SLIDE

OVERHEAD FIRE-Unprotected troops

• Don’t do it with discarding sabot-type rounds (BFV AP rounds, tank rounds, etc.)

• Don’t do it in training with mortar rounds• Can do with artillery as long as ammo lot

approved and artillery registered• Only the installation commander or designated

representative can authorize• Only ammo authorized is: artillery in indirect

mode and machineguns (5.56mm to .50 caliber) on tripods firing from a stationary position

OVERHEAD FIRE-Unprotected troops• See page 16-2 of AR 385-63 before using

machineguns in overhead fire role• Use tracers (4X1) if firing overhead• Vehicle ring mounts are not authorized for

overhead fire.

Overhead Fire-Protected Troops• Overhead fire with any weapon may be authorized

over protected troops, provided the troops have positive protection from the munitions being fired (page 16-2, AR 385-63)

• CHECK WITH YOUR COMMANDER BEFORE DOING IT

• IAW AR 385-63 TABLE 6-2 – SOME EXAMPLES

NATURE OF COVER 5.56mm 7.62mm

CONCRETE 14” 20”

DRY SAND 16” 24”

LOGS WIRED TOGETHER 28” 48”

KEY NOTES ON SOME DUD PRODUCING AMMO

• 40mm HE, 66mm LAW, AT-4, Handgrenades, and artillery ICM may be authorized for use in live fire areas only when fired into designated impact areas through which troops are not permitted to manuever (Page 16-3, AR 385-63)

• NOTE: Lots of units have waivers for this. In many cases, same rules may apply to mortar ammo. Know the rules!

• An RSO must supervise the throwing of HG

Training Resources

• Commanders Assessment of METL Proficiency Determines Resource Priorities for Training Requirements

• A METL-Based Events Approach To Resource Planning Is Used to Allocate:

TimeTime Facilities / TerrainFacilities / Terrain

FundsFunds Fuel ProductsFuel Products

Repair PartsRepair Parts AmmunitionAmmunition

Training AidsTraining Aids Other ResourcesOther Resources

30

RESOURCE OF A SQUADLFX

• THE LOGISTICAL PLAN MUST COVER THE AMOUNT AND TYPE OF EQUIPMENT AND AMMUNITION NEEDED FOR EACH PHASE OF THE TRAINING:– PRE-EXECUTION TNG AND REHEARSALS– DRY FIRE AND WALK-THROUGH (DAY AND

NIGHT)– BLANK FIRE WITH MILES (DAY AND NIGHT)– LIVE FIRE– AFTER ACTION REVIEW– ADDITIONAL CL V FOR TEST FIRES, ZERO, AND

RE-TRAINING

RESOURCE OF A SQUAD LFX• CLASS V RESOURCE DOCUMENTS (STRAC

MANUAL), EXAMPLES ARE IN TC 7-9, PG 5-12 THRU PG 5-14, AND APPENDIX F.

• TARGETRY AND TRAINING ENHANCERS SPECIFIC TO LIVE FIRE EXERCISES ARE FOUND IN TC 7-9, APPENDIX C.

• THOUGHTS:– COMPETENT O/Cs -TRANSPORTATION

– OPFOR W/ UNI -TARGET OPERATORS

– MEDICAL SPT -EXTRA COMMO

– OBJECTIVE PROPS -TGT FEEDBACK

WHERE YOUR AMMO COMES FROM

Standards in WeaponsTraining

DA PAM 350-383 JULY 97

Training Readiness Conditions Levels and Categories

• Active Duty Units TRC A & S*

• Reserve Components TRC C• USAR Training Division TRC D

Note: S TRC Level Is for Special MP Unit (Civilian Equiv. Swat or Body Guard Type Mission)

• Category I (Rifle / Infantry Scout)– Applies Only to Soldiers With Either an 11B or 11M MOS Assigned to

Rifle Or Infantry Scout Squads

• Category II (Combat Arms / Combat Support / Combat Service Support)– Applies to All Other Soldiers That Are Not Assigned To Rifle or Infantry

Scout Squads

Chapter 5, STRACInfantry Weapon Systems

Each Program Contains a Standard and Strategy Which Outlines the Training Sequence and Includes Suggested Frequencies of Live Fire, Subcaliber Fire, And Device Usage.

DRIVES YOUR UNIT AMMO ALLOCATION AND PLANNING!!

Table 5-5. Cross reference table.

Weapon Systems

TRC A TRC B TRC C TRC D

Machine Gun M60/M240B (CAT I)

Para 5-8 a.

Table 5-29

o 90% of assigned MG/AG will qualify:

o MG last 6 mo

o AG last 1 YR

o LFX last past 3 months.

o PLT EXEVAL last 6 mo.

o 80% of assigned MG/AG will qualify:

o MG last 1 yr

o AG last 2 YR

o LFX last YEAR

o PLT EXEVAL last 2 YR

o 80% of assigned MG/AG will qualify:

o MG last 1 yr

o AG EVERY OTHER TNG YR

No TRC D units

Machine Gun M60 /M240B M249LMG(CAT II)

Para 5-8 b.

