What rank would have the authority to call in support from 60mm and/or 81mm mortars?

Question

My friend was in Afghanistan. He went over as a PFC and was promoted to SPC while there. He told me under no circumstances could an enlisted man call in for support, it would have to be an officer or perhaps in some circumstances, as low as a SSG.
He told me that more than once it seemed like "forever" from the time there was a need for support fire to the time it was delivered. He said he realized in most cases it was 2-3 minutes, but he said it would have been much better if it was under a minute.
Are things this slow in combat or is does it just seem this way at the moment? Thanks.

? · Accepted Answer

For starters, 2-3 minutes is fast for indirect fire.
The Forward Observer sends the mortar or artillery fire direction center the call for fire, the FDC computes the mission and send the data to the gun line. The gun line dials the data on their sights and adjust the guns and then fires.
Its not and instant process.
Heck a  60mm mortar fired at charge 3 at 2500m has a time of flight of 32 seconds.

The request for indirect fire support comes from the ground force commander. If it was a platoon out on patrol, the GFC is the LT.

The approval depends. In Afghanistan, indirect fires are approved at the Regional Command level which is a 2 star general billeted command. Its a convoluted process. 
However, the Regional Command can per-approve indirect fires under certain conditions and give approval authority down to brigade or even battalion levels.

Aelwero Pitufo · Answer

It is currently a VERY slow process, because preventing collateral damage is a MUCH higher priority than protecting troops.  

That sounds bad, but one dead civilian effectively nullifies the positive contributions of hundreds of Soldiers, the war is being fought at home with the media as well as in theater with the enemy, and protecting civilians is a big part of that.

What rank can make the call will be specific to each unit and each situation.

AJ · Answer

Heck, when I was in the Army in Armor. Everyone, and I mean everyone, learned to "call for fire/ adjust fire". 

Anyone with a CEOI, or whatever they are calling it now, can call for fire. Has nothing to do with rank. Maybe it had something to do with the fact we were stationed at Fulda.

But 2-3 minutes is about the right timeframe to go through the radio procedure to adjust fire

Rawbert · Answer

highest ranking person alive... if your officer and sergeants are killed, who else is going to call it.
I've called it as a E-1, but I was on an officer's tank...

Communication takes time. You go to McDonald's, tell them you want a cheeseburger, they input it into their computer, someone on the other end reads it when they get it, then they start making it, then they have to tell the system it's made, someone else ha to put it in a bag or on a try... that doesn't happen the second the word burger leaves your mouth

User commited avatar suicide · Answer

those pieces are Weapons plt equipment at the hand of company commander.

i can see two minutes feel like a lifetime when a 18yo child starts realising he's NOT as invincible as he felt a minute ago.
then again, the company commander has like a hundred or so such children to take care of and support them with fire.

Anonymous · Answer

http://www.specialoperations.com/mout/moutpoi42.html

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks Obama

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What rank would have the authority to call in support from 60mm and/or 81mm mortars?

7 Answers