Different units have different relationships between their fire supports and their maneuver elements. On one end of the spectrum are units such as the 75th Ranger Regiment, where platoon forward observers fall in with their infantry platoons, day in, day out. At the other end of the spectrum is the 82nd Airborne Division Artillery, where all FISTers are consolidated at the headquarters and headquarters battery. The merits and difficulties of both arrangements can be debated, but in this article I want to discuss benefits of being with your maneuver in the field as much as possible.
Attention control is a term describing a person's ability to remain focused on something in the face of distraction or boredom. In the world of fire support, this attention control comes into play when monitoring multiple radio networks concurrently. On top of that, the FO might be relaying crucial updates face-to-face with the ground force commander at the same time. Attention control lets you seamlessly shift focus between tasks as the situation changes - so you're not missing vital details on any net. Missing a last-minute change to the location of a blocking position could have serious consequences. Missing the message to observer could add to the confusion of the battlefield. Attention control is vital in shifting attention resources from one task to another as the situation evolves.
Forward observers and drones seem like a match made in heaven. As the drone becomes lighter and able to loiter longer, the capabilities are a natural extension to the forward observer's job. Alongside this progression comes a turn towards the east for future conflict planning. This has me considering the lowly man portable drone in a densely wooded environment. The navigation challenges would require advanced sensors and software or a skilled and practiced pilot. As there are only so many hours in the day, I suspect the skilled and practiced pilot wouldn't also be the platoon forward observer.
Today FIST.ARMY was unveiled to the world! After thinking about where I should post my research, ideas, findings, and thoughts regarding the job of the FIST, I realized a dedicated space was the best idea. The domain name was available and memorable.
Virtual simulations allow real humans to interact with simulated environments and simulated systems. When those real humans are novice surgeons, using a simulated environment holds many benefits. When learning to cut and probe on humans, simulations must be considered. The skills required of these novice surgeons require practice to be mastered. A thoughtfully designed virtual simulation can save much pain and suffering in the training process.
The ability to selectively focus on different audio sources during the performance of one's primary duties is critical in many fields. From emergency services (Von Wyl et al., 2009) to law enforcement (Sloan & Paoline, 2021), from the military operations to commercial aviation (Sottilare & Schwarz, 2020), professionals are tasked with maintaining split focus with their auditory attention. This is a skill that is often developed over the course of performing these duties. Existing training formats neglect this specialized skill (Aydin et al., 2024; Innes at al., 2021; Sloan and Paoline 2021). It must be learned by novice entrants during performance of their duties.