text: Security Operations
  5-20. Cavalry squadrons organize and equip to perform screen, guard, and area security operations. Cavalry
  squadrons participate in a cover operation as part of a larger element with external assets task organized to
  the squadron and perform guard operations with combined arms augmentation. Usually, commanders assign
  security operations (screen, guard, cover) at EAB to BCTs. Table 5-1 shows typical sizes of security forces
  at various echelons in relation to their operation.
  Table 5-1. Typical echelon of security forces for a given operation at echelon
  Security Mission
  Echelon Screen Advance Guard Flank or Rear Cover
  Guard
  Battalion task force Scout platoon
  Brigade combat team Company team Battalion task force Reinforced combined
  arms battalion or
  battalion task force
  Division Cavalry squadron, Reinforced Cavalry Reinforce Cavalry Reinforced brigade
  combined arms squadron or brigade squadron, combined combat team
  battalion, or battalion combat team arms battalion, or
  task force battalion task force
  Corps Combat aviation Division, armored Division, armored Reinforced division or
  brigade (CAB), brigade combat brigade combat armored brigade
  combined arms team, Stryker brigade team, Stryker brigade combat team
  battalion, battalion combat team combat team,
  task force combined arms
  battalion, battalion
  task force
  Echelons above CAB, armored Reinforced division or CAB, armored Reinforced division or
  corps (joint force land brigade combat corps brigade combat corps
  components or team, Stryker brigade team, or Stryker
  numbered Army) combat team brigade combat team
  SCREEN
  5-21. Screen is a type of security operation that primarily provides early warning to the protected force
  (ADP 3-90). Screen operations provide less protection than guards or covers. Screen operations are defensive
  in nature. The screen force uses a series of observation posts and patrols to ensure observation of the assigned
  sector. The screen force gains and maintains enemy contact consistent with the security fundamentals. The
  screen force conducts counterreconnaissance to destroy or repel enemy reconnaissance units. The depth of
  the screen is critical to allow a reconnaissance handover from one element to another without displacement
  from established observation posts. Friendly forces use depth to conduct counterreconnaissance to delay,
  impede, and harass the enemy with indirect fires causing them to deploy early while preventing enemy forces
  from identifying, penetrating, and exploiting the screen.
  5-22. Screen missions are appropriate when operations have created extended flanks; gaps exist between
  major subordinate maneuver units, or when required to provide early warning over gaps not considered
  critical enough to require security in greater strength. The BCT commander maximizes the security effort
  where contact is expected.
  5-23. A unit may conduct a screen in all directions for a stationary, protected force within supporting range
  of indirect fire assets. Units perform a screen to the flanks or rear, but not in front of a moving force. Zone
  reconnaissance, reconnaissance in force, and guard are missions given to units in front of a moving force.
  BCT PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
  5-24. When planning the screen, the Cavalry squadron commander or maneuver battalion commander
  considers the number of routes required, the number of observation posts or patrols needed (depth, width,