Can someone please help me on this, my team leader asked me what the priorities of fire are for the M249 SAW and I didn't know, I know it takes soldiers in the open and then lightly armored vehicles as its last priority, but could someone give them to me in order?
-Thanks

Let's start a discussion here.
I would not engage troops in the open first unless they were actively firing or seeking cover. Leave those for the riflemen to engage, unless the distance is great.

Look for RPGs or other auto weapons first.

Luckily, most of todays oppisition does not use armored vehicle, (heavy or light)
If there is a gunner on top, engage him first on the vehicle.
You can knock out a vehicle, but if the weapon is still operationable, it is not good.

Ambushes are a total different story.

Thank you for that, but I was hoping more for like an FM list, like 1. Soldiers in the open, 2. Lightly armored vehicle, and so forth.

FM list is on AKO, or Google Army FMs select one and click on it and it will ask for your AKO login and password.

Your actually looking for DIRECT FIRE ENGAGEMENT PRIORITIES, I believe.

Remember from OSUT, react to DIRECT FIRE, react to INDIRECT FIRE......thats how the Army splits it up. So try those as search terms then look for ENGAGEMENT PRIORITIES, DIRECT FIRE WEAPONS......then look for machine gun or M249.

The M249 FM is online (you can Google) but has nothing in it on how to engage a target beyond firing positions how to shift fire, etc.

Good Luck.

From FM 3-21:

Threat‑Based Fire Control Measures

10-30. The following paragraphs discuss threat‑based fire control measures:

Engagement Priorities

10-31. Engagement priorities are the target types, identified by your leader, that offer the greatest payoff or present the greatest threat. He then establishes these as a unit engagement priority. Your leader refines these priorities within your unit, such as employing the best weapons for targets, as well as fire distribution.

Range Selection

10-32. Range selection is a means by which your leader will use their estimate of the situation to specify the range and ammunition for the engagement. Range selection is dependent on the anticipated engagement range. Terrain, visibility, weather, and light conditions affect range selection, and the amount and type of ammunition.

Weapons Control Status

10-33. The three levels of weapons control status outline the conditions, based on target identification criteria, under which friendly elements may engage. Your leader will set and adjust the weapons control status based on the friendly and enemy situation, and the clarity of the situation. The three levels, in descending order of restriction, follow:

WEAPONS HOLD Engage only if engaged or ordered to engage.

WEAPONS TIGHT Only engage targets that are positively identified as enemy.

WEAPONS FREE Engage any targets that are not positively identified as friendly.

Rules of Engagement

10-34. ROE are the commander's rules for use of force and specify the circumstances and limitations in which you may use your weapon. They include definitions of combatant and noncombatant elements, and prescribe the treatment of noncombatants. Factors influencing ROE are national command policy, the mission, operational environment, and the law of war.

So from the above....

I believe comes from an OP ORDER or unit SOP. I don't think you will find it detailed in a Manual. I could be mistaken. I think In-Direct fire has that list you describe.

Been a while for me so not a lot of memory to go on.

Erich hit on a lot of it.
All of what you are looking for 'could' be in a book. But, practice and application is the only way to learn.

Thing to know is, every situation is different.

Things depend a lot on the enemy, terrain, mission.

Movement to contact is totally different than ambush, whether hasty or predetermined.

The unit type will set your standard too.

My first two years in, there was only one Squad of us(infantry) in each Platoon.
Our job was mostly probing (Sneeking and peeking)the enemy.
When contact was made, which we tried not to make, we hunkered down and waited on the 155 mm, 4 duece and 50 cal. to say hello to the other guys. The radio was the most important weapon we had.

C'mon Dumont, there's no other Saw gunners in your Plt you can ask??

If you're unsure of something don't hesitate to tell your Squad Leader or direct NCO, that's why he's there.

OK Air6, I learned some new things here. I found the whole IED detection manual complete with pictorial instructions on how some of them are made (whats that doing on the Internet?).

Some of the new stuff out there is different to say the least I burned up about and hour reading it.

That's what I'm saying, some of these procedures have no business on the internet.


Also ( I guess I'm old school) but If a Joe is unclear about something, I feel it's better to be upfront about it. Pvts aren't expected to know everything. It's a different story if the material has already been covered, but I would expect there more then a few Vets in the OP's Plt that would be willing to help.


My .02

quote:

Originally posted by airdiablo6:
That's what I'm saying, some of these procedures have no business on the internet.


Also ( I guess I'm old school) but If a Joe is unclear about something, I feel it's better to be upfront about it. Pvts aren't expected to know everything. It's a different story if the material has already been covered, but I would expect there more then a few Vets in the OP's Plt that would be willing to help.


My .02

OK, clear as glass windowmaker. Seriously, I agree but you know as well as I do.....2-3 weeks there will be another PVT on here asking about range cards....lol.

FM 7-8 (Infantry Platoon and Squad), Ch 5 (PLT TACSOP), Annex G (Fire Control and Distribution) says

(b) Platoon machine guns. Machine gunners should always attempt to engage at their maximum effective range and should strive for grazing fire. Machine guns have the following target priority:
■The FPF, if directed.
■The most dangerous or threatening target.
■Groups of dismounted infantry in primary sector.
■Enemy crew-served weapons.
■Groups of dismounted infantry in secondary sector.
■Unarmored command and control vehicles

This is open source, not an OPSEC issue.

Ah, the Annex. I did look in FM 7-8 and in it's appendixes but couldn't find it in there.

METT-TC, or the guys being saluted. "Sniper Check, Sir."

quote:

Originally posted by pharoah_1701n:
METT-TC, or the guys being saluted. "Sniper Check, Sir."

I know you might be joking here but...

On the M16A1 when used in a Sniper role Priorities of Fire list via Google, Officers were listed. So thats kind of a half joke.

quote:

Originally posted by ErichG2:
The M249 FM is online...

I still have the one that came with my SAW in Germany. It was in the crate. I kept it as a souvenier, but I can't find it right now. The only job I did in the Army was SAW gunner.

Numbers, I say you should ask your team leader what they are. Maybe he made it up. If he didn't and he insists there is an answer, ask him where you can find it.

Then read it, but I wouldn't pay a whole lot of attention to it. Memorizing a list like that is a complete waste of time. Use common sense and shoot the most important targets first. The priority of fire is most important to least important...whatever that is in a particular situation.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PepeLep,

quote:

Originally posted by ErichG2:
Officers were listed. So thats kind of a half joke.

It's not a joke to me. I originally put my personal list, but I just made it up out of my head. It's not fixed. It's really shoot whatever's most dangerous or most important first. That depends completely on the situation.

I had officers near the top of mine, too...right below the radios and right above automatic weapons. Whoever appears to be giving orders next would come next.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PepeLep,