text: Chapter 4
  Reconnaissance Operations
  Cavalry formations conduct combined-arms, reconnaissance operations to determine
  enemy composition and disposition as well as to gather information on the operational
  environment. Reconnaissance operations enable all units to seize, retain, and exploit
  the initiative across the range of military operations by identifying, creating, and
  capitalizing upon opportunities, providing them with information facilitating
  decision-making, and the concentration of unified efforts against decisive points.
  SECTION I – RECONNAISSANCE FUNDAMENTALS, METHODS, MANAGEMENT
  4-1. Reconnaissance is a mission undertaken to obtain information about the activities and resources of an
  enemy or adversary, or to secure data concerning the meteorological, hydrographic, geographic, or other
  characteristics of a particular area, by visual observation or other detection methods (JP 2-0). Conducting
  reconnaissance before and during other combat operations provides information to the commander so they
  can confirm, deny, and modify the concept of operations. Within the BCT, the Cavalry squadron is the
  principal reconnaissance organization.
  RECONNAISSANCE FUNDAMENTALS
  4-2. Planning and executing reconnaissance operations consists of seven fundamentals. Paragraphs 4-3
  through 4-9 (page 4-2) describe each fundamental.
  4-3. Ensure continuous reconnaissance. BCTs require continuous information collection throughout all
  phases and critical events of all operations. Commanders direct information collection throughout all
  operations and task-organize Cavalry assets to collect required information vital to enhancing the
  commander’s ability to make informed decisions. Continuous reconnaissance provides commanders with a
  constant flow of relevant information to identify and seize key terrain, confirm or deny enemy composition,
  disposition, strength, and courses of action. Continuous reconnaissance also provides reaction time and
  maneuver space for unpredicted enemy actions.
  4-4. Do not keep reconnaissance assets in reserve. Continuous and focused collection efforts require an
  efficient mix and redundancy of reconnaissance assets; however, this does not mean employing all assets and
  capabilities simultaneously. Commanders maximize employment of their reconnaissance assets and
  capabilities to answer their CCIRs. BCTs task and position reconnaissance assets and capabilities at the
  appropriate time, place, and in the right combination (human, sensor, and technical means) to maximize their
  impact, allow for timely analysis of information, and aid decision-making at the appropriate echelon.
  Note. This does not mean Cavalry units should not have a reserve. Instead, Cavalry units should
  generate a reserve from nonreconnaissance units (for example, the tank company in an ABCT, an
  antitank guided missile platoon from the weapons troop in an SBCT, or a platoon from a weapons
  company in an IBCT).
  4-5. Orient on the reconnaissance objective. Commanders establish the reconnaissance objective with a
  specific task, purpose, and focus to direct reconnaissance efforts. The reconnaissance objective specifies the
  most important result to obtain from the reconnaissance effort and clarifies the intent of the reconnaissance
  effort. Cavalry formations use NAIs to focus information collection to answer PIRs. However, observing
  NAIs is just a means of collecting information or the initial assessment as to where information and indicators