A Fire Support Specialist is a member of the Army's field artillery team. Artillery are weapons that fire large ammunition, rockets 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 for artillery units and maneuver brigades.

Some of your duties as a Fire Support Specialist may include:

• 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
• Assist in the set up and operation of advanced computer systems used to plan and execute fire missions

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.

Job training for a Fire Support Specialist requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and six weeks of Advanced Individual Training and on-the-job instruction. 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 techniques
• Gun, missile and rocket system operations
• Artillery tactics, techniques and procedures

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 level Fire Support Specialists provides guidance, supervises and trains other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced Fire Support Specialist, you may be involved in:

• Assist the Fire Support Sergeant in the training of subordinates in fire support tactics, techniques, and procedures
• Prepare observer target lists
• Initiate suppressive and screening fire
• Select and occupy observation posts

There's not a civilian organization in existence today that doesn't rely on computer and information technology to conduct business and operate more efficiently. As a Fire Support Specialist, you'll learn skills that will help you pursue a career in computer consulting, information technology support or data processing, to name a few.

• Cannon Crewmember (13B)
• Field Artillery Automated Tactical Data System Specialist (13D)
• Field Artillery Firefinder RADAR Operator (13R)
• Field Artillery Meteorological Crewmember (13W)
• Field Artillery Surveyor (13S)
• Multiple Launch Rocket System Operations/Fire Direction Specialist (13P)
• Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS/HIMARS) Crewmember (13M)

Learn more about the relationship between military training and civilian certification requirements.