Reconnaissance Operations
You can never have too much reconnaissance.
General George S. Patton Jr., War As I Knew It, 1947
Reconnaissance operations are those operations undertaken to obtain, by visual observation or other detection methods, information about the activities and resources of an enemy or potential enemy, or to secure data concerning the meteorological, hydrographical or geographical characteristics and the indigenous population of a particular area. Reconnaissance primarily relies on the human dynamic rather than technical means. Reconnaissance is a focused collection effort. It is performed before, during, and after other operations to provide information used in the intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB) process, as well as by the commander in order to formulate, confirm, or modify his course of action (COA). The four forms of reconnaissance are route, zone, area, and reconnaissance in force.
CONTENTS
Reconnaissance Objective
Reconnaissance Fundamentals
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
Historical Example
Characteristics of Reconnaissance
Assets Forms of Reconnaissance
Route Reconnaissance
Zone Reconnaissance
Area Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance in Force
Planning a Reconnaissance
Intelligence, Surveillance, and
Reconnaissance Plan
Reconnaissance-Pull Versus
Reconnaissance-Push
Reconnaissance Management
Sustainment
Executing a Reconnaissance
Recuperation and Reconstitution of Reconnaissance Assets
https://nuui.com/Sections/Military/Field_Manuals/FM3-90/ch13.htm
