text: Chapter 3
  aviation attack by fire positions and engagement areas to limit the enemy’s freedom of action and to attack
  the enemy throughout the depth of his or her defense with either direct or indirect fires.
  3-44. When planning attacks, the commander controls the operation by using attack. routes or axes of
  attack, engagement areas, trigger lines, attack by fire positions, HAs, PLs, TRPs, ACMs, named areas of
  interest, and target areas of interest. To limit the extent of the attack, the commander may also designate an
  LOA and/or subordinate unit boundaries in the designated AO. These control measures allow for
  decentralized actions and small-unit initiative to exploit successful attacks to the greatest extent possible.
  3-45. Attacks are triggered based on enemy events, time, friendly actions or a combination. The nature of
  the target and the commander’s end state determine which method to use. A decision support matrix is a
  helpful tool to assist commanders with the timing and sequencing of the attack and integration of
  supporting enablers.
  3-46. During execution, the Army Aviation attack or reconnaissance units use maneuver and direct and/or
  indirect joint fires to place the enemy in a position of disadvantage. To achieve superiority over the enemy,
  the commander must take advantage of the range, precision, and lethality of all available fires. He or she
  also must gain and maintain information superiority through in-depth reconnaissance and continuous
  maneuver to positions of advantage using speed, maneuverability, maximum standoff, and the available
  terrain.
  SECTION IV – RECONNAISSANCE.
  3-47. Reconnaissance is a mission to obtain, by visual observation or other detection methods, information
  about the activities and resources of an enemy or adversary, or to secure data concerning the
  meteorological, hydrographic, or geographic characteristics of a particular area (JP 2-0). Reconnaissance
  operations allow the commander to understand the situation and visualize the battlefield by filling in critical
  information gaps to mitigate risk, allocate resources, and prioritize tasks. Effective reconnaissance allows
  the commander to identify where the enemy is weak or strong, the best place or opportunity to concentrate
  combat power to gain and maintain a position of relative advantage, or where and when to best deny the
  enemy a position of relative advantage. For more on reconnaissance, see FM 3-98. FM 6-99 contains
  appropriate formats for bridge, route, and patrol reports.
  3-48. Aerial reconnaissance serves as a link between sensors and mounted or dismounted units, and is used
  to cue other reconnaissance methods to specific areas, thereby increasing overall tempo of the operation.
  Aerial reconnaissance is appropriate when—
  * Weather conditions are favorable.
  * Time is limited or information is required quickly.
  * Ground reconnaissance assets are unavailable, or the target is at an extended range.
  * The enemy situation is vague but considered to be high risk, or is known and is high risk for
  ground assets.
  3-49. Army Aviation conducts reconnaissance as part of its parent organization’s focused information
  collection efforts by either fighting for or collecting information by stealth and observation.
  Reconnaissance is conducted before, during, and after operations to inform the IPB process and assist the
  commander with the formulation, confirmation, or modification of a COA.
  3-50. Army Aviation attack or reconnaissance units are specifically equipped, trained and organized to
  conduct all forms of reconnaissance except special reconnaissance. Assault and GS aviation units can also
  perform limited reconnaissance missions based on mission variables; however, regardless of whether
  reconnaissance is assigned as a specified task or not, it is always an implied task for every aviation element
  to gather and report information on enemy and friendly disposition, terrain, and civil activities observed
  during the course of all operations.
  3-51. Army Aviation conducts reconnaissance at all echelons, from elements as small as an AWT or SWT
  using MUM-T, or a single UAS, up to elements as large as an AB or ACS, either independently as a pure
  aviation maneuver force or as part of a deliberately planned scheme of maneuver as a member of the
  combined arms team. The size of the aviation reconnaissance force is driven by the size of the AO,