This is part 2 of a 2-part interview focused on the Targeting Process and Joint Fires. Targeting is not only a means for putting indirect fire or air support onto a specific target at a specific time. Targeting is a holistic approach to bring effects at the right time and place to achieve a desired outcome. This includes lethal and non-lethal as well as kinetic and non-kinetic means to effect the enemy or the civil component. The outcome of the targeting process is used to drive operations and move personnel, equipment, and or capabilities to the right location at the right time to achieve the desired endstate. The Targeting Process and integration of Joint Fires is trained in a Multi-Domain Large Scale Combat scenario at the Combat Training Centers to prepare Special Operation and the Army for the first battle of the next war. 

About the Guest:

SFC Dillon Luedtke: Dillon grow up watching his father, an Airborne Artilleryman, deploying multiple times, ultimately leading Dillon to seek out a life of service as well with a passion for the Airborne and fires community leading him to Special Forces. Dillon is an 18C Engineer SGT with training in Joint Firepower Course and Joint Fires and Effects Course. Dillion has operational experience in CENTCOM and AFRICOM with 3rd SFG (A).

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Joint targeting: land, air, maritime, and SOF components work together to allocate resources to targets in time and space with specific desired effects; this process can be replicated at the Detachment level

- Convergence windows: Joint/conventional force identifies time and space on battlefield for each supporting effort to execute operation to support main effort

- D3A: decide, detect, deliver, assess: SOF adds value in the assessment phase by being able to provide collateral damage or battle damage assessments, or confirm those assessments, including CA and PSYOPs roles

- Challenges for ARSOF regarding targeting and fires, generally SF AOBs target working groups do not have all ideal elements integrated into the targeting process, needs to at a minimum have all war fighting functions represented

- Requesting fires at the appropriate time and place with the right resources to mitigate risk to mission and force

- Consider sustainability for elements providing fire or air support

- Understanding the enemy MLCOA and MDCOA when desired effects occur, will the terrain you are on be targeted by enemy as suspected FO position

- ARSOF must integrate as early as possible with conventional and joint force, building rapport and being seen as a team member

- Prepare for CTCs and improve understanding of targeting by reading doctrine, send people to get institutionally trained  

- Building relationships with conventional forces, air component and maritime components to develop training opportunities

- targeting includes all domains: air, land, maritime, cyber, and space

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at [email protected].  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds