Which item is an FSE output during COA development?

• A. Scheme of fires
• B. Draft fire execution matrix
• C. Target list overlay
• D. Initial EFSTs and associated measures of performance

Answer: (B)

When you’re developing a COA, you’re turning planned actions into concrete, time-sequenced fires and effects. The draft fire execution matrix serves as the primary artifact that does this for the Fire Support Element: it lays out which fires will be applied against which targets, in what order, at what times, and in coordination with other tasks and units. This matrix is produced early and refined as you compare COAs, so you can see how feasible and synchronized each option is in practice. It captures the specifics of execution—targeting, timing, and interaction with other operations—so you can test and adjust the plan before finalizing.

Other outputs mentioned are more general or belong to different stages. A scheme of fires describes overarching fire concepts but isn’t the concrete plan produced as part of COA development. A target list overlay is a targeting product used to visualize targets spatially, not the formal execution plan. Initial EFSTs with performance measures are part of assessment criteria and evaluation, not the immediate execution plan the FSE develops to synchronize fires during COA development.

So, the draft fire execution matrix is the best fit as the FSE output during COA development because it translates the COA into an actionable, testable firing plan with timing and coordination built in.