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Forward observer

Tev

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Hello,
I've been really interested in pursuing a career in the artillery after university but I'm not sure if I would like to DEO or enlist as an NCM.
My question is : I know that there are Forward observer roles for officers, but do these also exist for NCMs ? If so, at what level ?
Bonus question : Are these kinds of roles available in the Reserves ? Is it realistic to expect to do this kind of work if I choose to go into the Pres ?

Thanks.

 
I am not a recruiter but I am an artillery officer. A FOO party is comprised of an officer, the FOO and several NCMs depending on what is going on. These jobs include: an OP Detachment Commander, OPDC, (MBdr/Sgt), a Det 2I/C (MBdr), a driver (Gnr/Bdr) and a tech (Gnr/Bdr). There may also be a Forward Air Controller (FAC) and the FOO or OPDC may or may not also be FAC qualified. There are FOOs and FOO parties in both the reserve and regular Army.

Check out the artillery section of this website for more info.

Jeff
 
do forward observers serve at the front with the infantry? what exactly do they do?
 
Just_A_Guy said:
do forward observers serve at the front with the infantry? what exactly do they do?

Yes. Gun batteries are located a few miles back from the front lines while FOO parties are attached to and operate with forward infantry companies or armored and reconnaissance squadrons. In addition there is an artillery coordination cell deployed forward with each infantry battalion and armored regimental headquarters.

:cheers:
 
Just_A_Guy said:
do forward observers serve at the front with the infantry? what exactly do they do?

Just_A_Guy said:
what do they do? are they at the front with the infantry?

thanks

Typing your questions multiple times will not guarantee a user responds more timely. In the future please ask your question once, wait patiently and search/read in the interim. Thank you.
 
Just_A_Guy said:
is it a final job? or do artillery soldiers take turns being the FOO?

If you read your history, you'll see that when you're in battle supporting the Infantry, the massive casualty rate sometimes ensures that everyone gets a chance to be FOO, or else.

On the upside, when the human wave assaults come, you'll become everyone's best friend pretty fast.  ;D
 
Not sure what you mean by final job. If you are an officer, you MAY be a FOO for 1 - 2 years. If you are an NCM, it is possible that you could serve a large part of your career in an OP Party. Note that while I'm not sure of the exact number, only slightly more than  half of officers across the Regular Army get qualified as a FOO. The percentage of those on the NCM side would be much less.
 
Just_A_Guy said:
or do artillery soldiers take turns being the FOO?

This may help,

FOO vs. FOO Tech 
https://army.ca/forums/threads/22853.0
2 pages.

Artillery crew job duties 
https://army.ca/forums/threads/96844.0
 
do FSO's serve at the front, or in staff? i know the NCM version is at the front with an infantry unit, but i don't understand the FSO concept.

cheers
 
If by FSO you mean Fire Support Officer, the Canadian term is Forward Observation Officer (FOO). Artillery officers in the FOO position or role do their job with forward units. Search the forums, their role and responsibilities have been discussed.

Google - site:army.ca FOO

Including this thread from yesterday: https://army.ca/forums/threads/116310.0.html
 
what is the day to day life as a FOO? what do you do day to day? do you get shot at a lot? how many soldiers do you command?
 
Just_A_Guy said:
what is the day to day life as a FOO? what do you do day to day? do you get shot at a lot? how many soldiers do you command?

This is instructive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gUSq7pxux4
 
Just_A_Guy said:
what is the day to day life as a FOO? what do you do day to day? do you get shot at a lot? how many soldiers do you command?

And this is an example of a Canadian officer who served as a FOO.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nichola_Goddard
 
Since we're on talking about FOOs, here's another oldie this time in the early seventies when I was in F Battery 2 RCHA.

One of those rare opportunities on a winter exercise where we were allowed to shoot from an observation shed. Me in the middle, my tech sergeant on my right (with binos up) and my sig on the left. My fourth guy would be the driver for our M113 who would be with the vehicle down the hill making coffee and baloney and egg sandwiches. :warstory:

https://plus.google.com/photos/100683112500627401489/album/6094371381228428449/6216386918973059906

:cheers:
 
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