Fire Support Specialist (13F)
- Enlisted
- Active Duty
- Army Reserve
- Closed to Women
A Fire Support Specialist is a member of the Army’s field artillery team. Artillery are weapons that fire large ammunition or missiles to support infantry and tank units in combat. The Fire Support Specialist is primarily responsible for leading, supervising or serving in intelligence activities such as target processing, division artillery and maneuver brigade.
Here are some duties of a Fire Support Specialist:
- Establish, maintain and operate communications systems
- Encode and decode messages
- Assist in preparing and disseminating fire support plans, coordinate documents and target lists
- Assist in the operation of laser range finders, target designation and night observation devices
- Determine target location using computers or manual calculations
Requirements:
Fire Support Specialists must have the physical stamina to perform strenuous activities for long periods without rest. They’re also required to have normal color vision in order to identify color-coded ammunition.
Training:
Job training for a Fire Support Specialist consists of nine weeks of Basic Training, where you’ll learn basic Soldiering skills, and seven weeks, one day of Advanced Individual Training. Part of this time is spent in a classroom and part in the field under simulated combat. Some of the skills you’ll learn are:
- Methods of computing target locations
- Ammunition-handling techniques
- Gun, missile and rocket system operations
- Artillery tactics
Helpful Skills:
Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to think and remain calm under stress
- Ability to work as a member of a team
- Interest in cannon and rocket operations
- Ability to perform a wide variety of duties
Advanced Responsibilities:
Advanced level Fire Support Specialists supervise and train other Soldiers. As an advanced Fire Support Specialist, you may be involved in:
- Assisting the Fire Support Sergeant in the training of subordinates in fire support procedures, techniques and tactics
- Preparing observer target lists
- Initiating suppressive and screening fire
- Selecting and occupying observation posts
