text: Reconnaissance and Security
  range from surveillance to close combat. Surveillance,combined with stealth,is often sufficient to maintain
  contact and can limit exposure of reconnaissance assets. Units conducting reconnaissance avoid combat
  unless it is necessary to gain essential information, in which case the reconnaissance force uses maneuver
  (fire and movement) to maintain contact while avoiding decisive engagement. Maintaining contact provides
  real time information on the enemy’s composition, disposition, strength,and actions that allow the staff to
  analyze and make recommendations to the commander.
  Develop the Situation Rapidly
  5-47. When reconnaissance forces make contact with an enemy force or obstacle,it must act instinctively to
  develop the situation and quickly determine the threat it faces. For an enemy force, reconnaissance forces
  must determine the enemy’s composition,disposition,activities,and movements and assess the implications
  of that information to allow the BCT commander freedom of action. For an obstacle,reconnaissance forces
  must determine the type and extent of the obstacle and whether fire is covering the obstacle. Obstacles can
  provide information concerning the enemy force, weapon capabilities, and organization of fires.
  Reconnaissance forces, in most cases, develop the situation using actions on contact—a series of combat
  actions, often conducted simultaneously, taken on contact with the enemy to develop the situation
  (ADP3-90)—in accordance with the commander’s plan and intent. Actions on contact are deploy and report,
  evaluate and develop the situation, choose a COA, execute selected COA, and recommend a COA to the
  higher commander.
  TYPESOF RECONNAISSANCEOPERATIONS
  5-48. The five types of reconnaissance operations, discussed in paragraphs 5-49 through 5-53, are zone
  reconnaissance, area reconnaissance, route reconnaissance, reconnaissance in force, and special
  reconnaissance. Each type of reconnaissance operation provides a specific level of detail in information
  collection specific to the mission, conditions, and end state of the BCT commander. All types of
  reconnaissance operations satisfy priority intelligence requirements to understand and visualize the
  environment,develop the situation,create options,and identify opportunities to seize,retain,and exploit the
  initiative.
  Zone Reconnaissance
  5-49. Zone reconnaissance is a type of reconnaissance operation that involves a directed effort to obtain
  detailed information on all routes,obstacles,terrain,and enemy forces within a zone defined by boundaries
  (ADP3-90). Zone reconnaissance is a deliberate and time-intensive operation that takes more time to conduct
  than any other typeof reconnaissance. The BCT commander assigns a zone reconnaissance when the enemy
  situation is vague or when information related to terrain,infrastructure,or civil considerations is limited. A
  zone reconnaissance conducted over an extended distance begins at the line of departure and concludes at a
  specified limit of advance. The BCT commander specifies information requirements based upon time
  constraints and commander’s intent and relates reconnaissance objectives to follow-on missions.
  Reconnaissance forces find and report enemy activities within the area of operations for the zone
  reconnaissance,reconnoiter specific terrain,and report all information in a timely manner.
  Area Reconnaissance
  5-50. Area reconnaissance is a type of reconnaissance operation that focuses on obtaining detailed
  information about the terrain or enemy activity within a prescribed area (ADP 3-90). The commander assigns
  an area reconnaissance when information on the enemy situation is limited,when focused reconnaissance in
  a given area likely yields specific information related to decision points, or when information that is more
  thorough is required in a designated area. The commander defines the area as anNAI to focus the unit on a
  relatively small area such as a building, bridge, or key terrain. Area reconnaissance allows for focused
  reconnaissance over a wide area concentrated in specific locations that answer priority intelligence
  requirements and develop the situation to provide the commander with options. An area reconnaissance
  differs from a zone reconnaissance in that the unitsconducting an area reconnaissance first move to the area
  in which the reconnaissance will occur. In a zone reconnaissance the units conducting the reconnaissance
  startfrom a line of departure.