text: Reconnaissance and Security
  5-17. Threat focused reconnaissance prescribes the identification of the enemy’s locations, composition,
  disposition,and strength within an assigned area of operations. Infrastructure dictates gathering information
  pertinent to the understating of the operational environment. Terrain and weather effects confirm step two
  (describe environmental effects on operations) of the IPB process and is accomplished by analyzing and
  determining the influences that the five military aspects of terrain and the military aspects of weather will
  have on future operations. The five military aspects of terrain are observation and fields of fire,avenues of
  approach, key terrain, obstacles, and cover and concealment (OAKOC). The military aspects of weather
  include visibility, wind, precipitation, cloud cover, temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure (as
  required). Civil considerations reflect the influence of manmade infrastructure, civilian institutions, and
  attitudes and activities of the civilian leaders, populations, and organizations within the operational
  environment on the conduct of military operations. The commander and staff analyze civil considerations in
  terms of the following characteristics: areas, structures, capabilities, organizations, people, and events,
  expressed in the memory aid (ASCOPE). (SeeATP 2-01.3 and ATP 3-34.80 for additional information.)
  Security Objective
  5-18. Similar to a reconnaissance objective,the security objective clarifies the intent of the security effort by
  stating the most important result of the security effort. A security objective focuses the Cavalry (or other
  maneuver organization) organization’s area of emphasis. Three categories form the area of emphasis—the
  protected force, activity, and facility. As in reconnaissance, the commander often assigns more than one
  category to Cavalry units even though the commander recognizes that a broad focus in multiple areas dilutes
  theCavalry organization’s ability to conduct the security mission(s). The BCT commander narrows the scope
  of the security mission(s) by providing clear security guidance that offers freedom of action and direction to
  focus the Cavalry organization’s area of emphasis. Focusing the Cavalry organization’s area of emphasis
  helps to ensure it can accomplish stated objectives within the required timeframe. The commander does this
  by providing a clear understanding of the Cavalry organization’s task, purpose, and end state, and the
  protection requirements of the security mission. The ultimate goal of any security mission is to provide early
  and accurate warning of enemy operations, to provide the force being protected with time and maneuver
  space within which to react to the enemy,and to develop the situation to allow the commander to effectively
  use the protected force.
  ENGAGEMENT,DISENGAGEMENT,AND BYPASS CRITERIA
  5-19. During reconnaissance and security operations, engagement, disengagement, and bypass criteria
  prescribe events and conditions that require initiation of engagement with the enemy, disengagement from
  enemy contact,or bypassing the enemy. Engagement,disengagement,and bypass criteria outlines parameters
  forCavalry units to engage the enemy with direct or indirect fire based on the level of threat,levels of risk,
  required levels of covertness,and preservation of the force.
  5-20. Engagement criteriaare protocols that specify those circumstances for initiating engagement with an
  enemy force (FM 3-90-1). Regardless of engagement criteria,it is not enough to state in the operation order
  that engagement criterion is either restrictive or permissive; the operation order must describe conditions
  relative to the enemy situation to ensure complete understanding.
  5-21. Disengageis a tactical mission task where a commander has the unit break contact with the enemy to
  allow the conduct of another mission or to avoid decisive engagement (FM 3-90-1). Disengagement criteria
  describe the events and conditions that necessitate disengaging from enemy contact or temporarily breaking
  enemy contact to preserve the force. Compromised Cavalry units or scouts who find themselves in a position
  of disadvantage provide no information or security valueand should temporarily break contact to re-establish
  observation as soon as the tactical situation permits. As with engagement criteria, specific conditions are
  described that require disengagement.
  5-22. Bypass criteria are measures established by higher echelon headquarters that specify the conditions
  and size under which enemy units and contact may be avoided (ADP3-90). Bypass criteria describes the
  events and conditions that necessitate maneuver around an obstacle,position,or enemy force to maintain the
  momentum of the operation. Bypass criteria describes the conditions that necessitate maneuver so as not to
  decisively engage or fallbelow a certain combat strength when deliberately avoiding combat with an enemy
  force.