MORTAR SECTION LEADER

In accordance with ATP 3-21.8 The mortar section sergeant is responsible for employing the mortar section and ensures effective mortar support for the company. Responsibilities include the following:

• Coordinate with the fire support officer (FSO) regarding the area of operation and up-to-date tactical intelligence.

• Coordinate with the FSO to receive the fire support plan, the fire support execution matrix, the company target list worksheet, and any fire support coordination measures.

• Participate in company rehearsals.

• Perform the duties, when possible, of the headquarters platoon sergeant.

• Perform the duties, when possible, of the company command post NCO in charge.

In accordance with ATP 3-21.90 the section leader serves as the senior NCO responsible for the company or troop mortar section. Section leaders ensure the operation, training, and management of their respective section. The section leader is the primary trainer of all collective tasks within the section and all section echelon (and platoon echelon as applicable) collective drills. The section leader is required to be an Infantry Mortar Leader Course graduate.

The section leader is the principal advisor to the company or troop commander and FSO on the tactical employment of mortars and the integration of mortars into the fires plan. The section leader performs the same duties and warfighting functions as the mortar platoon leader, platoon sergeant, and fire direction chief, in addition to the following duties:

• Assists the company or troop commander in planning the employment of the mortar section.

• Coordinates with the company or troop FSO to execute the commander’s intent with fires.

• Controls the mortar section during all operations.

• Trains all mortar section weapons, mortar analog and digital fire control equipment, and communications equipment as the primary trainer.

• Attends and advises the company or troop commander of the mortar section fires plan during the fires rehearsal.

• Establishes and maintains situation maps; marks all restrictive fire control measures on the map, onto the plotting boards, and loads into whichever digital fire direction systems are used (MFCS, LHMBC, or both).

• Continuously tracks friendly unit locations using analog methods (map over corkboard with pins, map with map marker, or modified observed fire chart on the plotting board) and digital methods (FBCB2) when digital is available.

• Provides input for the appropriate section of the company or troop TACSOP.