Accession Number:

ADA289123

Title:

Permissive or Restrictive: Is There a Need for a Paradigm Shift in the Operational Use of the Fire Support Coordination Line?

Descriptive Note:

Monograph,

Corporate Author:

ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED MIL ITARY STUDIES

Personal Author(s):

• Lanza, Stephen R.

Report Date:

1994-05-06

Pagination or Media Count:

66.0

Abstract:

Joint Chiefs of Staff JCS Pub 3.0, September 1993, defines the Fire Support Coordination Line FSCL as a permissive fire support coordination measure. However, it also states that forces attacking targets beyond the FSCL must inform all affected commanders in sufficient time to allow necessary reaction to avoid fratricide, both in the air and on the ground. This dichotomy of whether the FSCL is permissive or restrictive, or a combination of both, is not only a question at the operational level, but a highly emotional issue affecting the unity of effort between the services. The purpose of this monograph is to determine whether the FSCL is adaptable and appropriate for current warfighting doctrine. This study focuses on a critical examination of the joint doctrine concerning the planning and implementation of the FSCL, and its related problems between the services. Whether the problem has been the inability to execute joint doctrine, or the inconsistency of the doctrine, severe repercussions are felt with respect to the FSCL. The tendency in lieu of resolving the problem is an unwillingness of all the services to adhere to the coordination required to implement the FSCL.

Descriptors:

• *MILITARY DOCTRINE
• *JOINT MILITARY ACTIVITIES
• *FIRE SUPPORT
• MILITARY OPERATIONS
• MILITARY HISTORY
• BATTLEFIELDS
• INTEROPERABILITY
• INTERDICTION
• RECONNAISSANCE
• FRATRICIDE

Subject Categories:

• Administration and Management
• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE