The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the one-hundredth-and-sixty-fifth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by MAJ Marc Howle, the Brigade Senior Engineer / Protection Observer – Coach – Trainer and MSG Jared Cawthon, the BDE Fires Support NCOIC OCT for the Brigade Command & Control (BDE HQ), on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today’s guests are subject matter experts from within JRTC’s fires support enterprise: MAJ David Nelson is the FA BN S-3 Operations Officer OCT, SFC Larry Gillispie, Jr. is the Fires Direction Center Senior OCT, and SFC Ryan Bruno is the Battery 1SG OCT for TF Fires (FA BN / DIVARTY). And MSG Austin Moss is the Senior Targeting NCOIC OCT for BC2.
This episode examines the fires technical rehearsal and why it is one of the most important, yet often overlooked, events in preparing a brigade for combat. The discussion explains how the fires technical rehearsal validates the entire sensor-to-shooter kill chain, ensuring observers, fire support personnel, fire direction centers, and gun crews can execute the plan before rounds are fired in combat. Leaders emphasize that the rehearsal is far more than a communications check—it validates fire support coordination measures, target refinement, firing data, ammunition availability, primary and alternate shooters, PACE plans, and the timing required to synchronize fires with maneuver. A recurring theme is that a simple plan supported by detailed fire support products and disciplined version control enables the brigade to identify friction early and refine tactical triggers into achievable technical triggers before execution.
The conversation also highlights common shortcomings observed during JRTC rotations, including conducting the first technical rehearsal only after arrival at the training center, poor transition from plans to current operations, inadequate battle rhythm integration, and failure to involve the entire fires enterprise in rehearsals. Leaders discuss the importance of digital sustainment training at home station, rehearsing degraded communications, validating ammunition requirements, conducting deliberate handovers between shifts, and continuously refining the fire plan as the tactical situation changes. The episode reinforces that technical rehearsals should become a routine battle rhythm event rather than a one-time exercise, allowing staffs to uncover problems before they become combat failures. Ultimately, the discussion argues that disciplined technical rehearsals build confidence, improve synchronization between maneuver and fires, and give commanders the information needed to execute timely, accurate, and lethal fire support on the modern battlefield.
Part of S13 “Hip Pocket Training” series.
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