text: Chapter 12
  information to emphasize the importance of reporting to their Soldiers and rapidly updating digital and analog
  systems to reflect friendly, enemy, and neutral activities.
  RECONNAISSANCE FUNDAMENTALS
  12-3. There are seven fundamentals of successful reconnaissance operations:
  * Ensure continuous reconnaissance.
  * Do not keep reconnaissance assets in reserve.
  * Orient on the reconnaissance objective.
  * Report all required information rapidly and accurately.
  * Retain freedom of maneuver.
  * Gain and maintain enemy contact.
  * Develop the situation rapidly.
  Ensure Continuous Reconnaissance
  12-4. Effective reconnaissance is continuous. Units conduct reconnaissance before, during, and after all their
  operations. Reconnaissance gathers information that commanders use when deciding to execute current,
  branch, or sequel plans. The nature of priority intelligence requirements (PIRs) and information requirements
  change as operations transition. Units employ reconnaissance assets to report friendly unit locations, status,
  and sustainment requirements during chaotic situations. It is important that all Soldiers act as sensors and
  report their observations in a timely manner.
  12-5. Before operations, reconnaissance fills gaps in information about enemy forces, the terrain, and civil
  considerations. During operations, reconnaissance assets provide units with updated information that verifies
  their enemy forces’ composition, dispositions, and intentions. This allows those commanders to verify which
  potential COAs enemy forces are attempting to execute. It also allows commanders to determine if their plans
  are still valid based on ongoing events within their assigned areas. After operations, reconnaissance elements
  maintain contact with enemy forces to determine the enemy’s next move. At a minimum, units ensure the
  continuous conduct of reconnaissance as part of all their security missions. This includes the performance of
  local security by forces not currently in contact.
  12-6. Reconnaissance performed over extended distances and time requires units to pace or rotate their
  reconnaissance assets to maintain continuous coverage. Scouts require time for rest, resupply, training, and
  the performance of troop leading procedures. Technical reconnaissance assets require time for preventive
  maintenance checks and services. Commanders determine where, and when, they require maximum
  reconnaissance efforts and then manage their available reconnaissance assets to ensure their availability at
  critical times and places.
  Do Not Keep Reconnaissance Assets in Reserve
  12-7. Commanders never keep their reconnaissance assets in reserve. This does not mean that units commit
  all their assets all the time. When committed, reconnaissance assets use all their resources to accomplish the
  mission. They use their reconnaissance assets based on their capabilities and the mission variables to achieve
  the maximum coverage needed to answer their critical information requirements. At times, this requires them
  to task, re-assign, or minimize the reconnaissance assets to ensure their availability at critical times and
  places. They do not recover and sustain reconnaissance assets by placing them in the reserve. They consider
  all their reconnaissance assets as committed assets with specific missions at all times. They may keep units
  with multiple roles that can conduct reconnaissance, security, and other combat missions in an economy of
  force role as their reserve for future security or combat missions.
  Orient on the Reconnaissance Objective
  12-8. Commanders use their reconnaissance objectives to focus reconnaissance efforts. Reconnaissance
  objective is the most important result desired from that specific reconnaissance effort. The objective can
  be either threat or terrain based, depending on what type of operation a battalion or higher echelon is
  conducting. Every reconnaissance mission specifies a reconnaissance objective by priority, intent, and the