FUNDAMENTALS OF RECONNAISSANCE

6-176. Leaders use the seven fundamentals of reconnaissance to organize their patrols into two forces: a reconnaissance element, and a security element. The seven fundamentals are─

  • Ensure continuous reconnaissance.
  • Do not keep reconnaissance assets in reserve.
  • Orient on the reconnaissance objective.
  • Report information rapidly and accurately.
  • Retain freedom of maneuver.
  • Gain and maintain enemy contact.
  • Develop the situation rapidly.

RECONNAISSANCE ELEMENTS

6-177. The reconnaissance element’s task is to obtain information requirements for the purposes of facilitating tactical decisionmaking. The primary means is R&S enabled by tactical movement and continuous, accurate reporting. The reconnaissance patrol leader decides how in-depth the reconnaissance will be. A thorough and accurate reconnaissance is important. However, avoiding detection is equally important.

6-178. Below are some of the additional tasks normally associated with a reconnaissance element─

  • Reconnoiter all terrain within the assigned area, route, or zone.
  • Determine trafficability routes or potential avenues of approach (based on the personnel or vehicles to be used on the route).
    • Inspect and classify all bridges, overpasses, underpasses, and culverts on the route.
    • Locate fords or crossing sites near bridges on the route.
  • Determine the time it takes to traverse the route.
  • Reconnoiter to the limit of direct fire range.
    • Terrain influencing the area, route, or zone.
    • Built-up areas.
    • Lateral routes.
  • Within capabilities, reconnoiter natural and man-made obstacles to ensure mobility along the route. Locate a bypass or reduce/breach, clear, and mark:
    • Lanes.
    • Defiles and other restrictive/severely restrictive terrain.
    • Minefields.
    • Contaminated areas.
    • Log obstacles such as abatis, log cribs, stumps, and posts.
    • AT ditches.
    • Wire entanglements.
    • Fills, such as a raised railroad track.
    • Other obstacles along the route.
  • Determine the size, location, and composition of society/human demographics.
  • Identify essential infrastructure influencing military operations, including the following:
    • Political, government, and religious organizations and agencies.
    • Physical facilities and utilities (such as power generation, transportation, and communications networks).
  • Find all threat forces influencing movement along the area, route, or zone.
  • Report information.

Note. Infantry platoons and squads typically do not have the expertise to complete a full technical inspection of bridges, roads, and culverts; this task normally requires augmentation. Infantry platoons and squads do, however; have the ability to conduct a general assessment.


SECURITY ELEMENTS

6-179. The security element has two tasks: provide early warning of approaching enemy; and provide support by fire to the reconnaissance elements if they come in contact with the enemy. The security element’s purpose is to protect the reconnaissance element, thereby allowing it to obtain the information requirement. Security elements tasked to provide early warning must be able to observe avenues of approach into and out of the objective area. If the reconnaissance element is compromised, the security element must be able to quickly support it. It does so by occupying positions enabling it to observe the objective as well as cover the reconnaissance element. Soldiers in these positions must be able to engage the enemy with direct and indirect fire. They also must be able to facilitate communication to higher as well as all supporting assets. This worst-case scenario must be well rehearsed and well thought out.

6-180. Regardless of how the R&S elements are organized, each element always maintains responsibility for its own local security. In a small reconnaissance patrol, the patrol headquarters may form a part of one of the subordinate elements rather than being a separate element. The number and size of the various teams and elements must be determined through the leader’s METT-TC analysis. There are three ways to organize the R&S elements. (See figure 6-14.)

6-181. The first technique is to organize the reconnaissance elements separate from security elements. This technique is used when the security element is able to support the reconnaissance element from one location. This requires the reconnaissance objective to be defined clearly and area to be fairly open.

6-182. The second technique is to organize the reconnaissance elements and security elements together into R&S teams. This technique is used when the reconnaissance objective is not defined clearly or the teams are not mutually supporting and each reconnaissance element potentially needs its own security force. Within the R&S team, the reconnaissance can be done by one or two individuals while the rest of the element provides security. The number of Soldiers in an R&S team varies depending on the mission. Usually a fire team (three to four Soldiers) is required for an adequate reconnaissance and still provide local security.

6-183. The third technique is to establish R&S teams with an additional, separate security element. The separate security element also-can act as a reserve or as a quick reaction force.

Organization of Reconnaissance Patrols

Figure 6-14. Organization of Reconnaissance Patrols