How to hire a fire support specialist

How to hire a fire support specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step fire support specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a fire support specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new fire support specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a fire support specialist job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the fire support specialist you need to hire. Certain fire support specialist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a fire support specialist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a fire support specialist that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of fire support specialists.

   Type of Fire Support Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Fire Support Specialist		$11-51

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Manual Calculations
   • Communications Equipment
   • Combat
   • MOS
   • Ammunition
   • Laser Range Finders
   • Communications Systems
   • Sketch
   • US Army
   • Target Locations
   • Liaison Support
   • GPS
   • Radio Communications
   • Computer System

   Check all skills

   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).
   • Install AFATDS on unit systems and work with civilian counterparts to learn/perfect skills.
   • Study activities relating to narcotics, terrorism, or other national security threats.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your fire support specialist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A fire support specialist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, fire support specialists' average salary in wyoming is 47% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level fire support specialists earn 78% less than senior-level fire support specialists.
   • Certifications. A fire support specialist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a fire support specialist's salary.

   Average fire support specialist salary

   $51,628yearly

   $24.82 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level fire support specialist salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a fire support specialist job description

   A job description for a fire support specialist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a fire support specialist job description:

   Fire support specialist job description example

   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. In this role, you will become an expert communicator as you establish, maintain, and operate communications equipment; operate laser range finders; encode and decode messages; assist in preparing and distributing fire support plans; and determine target locations using computers or manual calculations.
   
   And as your skills increase, 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.
   Helpful Skills
   Physically and mentally fit to perform under pressure
   Ability to multitask
   
   Plus, the skills you learn as a Fire Support Specialist can prepare you for a rewarding civilian career in computer consulting, information technology support, or data processing.
   
   Earn While You Learn
   Instead of paying to learn these skills, get paid to train. In the Army National Guard, you will learn these valuable job skills while earning a regular paycheck and qualifying for tuition assistance.
   
   After 10 weeks of Basic Training, where you will learn fundamental Soldiering skills, you will attend six weeks of Advanced Individual Training (AIT), which will include a combination of hands-on and classroom training where you will learn how to decisively compute target locations, proper ammunition handling techniques, system operations, and artillery tactics.
   
   Benefits/Requirements
   
   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 Must be at least a junior in high school, or have a high school diploma or a GED certificate Must be between the ages of 17 and 35 Must be able to pass a physical exam and meet legal and moral standards Must meet citizenship requirements (see NATIONALGUARD.com for details)
   
   Requires military enlistment. Programs and benefits are subject to change. Ask your Army National Guard recruiter for the most up-to-date information. Actual MOS assignment may depend on MOS availability.
   
   Other Job Information
   
   Job Category: Heavy Weapons
   Age Requirements: Must be between the ages of 17 and 35 IT targeter general skills laborer team member

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find fire support specialists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any fire support specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level fire support specialists with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your fire support specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit fire support specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit fire support specialists, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new fire support specialist

   Once you've decided on a perfect fire support specialist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new fire support specialist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a fire support specialist?