The field artillery is challenged to demonstrate that it is both capable of and committed to making those improvements necessary to provide effective support to the heavy maneuver brigade. Units returning from the National Training Center (NTC) frequently report less than anticipated results from the artillery and the entire fire support system. Both maneuver and artillery units are frustrated by this less than expected performance coupled with the knowledge that an inordinate amount of effort was expended in trying to make it work, both at home station and at the NTC. A common thread in NTC reports is the lack of synchronization of fires with the maneuver plan. This thesis investigates the question, "How can field artillery cannon battalions improve field artillery support to the heavy brigade?" It focuses on M109-series, 155mm howitzer battalions in CONUS, with a direct support mission to a heavy brigade combat team during an NTC rotation. It keys on the doctrinal and training aspects of artillery support, primarily the seven basic tasks of the artillery battalion and the principles of training. In particular, it focuses on the challenges of synchronizing artillery with maneuver in the planning phase of an operation through wargaming.

ADA 312233 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)