What is so hard about cavalry? Nothing, especially. It’s just different. To be frank, cavalry is not more dangerous or more important than other tactical enablers. It’s not even that mystical. Becoming a good cavalry trooper and leader is pretty simple: be better and faster than anyone else at understanding when, where, and why you are, within your recon and security operation. In other words, you need to be able to quickly—and without orders—recognize how newly discovered enemy, terrain, and civil considerations relate to friendly troops and time available…and what all that means to your mission. Knowing when to switch between the fundamentals of reconnaissance to the fundamentals of security (and back again) is a developed instinct.
A Few Foundational Concepts
The Marriage of Security and Reconnaissance
As our doctrine states, security cannot be divorced from reconnaissance. These are two sides of the same coin. Because you are conducting reconnaissance—certainty in your estimate of the situation increases and the chance of enemy surprise decreases (we call that security). Likewise, a fundamental of security is to ensure continuous reconnaissance. To reduce the chance of enemy surprise (security), you must take action to obtain information (reconnaissance).
Recon isn’t just Recon
Sometimes, when I try to explain cavalry’s relevance to new cavalry leaders, Infantrymen, or Tankers, they say something like, “recon? We all do that—it’s right there in the troop leading procedures.” They quickly follow this with, “security? We all do that too—it’s the first priority of work.” Both statements are 100% true.
I would then struggle to explain the nuance; ”yeah, but not THAT kind of reconnaissance…and, uh, the security we do is DIFFERENT.” The English language wasn’t specific enough for what I was trying to professionally discuss. So here’s a way to think about reconnaissance and security. This idea is all about who will use the information you are taking from the battlefield.
reconnaissance (little ‘r’): Obtaining information that will help you accomplish your mission. This is required, even in the troop leading procedures, from fire teams to combatant commands.
Reconnaissance (Big “R”): Obtaining information that will help someone else accomplish their mission. Requires (for maximum effectiveness, anyway) specially trained, organized, and equipped units who practice these difficult tactical enabling operations repetitively, in conditions that closely replicate combat.
security (little “s”): Obtaining information that will prevent your unit from being surprised by the enemy. This information gives your unit time and space to react.
Security (Big “S”): Obtaining information that will prevent another unit from being surprised. This gives another unit time and space to react. It requires specially trained, organized, and equipped units who practice these difficult tactical enabling operations over and over in conditions that replicate combat as closely as possible.
Recon (Big “R”) and Security (Big “S”) is to the Cavalry as air assault is to the 101st.
What Can Right Look Like?
We continue to train and practice conducting cavalry operations in support of decisive operations. We’re getting better at the CTCs. With more and more experience, I predict cavalry leaders, at all echelons, will develop the following instincts. Let’s do an example using Zone Reconnaissance. The best cavalry leaders…
Begin Zone (Big “R”) Reconnaissance
They cross LD and they’re doing well; phase line after phase line, they’re answering questions on behalf of someone else. We’re reducing uncertainty, we’re reporting, etc.—anyone can do this. Unit, suddenly they find something—”something” potentially dangerous.
Transition to (little “s”) security
Without being told, the leader immediately transitions to little “s” security. She must “stay alive” to get to the Big “R” stuff. So, she has transitioned to “security” and she knows the fundamentals of security require “continuous reconnaissance.”
Transition to (little “r”) reconnaissance
Soldiers fire M249 light machine guns at night during live-fire training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Alejandro Pentildea)
Once satisfied that he has freedom of maneuver and can “stay alive,” he immediately transitions to little “r” reconnaissance. He recons the enemy’s flanks, rear, positions, lateral routes, etc. to know: #1 Is this a threat to me (little “s” security)? #2 Is this a threat to my supported unit (Big “S” Security)? #3 Can I destroy within my own capabilities (little “r” reconnaissance) #4 Can I get my supported unit to a position of advantage to destroy (Big “R” Reconnaissance)?
Determine COA and Transition to (Big “R”) Reconnaissance
With her new-found information from little “r” reconnaissance, she can decide a Course of Action (kill it, bypass, pass it back, etc.). Then she immediately transitions back to Big “R” Reconnaissance again. Over and over, again and again, so the dance continues.
Transition to (Big “S”) Security…
Eventually, she will achieve the reconnaissance objective or limit of reconnaissance —OR— she will find something unexpected that is a threat to the supported unit that she must maintain contact with. She seamlessly transitions into Big “S” Security.
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Cavalry Leaders are masters of transitions. They accomplish all of this without asking their boss what to do or waiting for new orders. These are the instincts that keep a Zone Reconnaissance moving fast enough to help the supported unit, but not too fast that the information is not of value (and scouts don’t end up needing to be rescued by the main body—the opposite of “economy of force.”)
Watch Lt. Col. Nelson teaching Recon and Security Planning at NTC:
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