Soon the Army’s cavalry scouts will be called upon to execute reconnaissance on the multi-domain battlefield (MDB). We will face enemy forces who possess peer-level capabilities across most, if not all, warfighting functions. Now, more than ever, the ability to execute mission command and disciplined initiative is critical to successful execution of combat operations. For the scout, this requires reliable operational graphics and a well-crafted commander’s reconnaissance guidance. The scenario below is a hypothetical portrayal of cavalry scouts operating in a near future combat environment with clear guidance and graphics.
Staff Sergeant Jenkins looked through his observation post’s (OP) lightweight laser designator range-finder, observing the enemy battle position dug-in across the ravine. His section was conducting reconnaissance forward of their armored brigade combat team’s (BCT) deliberate attack. The enemy emplaced layered air defense and cyber electronic assets to prevent coalition forces from using manned or unmanned aerial systems to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance of their positions.
The enemy’s cyber capabilities meant they could successfully detect the electronic signatures from the ABCT’s mission command systems. If kept on, their radios, joint battle command platforms (JBCP), CPOFs and other systems could betray their position to the enemy. The cavalry squadron employed strict communications windows to enable their infiltration and movement through the enemy’s cyber “bubble.”
Mustang squadron was tasked with identifying enemy composition and disposition so they could pull the BDE into the right position to destroy the enemy. Jenkins looked at his watch…he was approaching the next communications window when he could finally report that he had confirmed enemy presence in his named area of interest (NAI).
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FM 3-98, Reconnaissance and Security Operations states that commander’s reconnaissance guidance “offers both freedom of action to develop the situation as well as adequate direction to ensure that their organic Cavalry organizations can accomplish stated reconnaissance objectives within the required timeframe.” The components of commander’s reconnaissance guidance are:
- Focus
- Tempo
- Engagement/Disengagement Criteria
- Displacement Criteria
Each component is critical in the develop of the maneuver plan for the subordinate reconnaissance element(s). The BCT commander’s reconnaissance guidance and Annex L (information collection) from Warning Order (WARNORD) 2 provide the cavalry squadron the specific guidance necessary to develop a scheme of maneuver. Reconnaissance guidance can be established for an entire mission or change by phase, as needed. Sound reconnaissance guidance, graphics, and a synchronized information collection plan are enough to deploy a cavalry squadron into the fight, pulling a BCT worth of firepower with it.
Staff Sergeant Jenkins pulled out his notebook and reviewed the recon guidance given to him before they crossed the line of departure. Jenkins’ platoon leader briefed that his section needed to identify the enemy positions in detail. He needed to provide accurate grid locations of enemy units to their higher headquarters.
Focus
The first component of commander’s reconnaissance guidance is Focus. There are four options for the reconnaissance focus:
- Threat
- Terrain or weather effects
- Infrastructure
- Society
In our example above the focus is the enemy. The recon objective is the identification of the enemy main defensive belt. The objective can be defined in quantitative terms or left vague. Information available from the S2 and/or trust that the commander places on lower echelons executing the reconnaissance are significant factors when determining the recon objective. When identifying the squadron-level reconnaissance objective, the operations and intelligence sections should jointly collaborate with their brigade counterparts to nest the squadron’s mission with the Brigade Commander’s intent.
While the reconnaissance focus tells scouts on the ground what to look for, the next component tells them whether they can fight for those information requirements.
Tempo
Reconnaissance tempo is written in two words, and there are a handful of possible options. The component elements are:
- Rapid
- Forceful
- Stealthy
- Deliberate
Figure 4-2 from FM 3-98 Reconnaissance and Security Options, page 4-10
Figure 4-2 in FM 3-98 defines the various elements of tempo. Tempo boils down to the willingness of the commander to fight for information (forceful vs stealthy) and the amount of information required from the reconnaissance (rapid vs deliberate).
Staff Sergeant Jenkin’s section in the example above is conducting a stealthy and deliberate reconnaissance. They’ve received guidance to avoid direct fire contact with the enemy while conducting their infiltration. The required level of detail for their reconnaissance is high, indicating a deliberate tempo. The published tempo should nest with the next component of reconnaissance guidance: Engagement Criteria.
His section needed to avoid direct engagement with enemy forces whenever possible. If he identified the enemy’s main defensive belt, he was to establish a hasty screen and set up a passage lane for the combined arms battalions following his squadron to conduct their attack.
Engagement Criteria
Engagement Criteria is the portion of reconnaissance guidance where a commander details in specific doctrinal terms the permissiveness of engaging the enemy in the eight forms of contact. FM 3-98 states that commanders and staffs can provide guidance in the following ways:
- Guidance for actions on contact
- Bypass criteria
- Reconnaissance handover criteria
- Priority of fires
- Rules of engagement (ROE) or rules for use of force
- Fire support coordination measures
- Weapons control status
Engagement criteria is the component of reconnaissance guidance that commanders have the most freedom to define. The engagement criteria issued by the troop commander in our vignette likely discussed numbers and types of enemy vehicles and dismounts his scouts could engage with direct fire. Quantifying target types for engagement enables section leaders on the ground to freely fight within the commander’s intent with the most time available to react to the enemy. For engagements with enemy forces in greater numbers than proscribed in the engagement criteria, the final component of reconnaissance guidance details the actions they must take.
Displacement Criteria
FM 3-98 states that displacement criteria defines when “planned withdrawal, passage of lines, or reconnaissance handover between units” occurs within an operation. The key question to answer when reading or writing displacement criteria is, “when do we want to stop conducting reconnaissance “big R”) and do something else?” The answer should be a trigger, and fall into one of three categories of conditions. The conditions for displacement are either:
- Event-Driven
- Time-Driven
- Threat-Driven
Event driven conditions include the successful answering of PIR. The cavalry squadron operating in the vignette above is tasked to establish a hasty screen and passage lanes upon identification of the main defensive belt. This ties into their priority information requires and represents an event driven condition.
Fortunately, given the communications blackout his unit was operating under, the graphics Jenkins had received and developed with his platoon leader enabled flexibility. He identified an enemy mechanized company team well forward of their templated positions. One of his dismount teams were setting and marking the passage lanes while his other long duration OP was continuing to observe the enemy position. Once his communications window was open, he could report the enemy’s status, pass on his passage lane location and his method of near and far recognition.
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The scenario above is the best-case for our scouts operating in the future. As adversarial capabilities improve globally, it is imperative we train our scouts to operate in electronically contested environments. Scouts lacking proper reconnaissance guidance could receive massed indirect fire on their location because of wasted time spent on the radio talking when clear recon guidance could enable mission success with minimal time on the net. Learning the basics of reconnaissance guidance and preparing your own unit template for reconnaissance guidance is a surefire way to save time during the planning process and enable subordinate unit success. A clear understanding of focus, tempo, engagement criteria, and displacement criteria is critical to successful reconnaissance planning.
At the troop level the reconnaissance guidance given in our fictional vignette probably looked something like this:
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS YOUR FREE COMMANDER’S RECON GUIDANCE TEMPLATE.
This reconnaissance guidance reflects the need of the Cavalry Squadron in the scenario to identify the enemy’s main defensive belt while avoiding detection by the enemy.
Properly written reconnaissance guidance successfully enables reconnaissance units to answer priority information requirements in a timely manner to drive informed decision making by the commander. Good reconnaissance guidance enables mission command by trusting subordinates to orient on the reconnaissance objective, answer questions in the right amount of detail, avoid becoming decisively engaged, and transition successfully to security operations upon completion of their mission.
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