text: Cavalry Organizations and
  the Operational Environment
  to provide the BCT with security. Cavalry units must move continually and at times rapidly to positions of
  relative advantage to observe and fight. Cavalry units require organized, integrated, and synchronized support
  from all warfighting functions to ensure effective reconnaissance and security operations.
  1-14. Cavalry units employ all available combat power to answer the commander’s PIRs. While the enemy
  seeks to protect or conceal vital information and key assets, Cavalry units overcome these efforts and fight
  for information within their capabilities to develop the situation rapidly and report the specific details of the
  tactical situation accurately. Air-ground teams allow reconnaissance efforts to develop the situation in
  multiple domains to maximize information collection and assist the commander in visualizing and
  understanding the area of operations. Combined arms air-ground operations answer PIR, create options, and
  develop the situation to set conditions for a reconnaissance handover or decisive engagement.
  1-15. Effective air-ground operations are built upon relationships, mutual trust, and a common understanding
  of the operational environment, operation, and mission. Air-ground operations require detailed planning,
  coordination, and synchronized employment of ground, air maneuver, and fire to achieve the commander’s
  objectives to ensure freedom of movement and action.
  1-16. Aviation assets are an integral member of the combined arms team that significantly increases the
  relative combat strength of Cavalry squadrons. These limited assets must be utilized effectively to help
  achieve the commander’s intent. BCTs must know their capabilities, employ them appropriately, and
  synchronize their operation to accomplish the mission.
  PROVIDE REACTION TIME AND MANEUVER SPACE
  1-17. The BCT’s Cavalry squadron develops the situation by fighting for information to buy the time and
  space required for an effective response to enemy actions. The Cavalry squadron conducts reconnaissance
  operations to develop the situation forward or to the flanks of the main body to prevent the BCT commander
  from fighting at a disadvantage. The Cavalry squadron conducts security operations to provide the
  commander with maneuver space so they can respond to unanticipated enemy actions or developments within
  the BCT’s area of operations. Security operations provide the commander with time to assess the situation,
  determine a course of action, issue orders, make continuous assessments, issue additional fragmentary orders,
  and maneuver.
  PRESERVE COMBAT POWER AND ACHIEVE ECONOMY OF FORCE
  1-18. Cavalry organizations provide security for the BCT main body to protect and preserve the combat
  power of the BCT. In offensive operations, effective Cavalry operations prevent the premature deployment
  and loss of critical combat power. In defensive operations, an effective Cavalry operation provides early
  warning, destroys enemy reconnaissance forces, and fixes the lead elements of enemy organizations within
  the capabilities of the respective Cavalry organization.
  1-19. Economy of force is the employment and distribution of forces to allocate the maximum possible
  combat power on primary efforts (JP 3-0). The Cavalry’s flexible capabilities allow the commander to
  conserve their BCT’s combat power to use at a time and place of their choosing. Based on METT-TC (I),
  when augmented with additional combat power, the BCT’s Cavalry organizations can provide the BCT with
  a critical capability based on the economy of force principle of joint operations.
  FACILITATE MOVEMENT AND TRANSITIONS
  1-20. Cavalry units assist movement and transitions by executing reconnaissance and facilitating
  coordination and contact between units. Scout platoons occupy contact points, passage points, and coordinate
  with higher and adjacent units to ensure seamless transitions and cross-unit coordination.
  1-21. Effective reconnaissance operations ease transitions in plans, phases, and priorities of effort for the
  BCT and mitigate information gaps between units. Reconnaissance operations assist commanders in
  employing the most appropriate forms of maneuver to envelop, turn, dislocate, and ultimately defeat enemy forces.
  1-22. Transitions mark a change of focus and priorities between phases or between the ongoing operation
  and execution of a branch or sequel. The shift in priority between offense, defense, and stability operations