info on 13 foxtrot mos

[adam kauwe]

any one know about this

 

[sgtgunn]

any one know about this

The US Army Military Occupational Speciality (MOS) 13F is a Fire Support Specialist - commonly called Forward Observers (FOs).

13F is an Artillery MOS and the Advanced Individual Training (AIT) School for is held at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and is 6 weeks long.

13F are typically assigned at the Platoon level to comat arms manuever formations (Infantry, Armor, Cavarly). Their primary responsibility is to coordinate and call for indirect fires (artillery, mortarts, attack helocopters, and fixed wing close air support).

13F requires good vision, and the ability to obtain a SECRET secutiry clearance (so no criminal record or bad credit history).

Adrian

 

[sagittario]

what do you want to know? i was 13f for 22 years, though I retired in 1999, the basics are still the same.

 

[Waylander]

Is the practice to add a FO to a combat platoon regular practice or is it an adaption for the small unit fighting like in Iraq and A-stan?

I am asking because we only add artillery FOs at the company level.

 

[sgtgunn]

Is the practice to add a FO to a combat platoon regular practice or is it an adaption for the small unit fighting like in Iraq and A-stan?

I am asking because we only add artillery FOs at the company level.

It's standard practice in the US Army.

There is a 13F FO attached to each rifle platoon. It is usually an experienced SPC/CPL or a SGT, and they normally stick to the Platoon Leader like glue (theoretically all platoon leaders are proficient in calling for fire. In reality.....lets just say LTs with maps and radios make me nervous...) There is usually an FSO (Fire Support Officer) who is a LT, attached to the Company HQ. At the BN level, there is a BN FSO (CPT) with a small group of FOs who work in the BN TOC. On paper all of the FOs are assigned to the BN Headquarters Company, but they are almost always attached down to the line companies. In some units they only are attached to the line units when deployed or during field training exercises, in others units they are effectively "organic" to the line units (i.e. living in same barracks, falling in with their rifle platoons for formations, etc.) - it's up to the BN CDR. Same thing with medics,

Adrian