CPT Michael Moffeit 13205 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I'm about to commission and go into Field Artillery, looking for any tips anyone can share on FABOLC, being a PL/FSO/FDO 2013-11-28T21:59:28-05:00 CPT Michael Moffeit 13205

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I'm about to commission and go into Field Artillery, looking for any tips anyone can share on FABOLC, being a PL/FSO/FDO

2013-11-28T21:59:28-05:00 2013-11-28T21:59:28-05:00 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member 13212

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Invest in high quality ear pro.&lt;br&gt;

2013-11-28T22:15:48-05:00 2013-11-28T22:15:48-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 72494

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>IMO NCOs will be your key to success. Especially in the Field as an FDO. Most units have &quot;their&quot; way about doing their fire missions and have been doing it the same way for a very long time. I have had 4 FDOs in my career and a cannot say a negative thing about a single one of them, the have adopted our SOP and never wanted to change a thing about it.

2014-03-09T17:07:04-04:00 2014-03-09T17:07:04-04:00 CSM Private RallyPoint Member 72527

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>You will get all the tools needed to succeed from the FA school house, but your true understanding if the weapons systems, ballistics, and leadership will all come from the particle application in your 1st&amp;nbsp;PLT.&amp;nbsp; Ensuring that you understand manual gunnery and degraded operations are critical skills you should master.&amp;nbsp;Automations have made the FA capable of more responsive and accurate fires, but can become a crutch.&amp;nbsp; All systems can fire just as quick and accurate with highly trained sections from the forward observe, to the fire direction center, and the howitzer section.&amp;nbsp; counsel your NCOs, train hard and repetitively, and enforce the standards and you will be very successful. Many LTs do not counsel their Platoon SGTs, because the LTs feel they can not modify their behavior or that the NCO must know more than the LT since he has been in for over 10 years.&amp;nbsp; That is a bad perception to have and your counseling will be invaluable with in the relationship you will have with your NCOs.&amp;nbsp; They will help train and make recommendation, but if that SR NCO is not the right person to be in that position it will fall on you to help the Army correct that.&amp;nbsp; That is what I would offer up as advice after being in the FA for over 25 years.

2014-03-09T18:01:33-04:00 2014-03-09T18:01:33-04:00 LTC Private RallyPoint Member 87202

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&lt;div&gt;The NCOs on this thread are correct. I&#39;ll give you the officer perspective.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;You have to be flexible, in several different ways. First, if the next conflict resembles the last conflicts, you can expect to be heavily involved in targeting/planning/executing non-lethal operations. Humanitarian aid and civil reconstruction are considered &quot;effects,&quot; so it will fall in your lap. Also, as a Company FSO I was the Company Intel Support Team leader. Both of these are good experience, and I would encourage you to embrace the opportunities if they arise; take whatever you can get and make it part of your &quot;brand.&quot;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Second, as a PL or FDO, you have to be flexible in balancing and maintaining both tactical and technical knowledge. Artillery platoons are smaller than Rifle platoons, and you have Smoke and Gunny, but you will have to be the platoon leader in much the same way as a Rifle PL. As for technical knowledge...you&#39;ll figure that out in OBC. You may find it hard to learn, but it is nearly impossible to maintain unless you are actively refreshing. In combat or during Artillery live-fire, you cannot be of value to the Battery if you don&#39;t know gunnery, Manual Gunnery (I was never an M109 person). You should have a command of gunnery that allows you to maximize the firing area, despite what the Battalion FDO thinks (bad memories). Also, be an XO.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In general, I would recommend broadening. Maybe it was just my peer group, but we were disillusioned with the Artillery we learned about in OBC. It didn&#39;t really exist except for the annual, or perhaps even less frequent, live-fire. We had to do the non-traditional roles, and wait to get back on the known path. Infantry officers have a clearly defined progression; PL, XO (maybe), staff. You, in the same period, have to fit in FSO, Bn Targeting Officer (not essential), PL, FDO, XO, Staff (which could be Bn FDO, but S3/4 shops are best). Keep an eye on your timelines for SF/PO/CA and the 75th. Go to Ranger School, and don&#39;t take &quot;no&quot; for an answer. You can also attend the Career Course of a different branch, which I highly recommend (MCCC if you can and that&#39;s your thing).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Oh, and you have to know mortars, CAS, CCA, and surveillance platforms in and out. This is all manageable, so don&#39;t feel over-encumbered. I wish I would have spent more time learning about these ancillary areas than enjoying scenic Lawton, Oklahoma.&lt;/div&gt;

