text: Cavalry Organizations and
  the Operational Environment
  especially for the conduct of a guard. Mission variables and the commander’s intent determine which
  additional capabilities the Cavalry unit requires.
  BRIGADE OPERATIONS OFFICER AND SQUADRON EMPLOYMENT
  1-50. BCT commanders and their staff integrate operations and intelligence when conducting reconnaissance
  and security operations. A commander focuses information collection, combined arms, sustainment and
  signal organizations, and reconnaissance efforts to answer the commander’s PIRs through the BCT or brigade
  operations staff officer (S-3).
  BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM S-3
  1-51. The BCT S-3 is responsible for coordinating and synchronizing information collection with
  reconnaissance and security operations. The BCT S-3 allocates organic, attached, and supporting information
  collection capabilities to answer PIRs or refine reconnaissance objectives. The S-3 ensures reconnaissance
  operations enable the commander to make decisions as to how to employ the BCT’s combat power and
  achieve desired outcomes and objectives. In concert with the brigade and subordinate staffs, the BCT S-3
  ensures operations conducted by the Cavalry squadron and other information collection units are nested,
  complementary, and focused on mission accomplishment.
  1-52. BCTs establish coordination within the staff and collaborate with the Cavalry squadron staff to
  synchronize reconnaissance and security operations. The brigade reconnaissance cell might include an S-2
  (intelligence community/intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance), an S-3 plans, a fire support officer
  (field artillery battalion), a brigade logistics staff officer (S-4), a brigade aviation element, brigade
  sustainment assets, and the Air Force’s tactical air control party who can coordinate with close air support
  and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance personnel (see figure 1-2, page 1-12). The Cavalry
  squadron can provide a staff officer, whose loss will not degrade squadron staff operations, to serve as a
  liaison officer to the brigade reconnaissance cell. To achieve intent, the BCT commander task organizes the
  Cavalry squadron with the necessary combined arms, engineers, military police, CBRN, sustainment, and
  signal organizations to execute the mission. At the conclusion of mission analysis, the BCT publishes the
  commander’s intent, including reconnaissance and security guidance and a fragmentary order to initiate
  reconnaissance and security operations. Usually, the Cavalry squadron is the lead element in the brigade.
  Parallel, integrated, and collaborative planning between the Cavalry squadron and BCT staffs is essential to
  the timely execution of operations and the integration of intelligence collection with reconnaissance and
  security operations.