text: Chapter 6
  Reconnaissance
  The OPFOR considers reconnaissance the most important element of
  combat support. All commanders and staffs organize reconnaissance to
  acquire information about the enemy’s reconnaissance, intelligence,
  surveillance, and target acquisition (RISTA) assets, precision weapons,
  force disposition, intentions, and terrain and weather in the area of
  responsibility (AOR). This information is crucial to the planning process
  in OPFOR command and control (C2). Reconnaissance can decisively
  influence the outcome of an operation or even the strategic campaign.
  MISSION
  6-1. For the OPFOR, reconnaissance is a mission, not a force or unit. OPFOR
  reconnaissance is an integrated combined arms effort, not solely the business
  of reconnaissance troops. Besides reconnaissance units, the OPFOR will
  use other arms for reconnaissance missions, as necessary. It will also use para-
  military forces, affiliated forces, and/or friendly civilians to collect information.
  CONCEPT
  6-2. Reconnaissance and intelligence collection are critical to OPFOR military
  operations. Commanders and planners place significant emphasis on the de-
  struction of enemy precision weapons and on conducting high-speed, continuous,
  combined arms operations throughout the depth of the theater. Reconnaissance
  and intelligence collection has three distinct levelsstrategic, operational, and
  tactical. These three categories overlap, mutually support, and differ primar-
  ily by the level of command and the commander’s AOR.
  6-3. Commanders require continuous, timely, and accurate intelligence on the
  enemy, terrain, and meteorological situation. Thus, the OPFOR devotes sub-
  stantial effort to all forms of reconnaissance. Commanders prefer to confirm
  their plan only after thorough reconnaissance.
  PRINCIPLES
  6-4. The OPFOR uses six principles to guide its reconnaissance activities:
  focus; continuity; aggressiveness; timeliness; camouflage, concealment, cover
  and deception (C3D); accuracy and reliability. For the greatest likelihood of a
  successful operation, OPFOR reconnaissance must satisfy all of these princi-
  ples simultaneously and continuously.
  Focus
  6-5. The actions of reconnaissance must serve the commander’s needs and
  focus on elements and objectives critical to the execution of combat operations.