2014-03-28T08:49:17-04:00 2014-03-28T08:49:17-04:00 CW3 Kevin Storm 173442

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Take the time to sit down with your NCO's and get to know them, figure out their strengths and weaknesses. Work to learn their from their strengths and take an interest in improving their weakness. Don't listen to the old school adage the 2LT's do not know anything, that is a misconception. You may not know the equipment and techniques as well as they do, likewaise your abaility to write and communicate may be far better than thiers. Some of your troops may be reading writing, and math challenged. This does not imply they are any less a soldier, but may need help in some of those areas, areas that you may excel at. Todays equipment is vastly more technical than it was when I came in in 1982. Back then a -10 was rarely over a hundred pages. Now the PMCS section is that long or longer.

2014-07-08T17:58:11-04:00 2014-07-08T17:58:11-04:00 COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM 463442

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>2LT Moffeit, your question is too limited in scope. I recommend that you find and read the Army Leader Development Strategy published JUN 13 (google search). You need to understand the training, education, and experience you will receive within the institutional, operational, and self domains and how this is leveraged by peer and mentor relationships. If you understand this document then you are better positioned to understand not only your 50m target (FABOLC) but also your 100m target (key and developmental experience: platoon leader) and what gaps you will need to fill on your own within the self domain. I argue that FABOLC will give you 25% of what you need to know to be successful as an FA officer, the operational domain will give you 50%, and you must fill in the remaining 25% yourself.

2015-02-08T15:31:57-05:00 2015-02-08T15:31:57-05:00 LTC Private RallyPoint Member 463545

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>LT....congratulations on being selected to join the prestigious branch of Redlegs, you have exciting times ahead of you!<br /><br />While it has been a few years since I attended, here are a few thoughts: <br />Gunnery....this is your bread and butter, the basis for our branch. Pay attention here and don&#39;t be afraid to ask questions. <br /><br />Fire support....equally important to pay attention, this is the other side of Artillery. This is the art of what we do.<br /><br />Ranger PT....only do this is you have a burning desire to attend Ranger a School (unless you are being assigned to 82nd or 101st). It will place an increased requirement on your time and can distract from the important things (gunnery and fire support). If you want to attend Ranger School, then go for it, but if your heart isn&#39;t into it, I wouldn&#39;t!<br /><br />Lawton....well good luck here! Not much to do, but not as bad as people make out. Make sure you hit Meers while you&#39;re there (just ask, people will help you find it!) Giseppi&#39;s (spelling is probably wrong) in Marlow is good too! Then there is Scooters on the outside of town, a LT favorite! Have fun in what you do, but don&#39;t put yourself or your career in danger!<br /><br />If you have any other questions, let the community know, there are plenty of Redlegs here to help!<br /><br />King of Battle!!!

2015-02-08T16:29:32-05:00 2015-02-08T16:29:32-05:00 LTC Private RallyPoint Member 463581

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Pull string, go boom.

2015-02-08T16:47:38-05:00 2015-02-08T16:47:38-05:00 SGM Omer Dalton 6119422

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>First what were you doing before being commissioned? If you had prior enlisted service you have some advantage. But remember you are entering a very different world and must mentally make the transition. If you came from the academic world you at at some disadvantage even if you graduated from the military academy. Either way you have a lot to learn. You provide the direction and orders and your NCOs are there to organize and get things done. Learn from your NCOs but remember they can never be your buddies. Above all remember you hold an appointed position that demands respect BUT RESPECT AND TRUST must be earned. You lose if you don’t and the unit will suffer. Never be afraid to ask or take advice from your subordinates and/or superiors. Good luck.

2020-07-20T09:01:49-04:00 2020-07-20T09:01:49-04:00 2013-11-28T21:59:28-05:00