13F Fire Support Specialist

Job Description Join the Army National Guard as a Fire Support Specialist and become part of an elite field artillery team. You will provide the intelligence needed to support infantry and tank units in combat operations while learning highly sought‑after skills that will help you in your civilian career. Also known as the Forward Observer, Fire Support Specialists 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. You will become an expert communicator by establishing, maintaining, and operating communications equipment; operating laser range finders; encoding and decoding messages; assisting in preparing and distributing fire support plans; and determining target locations using computers or manual calculations. As your skills advance, so will your responsibilities. Advanced team members supervise and train other Soldiers, prepare observer target lists, initiate suppressive fire, and select and man observation posts. Skills Physically and mentally fit to perform under pressure Ability to multitask Training and Compensation Instead of paying to learn these skills, you get paid to train. In the Army National Guard, you learn valuable job skills while earning a regular paycheck and qualifying for tuition assistance. After 10 weeks of Basic Training, you will attend six weeks of Advanced Individual Training (AIT), which includes hands‑on and classroom instruction in target calculations, ammunition handling, system operations, and artillery tactics. Benefits Paid training A monthly paycheck Montgomery GI Bill Federal and State tuition assistance Retirement benefits for part‑time service Low‑cost life insurance (up to $400,000 in coverage) 401(k)-type savings plan Student Loan Repayment Program (up to $50,000, for existing loans) Health care benefits available VA home loans Bonuses, if applicable Most non‑prior service candidates will earn between $200 and $250 per drill weekend, subject to change Requirements Military enlistment in the Army National Guard You must be at least a junior in high school, or have a high school diploma or a GED certificate You must be between the ages of 17 and 35 You must be able to pass a physical exam and meet legal and moral standards You must meet citizenship requirements (see NATIONALGUARD.com for details) #J-18808-Ljbffr