Dismounted Reconnaissance Troop - Army Electronic Publications ...

Security Operations
effective communications to maintain a high state of SA of friendly unit positions. This must be done
without compromising friendly unit locations to threat forces. Sound and light discipline at night prevents
compromise and bypass of OPs by threat reconnaissance forces. Additional OPs can be established as
listening posts to take advantage of the extended distance sound travels at night. Indirect illumination is
also planned and used as necessary.
GUARD
4-54. The DRT does not have the capability to execute a guard mission. They may, however, participate in
a guard mission to the limit of their capabilities. If participating in a guard mission with a larger fighting
force, DRT units will normally participate in screening operations for the guard force. Screening operations
for a guard force are conducted similarly to those of a screen for any other maneuver force. (See FM 3-90
and FM 3-20.96 for more information on guard.)
4-55. A guard is a form of security operations whose primary task is to protect the main body by fighting
to gain time while also observing and reporting information and preventing threat ground observation of
and direct fire against the main body. It differs from the screen in that the guard force, which normally
operates within the range of the main body’s indirect fire weapons, fights the threat when necessary to gain
time and allow freedom of maneuver for the protected force. The guard force prevents threat ground
observation of and direct fire against the main body by reconnoitering, attacking, defending, and delaying.
COVER
4-56. As with a guard force, the DRT does not have the capabilities to execute a cover mission. They may
participate in a covering force mission to the limit of their capabilities. Similarly to their participation in a
guard mission, if participating in a covering force, DRT units will normally participate in screening
operations. (See FM 3-90 for more information on cover.)
4-57. A cover is a form of security operation whose primary task is to protect the main body by fighting to
gain time while also observing and reporting information and preventing threat ground observation of and
direct fire against the main body. A cover prevents threat indirect fires, direct observation, and direct fires
against the main body by reconnoitering, attacking, defending, and delaying. A covering force
accomplishes all the tasks of screening and guard forces. Unlike a screening or guard force, however, the
covering force is a self-contained element capable of operating independently of the main body. A covering
force, or portions of it, often become decisively engaged with threat forces. Therefore, the covering force
must have substantial combat power to engage the threat and still accomplish its mission.
AREA SECURITY
4-58. Area security is defined as a security mission conducted to protect friendly forces, installations,
routes, and actions within a specified area. It includes the reconnaissance and security of the area specified
for protection, including personnel, airfields (as well as terrain around airfields from which surface-to-air
missiles can be launched), unit convoys, facilities, main supply routes (MSRs), lines of communications
(LOCs), terrain features, towns, equipment, and critical points. (See Figure 4-5.) Area security is conducted
to deny the threat the ability to influence friendly actions in a specific area or to deny the threat use of an
area for its own purposes. It may entail occupying and establishing a 360-degree perimeter around the area
being secured or taking actions to destroy threat forces already present. Area security operations may
require the execution of a wide variety of supporting operations and tasks; therefore, the troop may require
augmentation when it is assigned to perform area security.
DISMOUNTED RECONNAISSANCE TROOP TASKS
4-59. The DRT can execute the following tasks when conducting area security operations:
Zone, area, and route reconnaissance.
Screen.
Offensive and defensive tasks (within capabilities).
16 November 2010 ATTP 3-20.97 4-15