How To Become A Fire Support Specialist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a fire support specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

If you're a forward-looking individual, then look no farther! You may be the perfect person to take on the role of fire support specialist. Fire support specialists, also known as forward observers, serve as members of the Army's field artillery team. They act as the eyes of an artillery unit and are primarily responsible for target acquisition and relaying that information to artillery units at all levels.

In this role, they operate radio wire communications and speech security equipment and for leading, supervising or serving in intelligence activities such as target processing for artillery units and brigade maneuvers. Some of the other tasks they perform on the job include encoding and decoding messages, preparing fire support situation plans and maps, and training subordinates in support procedures and tactics.

To be successful as a fire support specialist, you'll need to be physically and mentally fit and be able to perform under pressure. If you're looking to get into this field, you'll typically find work with the Army National Guard. In the Guard, you will receive 10 weeks of Basic Training. After that, you will attend six weeks of Advanced Individual Training (AIT), which will include a combination of hands-on and classroom training that will prepare you to for your role as a fire support specialist.

ScoreFire Support SpecialistUS Average

Salary

4.0

Avg. Salary $51,628

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

2.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.36%

Asian 7.15%

Black or African American 13.80%

Hispanic or Latino 20.23%

Unknown 5.00%

White 53.47%

Gender

female 2.13%

male 97.87%

Age - 22

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 22

Key steps to become a fire support specialist

Explore fire support specialist education requirements

Most common fire support specialist degrees

High School Diploma

38.2 %

Bachelor's

31.1 %

Associate

19.5 %

Start to develop specific fire support specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Manual Calculations	25.92%
Communications Equipment	22.60%
Combat	21.05%
MOS	14.58%
Ammunition	5.81%

Research fire support specialist duties and responsibilities

Manage receipt, storage and issue of ammunition processes.
Operate and maintain two Mk 56 gun fire control systems.
Inventory parts and supplies for the CIWS workcenter and armory.
Operate weapons systems on-board USS George Washington (CVN73).

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