text: Chapter 1
  operational environment. PIRs identify information about the enemy, terrain, weather, and civil
  considerations that the commander considers most important and impact upon future decisions. FFIRs
  identify information about friendly forces and supporting capabilities, which affects future courses of action
  and decisions from a friendly perspective. (Refer to chapter 3 for a more detailed explanation of CCIRs.)
  1-41. Based upon identified information requirements, staffs assign tasks to prioritize, manage, and develop
  the collection of information requirements leading to future decisions. As staffs identify requirements
  necessary for successful execution, they recommend and assign tasks to Cavalry units to conduct reconnaissance
  and provide answers allowing the commander to make decisions and capitalize on opportunities.
  GENERAL EMPLOYMENT OF CAVALRY UNITS
  1-42. During operations, the commander and staff’s time and resources are balanced between four major
  activities in a continuous learning and adaptive cycle called the operations process, including planning,
  preparing, executing, and continuously assessing the operation. (Refer to ADP 5-0 for more information.)
  Operations process activities are sequential but not discrete; all overlap and recur as circumstances demand.
  1-43. Commanders implement early information collection and security to protect and prepare the force for
  execution. Cavalry units should deploy in the planning phase to shape preparation activities and execution.
  (Refer to ADP 5-0 for more information.)
  1-44. Commanders take every opportunity to improve their situational understanding before execution of the
  mission, which requires aggressive and continuous information collection from Cavalry forces. Information
  collection is an activity that synchronizes and integrates the planning and employment of sensors and assets
  as well as the processing, exploitation, and dissemination systems in direct support of current and future
  operations (FM 3-55). Through information collection, commanders and staffs continuously plan, task, and
  employ collection capabilities and forces to collect timely and accurate information to meet CCIRs and other
  information requirements.
  1-45. The force as a whole is often vulnerable to surprise and enemy attacks during preparation, when forces
  are often concentrated in assembly areas (AAs). Security operations (screen, guard, cover, and area security)
  are essential during preparation. Cavalry units assigned to security operations execute missions while the rest
  of the force prepares for the overall operation.
  1-46. When a Cavalry unit’s higher headquarters is conducting offensive operations, the Cavalry unit
  develops the situation for the higher commander. For example, in a brigade movement to contact, the Cavalry
  squadron may be the lead element conducting zone reconnaissance.
  1-47. During defensive actions, a higher headquarters typically tasks the Cavalry unit with conducting
  security operations to provide early warning and reaction time, deny enemy reconnaissance efforts, and
  protect the main body. The commander tasks the Cavalry unit to execute security operations based upon the
  degree of protection required by the higher headquarters.
  1-48. Every operation integrates stability tasks, which are critical to sustaining or establishing civil security
  and control over areas, populations, and resources. Cavalry units focus on reconnaissance and security
  operations that enable its higher headquarters to develop a better understanding of the situation. Cavalry units
  are critical to successful execution of stability tasks and the units’ ability to consolidate tactical gains.
  1-49. Commanders task-organize Cavalry units with the combat power necessary to accomplish the mission
  based upon mission variables. If a higher headquarters is conducting security operations, it assigns
  appropriate security operations to the Cavalry unit and ensures the Cavalry unit is appropriately task
  organized to accomplish their mission. Augmentation may include an aviation task force (TF), armored and
  mechanized Infantry units, additional Cavalry units, engineer units for mobility and reconnaissance, artillery
  in direct support, close air support, military intelligence units, air defense units, CBRN reconnaissance units,
  and logistical elements. Reconnaissance and security operations often precede the main operation in time and
  space; therefore, commanders can task-organize enablers organized with Cavalry units from divisions and
  corps to provide reconnaissance and security at EAB. Subsequently, BCT commanders must be judicious
  when detaching combat power from the Cavalry squadron, such as designating the squadron Armored
  company as a BCT reserve, based on the importance of the BCT commander’s information and security
  requirements. This loss of combat power inhibits the scope of the squadron’s possible security tasks,