text: Reconnaissance
  Figure 12-1. Example of zone reconnaissance control measures
  AREA RECONNAISSANCE
  12-49. Area reconnaissance is a form of reconnaissance operation that focuses on obtaining detailed
  information about the terrain or enemy activity within a prescribed area. This area may consist of a
  single location, such as a town, a ridgeline, a forest, an airhead, a bridge, an installation, or any other critical
  operational feature such as obstacles. Obstacles are considered as either natural or man-made and can include
  areas with CBRN contamination. Commanders assign an area reconnaissance when information on the
  enemy situation is limited or when focused reconnaissance yields specific information on the area in question.
  Area reconnaissance is normally smaller than zone reconnaissance and is not usually contiguous to other
  friendly areas targeted for reconnaissance.
  12-50. Commanders may forgo detailed reconnaissance of their respective areas and focus their assets on
  NAIs that reveal enemy compositions, dispositions, and intentions when their reconnaissance objectives are
  oriented on enemy forces. Reconnaissance units cannot disregard terrain while focusing on enemy forces in
  this situation. However, they minimize their terrain reconnaissance efforts to those that may influence NAIs.