Travis Prather

The specific responsibilities of the Training Officer/AS3 is to facilitate the guidance, planning, and execution of battalion training. This includes publishing the Yearly Training Guidance under the intent and guidance of the higher headquarters, building the yearly training calendar, working with Company command teams to facilitate their training (and ensure it is synchronized with battalion requirements/guidance), and managing/battle tracking the day-to-day taskings and OPORDS from Brigade while also publishing battalion taskings and OPORDS on behalf of the S3 and commander. As the full time AS3, I am responsible for managing the S3 FTSP and ensuring their success in their day-to-day responsibilities. Ultimately, planning and knowledge management are the number 1 responsibility.

Key responsibilities include advising the commander on fire support capabilities, planning and executing fire support operations, coordinating with other units and fire support elements, and managing the fire support team. The FSO ensures the effective use of lethal and non-lethal fire to achieve tactical objectives by planning, coordinating, and synchronizing fire missions. Throughout this time period, I, along with other FSOs and FSNCOs worked to train the Detachment on necessary tasks and drills in order to certify the detachment.

A Fire Direction Officer (FDO) is responsible for the technical and tactical operations of a Fire Direction Center (FDC), which processes and executes indirect fire missions. Key responsibilities include verifying target locations and the accuracy of firing data, determining the appropriate type and quantity of munitions, training FDC personnel, and ensuring the FDC's systems and equipment are operational to support the commander's mission. During this time as an FDO, 2 PLT, B BTRY executed the safe firing of 57 rounds and 22 total fire missions. Throughout the year, I ensured my FDC was trained and capable by supporting them during IDT weekends and FDC Consolidated Training weekends.

The Assistant Fire Support Officer (AFSO) provides essential support to the Fire Support Officer (FSO) and fire support team in the 67 MEB, focusing on the planning and execution of artillery, air, and other fires to support ground maneuver. Key responsibilities include assisting with the targeting process, coordinating the delivery of fire support, managing battlefield information related to enemy and friendly fires, and training other fire support personnel. During this time, this was post mobilization, and Inter-State Transfer. However, tasks such as 100% inventory, and other related tasks were completed during this window to support the unit.

As the Liaison Officer to both the US Embassy-Djibouti and the Djiboutian Armed forces, I represented the CJTF-HOA and J3/Director of Operations to the Defense Attache Office/Office of Security Cooperation, the embassy as a whole, and the Djiboutian Army G3 as well as other key Djiboutian liaisons and commanders. During this time, I facilitated meetings between the J3 and Defense Attache as well as meetings with the Djiboutian G3 to ensure deconfliction, synchronization, and shared understanding. I facilitated all Camp Lemonnier passport packets, briefed the Ambassador at the Country Team meeting about CJTF-HOA/Camp Lemonnier issues and goals, and acted as the face of either organization depending on my duty location. Finally, during this time, I acted as a point of contact at the embassy for the Kentucky State Partnership Program while their Bilateral Affairs Officer was preparing to come onboard. I facilitated a meeting between Kentucky SPP EOD with a Djiboutian Demining Company as well as facilitated vehicles and billeting for the SPP team on base. Many other duties were held through this deployment in this role.

An Assistant Fire Support Officer (AFSO)'s responsibilities consist of assisting the Fire Support Officer (FSO) by coordinating lethal and non-lethal fire support, maintaining targeting information, and training other specialists, such as Fire Support Specialists. During this time frame, I attended BOLC, participated in many CPXs, Warfighters, and ultimately served on ADOS as a Pre-Mobilization Planning Officer from August, 2020 through Mobilization in May, 2021. With the team, we closely worked with 1st Army in order to achieve our requirements, complete our online certificates, track security clearances, and fill the Joint Manning Document (JMD). I served as President of the Board for over 12 job vacancies on the JMD during this time.