Dismounted Reconnaissance Troop - Army Electronic Publications ...

Chapter 4
4-17. The DRT may be required to conduct a moving flank screen or to screen the rear of the protected
force as it attacks. As the protected force moves, the troop occupies a series of successive screens.
Movement is regulated by the requirement to maintain the time and distance factors desired by the
protected force commander. Screening operations are not performed forward of a moving force (see FM
3-90).
4-18. Critical tasks for the screen are the following:
DEPTH
Allow no enemy ground element to pass through the screen undetected and unreported.
Maintain continuous surveillance of all avenues of approach larger than a designated size into
the area under all visibility conditions.
Destroy or repel all enemy reconnaissance patrols within its capabilities.
Locate the lead elements of each enemy advance guard and determine its direction of movement
in a defensive screen.
Maintain contact with enemy forces and report any activity in the AO.
Maintain contact with the main body and any security forces operating on its flanks.
Impede and harass the enemy within its capabilities while displacing.
4-19. Depth is critical in a screen. The term “screen line” is descriptive only of the forward trace along
which security is provided. It allows for threat contact to be passed from one element to another without
displacing. Depth allows the troop to accomplish the following:
Prevent the threat from identifying and penetrating the screen.
Prevent gaps in the screen from occurring when OPs are displaced, suppressed, neutralized, or
destroyed.
Facilitate the destruction of threat elements without compromising critical OPs.
Maintain contact with threat elements without compromising OPs.
4-20. Depth is achieved primarily by positioning OPs and SUASs particularly along avenues of approach.
The mortar section and attached elements positioned behind the screen line establish local security and
provide support. The degree to which depth can be attained is a function of many factors, which include the
following:
Higher commander’s intent and concept as expressed in the OPORD.
Graphical trace of the screen line (may be the LOA or other screen line).
Engagement criteria.
Destruction criteria.
Cueing, mixing and redundancy of assets as described earlier in Chapter 3.
Displacement/disengagement criteria.
Width of the troop AO.
Depth of the troop AO.
Terrain and avenues of approach it will support.
Attachments and detachments.
PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
4-21. A DRT executing a screen requires the following minimum guidance:
Focus, tempo, and engagement criteria.
General trace of the screen and time it will be established.
Width of the screened AO.
Force to be screened.
Rear boundary of the screening force.
Possible follow-on missions.
4-4 ATTP 3-20.97 16 November 2010