Dismounted Reconnaissance Troop - Army Electronic Publications ...

Other Tactical Operations
reconnaissance troop units may use successful infiltration routes as their exfiltration routes as well.
However, repeated movement in one area increases the likelihood of being detected and ambushed. If
possible, exfiltration should be conducted during periods of limited visibility to conceal movement of
friendly forces.
EXTRACTION METHODS
6-48. Extraction may be conducted by air, water, or land. Plans for extraction must be developed before the
operation, covering procedural contingencies such as the evacuation of sick and wounded personnel and
disruption of communications. These plans should address various contingencies for movement such as
evasion. Hazards in the area of movement must be avoided to improve the scouts’ chances of escape.
6-49. Extraction by air or water means is favored when the resources are available and their use will not
compromise the mission. These methods are used when long distances must be covered, when time of
return is essential, when the extraction zone lacks adequate cover and concealment, when the threat does
not have air or naval superiority, or when complex terrain or heavily populated hostile areas obstruct
ground extraction.
6-50. Reconnaissance forces normally conduct extraction via land routes when friendly lines are close or
no other extraction method is feasible. Ground extraction is preferred when areas along the route are largely
uninhabited, when threat forces are widely dispersed or under such pressure that they cannot conduct
counterreconnaissance and security operations. In addition, ground extraction is preferred when terrain is
sufficiently restricted to degrade threat efforts to use mobile forces against the exfiltrating/extracting
reconnaissance unit.
EXTRACTION POINTS
6-51. Extraction points for DRT units should be carefully planned based on factors of METT-TC and far
enough away from OPs to ensure that the threat does not hear vehicle or helicopter noises. The exfiltrating
force should use mountains, dense foliage, and other terrain features to screen these noises.
6-52. Under normal conditions in flat, open terrain on a clear night, rotary-wing aircraft lose most of their
audio signature at a distance of approximately five kilometers. In mountainous terrain, aircraft conducting
the extraction can be seen or detected much easier when enemy observers are in place on the hilltops that
offer superior observation.
6-53. For motorized ground extractions, rolling terrain can assist in hiding vehicle sounds as long as they
maintain low-engine revolutions per minute (RPM).
6-54. In urban areas, motorized extractions may be down narrow roads and alleys to mask movement.
Extraction points may be easily hidden among the materials and debris found in the urban area. While the
actual point may be in buildings or in open areas such as an intersection, units may use surface or below
surface hide locations to avoid detection. This may include inside and outside of buildings. Scouts must
avoid detection because they are not prepared to fight decisive engagements.
SECTION VII – LINKUP
6-55. A linkup is a meeting of friendly ground forces. A DRT conducts a linkup in the following situations:
The troop conducts linkup to conduct RHO or BHO.
The troop reaches an objective that has been previously seized.
An encircled element breaks out to rejoin friendly forces.
Converging forces meet.
6-56. Linkup can be a platoon or section leader meeting another platoon or section leader from a unit on
the other side of a lateral boundary or as complex as the troop joining support units for support and
supplies. (See 3-20.96 for additional information.)
16 November 2010 ATTP 3-20.97 6-9