Table 5-30

o 90% of assigned MG/AG will qualify:

oo MG last YR

AG last 2 YR

o 80% of MG will qualify within past training year and will have completed all record fire requirements within the past 2 training years.

o 80% of assigned machine gunners will qualify within past training year.

 

o 80% INSTR qual on the record (10 meter) and transition courses within the past 12 months.

Frequency By TRC Event Rounds Per Event A B C

Pre-Marksmanship TNG EST 4 4 2

10 Meter Zero/Prac 117 Ball 2 1 1

10 Meter Record 119 Ball 2 1 1

Transition Zero/Practice 182 Mix 2 1 0

Transition Record 154 Mix 2 1 0

Night Zero/Practice/Record 196 Mix 2 1 0

Assistant Gunner (AG) 10M 236 Ball 1 .51 .51

AG Transition/Night 532 Mix 1 .51 0

Sqd/Plt LFX 300 Mix 62 1 0

CALFEX 200 Mix 1 0 0

Sqd/Plt/Co FTX/STX 400 Blank 42 1 1

Bn FTX 400 Blank 2 0 0

EXEVAL (ARTEP) 400 Blank 2 1 .5

DRF Prep Fire3 40 Mix

Annual Ammunition CycleBN Annual Allocation (1)

Company Annual Allocations (1)

Monthly Allotments (Annually) (2) Projected budget based on annual training requirements, guidance and annual allocation. Preferably alloted by week. USES STRAC

Monthly Forecasts (5 mo out) (3) Revised projection which determines the ammunition available for the period forecasted. Consists of an adjusted allotment based on updated training guidance and previously unused ammunition from this FY.

Ammunition Requests (4) (by week 6 weeks out

MIN,

MAY BE LONGER)

Prep DA Form 581 (5) Company requests are consolidated and adjusted as necessary to match depot packaging round count.

Process DA Form 581 (6) BDE, DAO and ASP confirm authorization and availability of ammunition based on forecast and on-hand status of requested ammunition

Unexpected Requirements Unforecasted, short notice events. May require Bde Cdr’s signature.

Draw, Utilization, Storage, Turn-in Preparation (7)

Ammo Conference 4 months out, Bde ammo manager attends, DAO approves forecasts, ASP coordinates for ammo.

DA Form 581 (8) Excess ammunition returned to ASP and made available for re-forecasting

Ammo Supply Point DA581’s prepared for dunnage and live turn-in.

DA Form 581 Reconciliation (9) DA 5811-R, Live T/I, and Residue T/I to account for 100% of ammunition

Controlling a LFX

• Controllers walk through scenario on site under same conditions that LFX will be done under (day, night, etc.) and wargame it thoroughly to find problems with target placement, potential hazards, etc.

• If done at night, wear NVGs and carry a flashlight• Ensure commo with all controllers and with controllers of

units providing supporting fires• Conduct briefback before each iteration (Cadre Huddle)• Positive control of target operator a must• Avoid stressing out participants whenever possible

Controlling a LFX

• Rehearse MEDEVAC plan• Rehearse the triggering of targets• Fight targetry realistically• Don’t teach soldiers to be afraid of their

weapons (let them chamber rounds prior to crossing LD, load starter belts, etc.)

• Position near dangerous weapons (SAW, handgrenade, AT-4, etc.).

LFX ASSESSMENT

• STX DEVELOPED BY THE COMMANDER USING DRIVES HIS ASSESSMENT PLAN:– SPECIFIC COLLECTIVE TASKS IAW ARTEP 7-8 MTP.– ANY INDIVIDUAL TASKS THAT SUPPORT IAW THE

SOLDIERS MANUALS.– MUST STRESS INTEGRATION OF ORGANIC AND NON

ORGANIC WEAPONS.– PLAN AAR ON SITE...REHEARSE / RETRAIN

WEAKNESSES IMMEDIATELY...TIMELINE MUST INCORPORATE AAR PROCESS.

– USE DEVICES THAT ENHANCE FEEDBACK...TARGETS, ETC.

LFX NIGHT CONSIDERATIONS

• TARGETRY CAN BE MARKED WITH THERMAL TAPE OR HEAT SOURCE TO SIMULATE REALISM..MUZZLE FLASH SIMULATORS ARE ALSO EFFECTIVE.

• AS PART OF THE TACTICAL PLAY UNITS SHOULD CONSIDER:– MARKING ITS ROUTE AND CONTROL POINTS AS

PART OF THE RECON PLAN – MARK INDIVIDUAL SOLDIERS WITH VISIBLE

MARKINGS AND HAVE A PLAN TO MARK UNITS ON THE OBJECTIVE.

– ILLUMINATION FROM MORTARS AND M203 SHOULD BE FACTORED INTO THE SCENARIO

QUESTIONS??