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

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

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is who is responsible for shaping and timing all fires to support the movement and protection of troops during an air assault. The Fire Support Officer has the authority and expertise to plan, coordinate, and synchronize indirect fires (artillery, mortars), air-to-ground fires, and suppressive fires across all phases of the operation. This role coordinates closely with aviation assets, target priorities, and the Fire Support Coordination Plan to ensure fires are integrated with helicopter lift, landing zones, and troop maneuver, while also deconflicting with aircraft operations to keep everyone safe and effective.

The other roles focus on different tasks: the Flight Lead is the commander of the aircraft and handles flight execution and safety; the Brigade Aviation Officer concentrates on aviation operations and aviation compatibility at the brigade level; the Aviation Liaison Officer connects aviation assets with ground units but primarily handles liaison and coordination rather than owning the fire-plan.