Who plans, coordinates, and synchronizes fires during all phases of the air assault?

• A. Flight Lead
• B. Brigade Aviation Officer (BAO)
• C. Aviation Liaison Officer (LNO)
• D. Fire Support Officer

Answer: (D)

In an air assault, the Fire Support Officer is the one who plans, coordinates, and synchronizes all fires across every phase of the operation. This means developing the Fire Support Plan and ensuring artillery, mortars, and close air support are timed and aligned with the helicopter assault and ground maneuver from insertion through movement to the objective and extraction. The FSO coordinates target priority, time on target, and fire deconfliction, works with aviation assets to integrate air support into the overall plan, and adjusts fires as conditions change to keep the assault protected and fighting effectively.

The other roles support different aspects of the mission: the Flight Lead focuses on piloting and coordinating a helicopter flight; the Brigade Aviation Officer oversees overall aviation resources and airspace coordination; the Aviation LNO handles liaison between aviation and ground units. But the comprehensive plan and synchronization of fires across all phases belong to the Fire Support Officer.