text: Chapter 1
  Retain Freedom of Maneuver
  1-42. Reconnaissance assets must retain battlefield mobility to accomplish missions. If these assets are
  decisively engaged, reconnaissance stops and a battle for survival begins. Reconnaissance assets must have
  clear engagement criteria that support the maneuver commander’s intent. Initiative and knowledge of both
  the terrain and the enemy reduce the likelihood of decisive engagement and help maintain freedom of
  movement. Before initial contact, the reconnaissance unit adopts a combat formation designed to gain
  contact with the smallest possible friendly element. This provides the unit with the maximum opportunity
  for maneuver and enables it to avoid the enemy’s ability to engage the unit. The IPB process helps the
  commander identify anticipated areas of likely contact. Using indirect fires to provide suppression and
  obscuration and destroy point targets is a method reconnaissance assets use to retain freedom of maneuver.
  Gain and Maintain Enemy Contact
  1-43. Once a unit conducting reconnaissance gains contact with the enemy, it maintains that contact unless
  the commander directing the reconnaissance orders otherwise or the survival of the unit is at risk. This does
  not mean that individual scout and reconnaissance teams cannot break contact with the enemy. The
  commander of the unit conducting reconnaissance maintains contact using all available resources. The
  methods of maintaining contact range from surveillance to close combat. Surveillance, combined with
  stealth, is often sufficient to maintain contact and is the preferred method. Units conducting reconnaissance
  avoid combat unless it is necessary to gain essential information. If this is the intent, the units use maneuver
  (fire and movement) to maintain contact while avoiding decisive engagement.
  Develop the Situation Rapidly
  1-44. When a reconnaissance asset encounters an enemy force or an obstacle, it must quickly determine the
  threat it faces. For an enemy force, the reconnaissance asset must determine the enemy’s composition,
  dispositions, activities, and movements and assess the implications of that information. For an obstacle, the
  reconnaissance asset must determine the obstacle’s type and extent and if it is covered by fire. Obstacles
  can provide information concerning the location of enemy forces, weapons capabilities, and organization of
  fires. In most cases, the reconnaissance unit developing the situation uses actions on contact.
  Reconnaissance Forms
  1-45. ADRP 3-90 discusses the five forms of reconnaissance in detail. Those five forms of reconnaissance
  operations are—
  * Route reconnaissance.
  * Zone reconnaissance.
  * Area reconnaissance.
  * Reconnaissance in force.
  * Special reconnaissance.
  Route Reconnaissance
  1-46. Route reconnaissance focuses along a line of communications such as a road, railway, or cross-
  country mobility corridor. It provides new or updated information on route conditions such as obstacles and
  bridge classifications and enemy and civilian activity along the route. A route reconnaissance includes the
  route and terrain along the route where the enemy could influence the friendly force’s movement. The
  commander normally assigns this mission to use a route for friendly movement.
  Zone Reconnaissance
  1-47. Zone reconnaissance involves a directed effort to obtain detailed information on all routes, obstacles,
  terrain, enemy forces, or civil considerations in a zone defined by boundaries. Obstacles include both
  existing and reinforcing, as well as areas with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN)
  contamination. Commanders assign zone reconnaissance missions when they need additional information
  on a zone before committing other forces in the zone. Zone reconnaissance missions are appropriate when
  the enemy situation is vague, existing knowledge of the terrain is limited, or combat operations have altered