text: _________________________________________________________________________________Chapter 6
  patrols that assess routes, reporting on obstacles, road conditions, and the
  general nature of the terrain. These engineer assets help units maintain a
  rapid rate of advance or prepare for effective defense.
  AIRBORNE FORCES
  6-41. Airborne forces are elite troops whose primary purpose is to conduct active
  combat operations in the enemy’s rear area. Airborne forces might conduct recon-
  naissance operations and relay information directly to the main command post or
  headquarters as they operate against targets in the enemy’s rear. See Chapter 13.
  UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES
  6-42. At OSC level, UAVs provide aerial reconnaissance support. An OSC of-
  ten is assigned one or more UAV units.
  GROUND FORCES TACTICAL RECONNAISSANCE
  6-43. Reconnaissance is a combined arms responsibility. Thus, ordinary mecha-
  nized infantry and tank units perform two functions: they perform their own close
  reconnaissance tasks with organic resources, and they provide reconnaissance de-
  tachments of up to battalion strength. Leading units may also conduct reconnais-
  sance attacks (see FM 7-100.2). OSCs and tactical groups may also form task-
  oriented reconnaissance detachments based on a combat arms battalion,
  augmented by engineer and chemical reconnaissance and, often, by mecha-
  nized infantry and tank units. Generally, these groups try to avoid combat in
  fulfilling their tasks, although they may direct artillery fire or air attacks.
  Typical missions might include
  • Locating, identifying, and reporting enemy precision weapons and nu-
  clear delivery means, headquarters, communications centers, troop
  concentrations, and movements of enemy units.
  • Determining the strength and disposition of the enemy’s defenses and
  locating his boundaries.
  • Providing topographical information concerning routes to, or bypasses
  around, enemy positions as well as concerning lateral routes.
  • Identifying the extent and depth of minefields and the types of mines
  employed (assessing obstacles and possible crossing points).
  • Establishing the extent of zones of NBC contamination.
  • Identifying potential communications facilities and other sites for use
  by their own forces.
  6-44. The chief of reconnaissance, with input from other staff elements, must
  prepare a detailed reconnaissance plan, specifying—
  • The organization of reconnaissance activities for a specific time.
  • Goals and mission for each reconnaissance activity.
  • Completion times.
  • Reporting procedures.