What the Course Entails and Exam Details

This training covers the standardized procedures needed to request and adjust indirect fire. The curriculum focuses heavily on tactical communication, map reading, and the technical steps of the CFF sequence. Students must master the standard six elements of the Call For Fire request, transmitted in three distinct distinct transmissions:

Transmission 1:

• Observer Identification (Who you are)
• Warning Order (Type of mission, e.g., Adjust Fire, Fire for Effect)

Transmission 2:

• Target Location (Grid coordinates, Polar coordinates, or Shift from a Known Point)

Transmission 3:

• Target Description (What the target is, size, activity)
• Method of Engagement (Type of ammunition, if necessary)
• Method of Fire and Control (When you want the fire to hit)

Furthermore, the course and subsequent exam details involve demonstrating proficiency in Message to Observer (MTO), Authentication procedures, and accurately executing Adjustment of Fire using the 'successive bracketing' method based on visual impacts.

What to Expect in the Final Exam

The final Call For Fire evaluation is typically a combination of a written examination and a practical application performance test.

The Written Exam: This portion consists of multiple-choice and short-answer questions. It tests your knowledge of acronyms, standardized radio procedures, the six elements of CFF, Message to Observer requirements, and safety protocols regarding 'danger close' distances. You must know the capabilities and limitations of different firing platforms (e.g., M777 howitzers, 81mm mortars).

The Practical Application (The "Sim"): This is often the most critical component. Marines must demonstrate their ability to 'call for fire' in real-time. This can take place on a live-fire range or, more commonly during initial training, within a high-fidelity simulator like the Supporting Arms Virtual Trainer (SAVT) or Deployable Virtual Training Environment (DVTE). In this environment, you will be given a tactical scenario, identify a target, and must flawlessly transmit the three CFF transmissions over a radio simulator, adjusting shots until the target is suppressed or destroyed within a limited number of rounds and specific time constraints.

How to Study and Exam Centers

How to Study: Success in Call For Fire requires memorization, procedural fluency, and practice under stress.

• Master MCTP 3-10B: Study the Marine Corps Tactical Publication (MCTP 3-10B, formerly MCWP 3-16.6), Supporting Arms Observer, Spotter, and Gunner. This is the definitive manual.
• Practice the Sequence: Memorize the six elements of CFF until they become second nature. Write them out daily.
• Use Simulators: If available at your unit, maximize your time in the SAVT or DVTE. These simulators provide realistic feedback on your adjustments.
• Grid Coordinate Drills: Practice rapid and accurate eight-digit grid location identification on military maps.

Exam Centers: The USMC Call For Fire test is conducted exclusively within military training commands. It is not available through civilian centers like Pearson VUE. Primary testing locations include:

• Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools (MCCSSS) at Camp Lejeune, NC.
• The Basic School (TBS) at Quantico, VA (for officers).
• MOS-specific schools, such as the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, OK.
• Unit Training: Qualified Forward Observers within individual Marine Units often conduct sustainment training and evaluations locally.

•  Job Opportunities from the Course

A mastery of Call For Fire is fundamental to several critical Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) and advanced qualification paths within the Marine Corps. Proficiency can open doors to highly specialized billets and career progression.

• Forward Observer (MOS 0861)
• Fire Support Specialist
• Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) - Requires CFF mastery as a prerequisite
• Joint Forward Observer (JFO)
• Artillery Officer (MOS 0802)
• ANGLICO Fire Support Team Member
• Infantry Mortar Section Leader