Dismounted Reconnaissance Troop - Army Electronic Publications ...

Chapter 4
First method. The squadron or troop conducts route reconnaissance at irregular intervals to
avoid developing a pattern that the threat may exploit. The troop reconnoiters the route,
including conducting zone reconnaissance to either flank. Organic or attached SUASs or
supporting aviation assets can reconnoiter in advance of ground troops or assist in screening the
flanks. In addition to conducting reconnaissance, troop elements may escort engineers
conducting route clearance, improvement, or maintenance; clearing terrain at potential ambush
sites; and repairing damage caused by threat actions. Augmentation of tactical vehicles will
greatly enhance the execution of this method by the DRT. The motorized troops are better suited
to conduct this method of route security.
Second method. This method entails using an economy of force technique to protect only
critical lengths or locations along the route. The squadron or DRT establishes mutually
supporting combat outposts and provides security between them. Combat outposts are
established at critical choke points to prevent sabotage and to defend against or respond to
attacks to interdict the route between outposts. Based on METT-TC, a DRT can establish one or
two combat outposts, and a squadron can typically establish up to six. The route outside the
reach of the combat outpost is not secured or, normally, patrolled. A squadron provides route
security by combining this method at two locations or critical choke points with route
reconnaissance along the rest of the route using the combination of motorized and dismounted
troops. Combat outposts include FS assets, troop mortars, or howitzer sections capable of
massing fires in support of both the combat outposts and the operations between them. Patrols
are conducted at irregular intervals between the combat outposts based on threat trends and
recent activities. Patrols are organized with sufficient combat power to destroy near ambushes
and to survive initial threat contact from far ambushes. Each combat outpost maintains a reaction
force within their capabilities to respond to threat activity or reinforce patrols.
ROUTE SECURITY PROCEDURES
4-69. Artillery or mortars are deployed into fixed firing positions, moved between position areas for
artillery, or collocated in base camps or combat outposts. However FS assets are controlled and deployed,
some should be available to all reconnaissance elements along the route, with the capability to mass at
critical positions or into areas of most frequent threat activity. Fire plans should consist of priority targets to
support convoy or patrol movement and FPF to support checkpoints or combat outposts. Targets should be
registered whenever possible.
4-70. Patrols are conducted at irregular intervals along the route based on threat trends and recent
activities. Threat forces emplace IEDs, mines, and demolitions; create craters or abatises, or establish
ambushes or roadblocks to interdict or destroy traffic. Air, mounted, and dismounted patrols facilitate
detection of threat forces before emplacing obstacles or execute ambushes. Patrols are organized with
sufficient forces to reconnoiter off-route ambush sites and with enough combat power to survive initial
threat contact. Based on threat capabilities and the patrol’s purpose, reconnaissance patrols should be
augmented with engineers, Infantry, military police, and other assets to increase combat capability. Other
techniques to defeat threat attempts to interdict the route or ambush convoys include the following:
Deceptive “mock” convoys under escort to determine threat reactions. The DRT must be
augmented or cross attached to elements with motorized troops.
Ambushes along known or suspected dismounted approaches to the route.
Registered indirect fires triggered by sensor cues followed by patrols.
Combat patrols conducting reconnaissance by fire at irregular intervals during limited visibility,
prior to sunrise, or in advance of critical convoys to detect and destroy ambushes.
4-71. Although SUASs cannot secure the route, they can assist in observing the route by conducting aerial
reconnaissance, effectively covering large areas in a short time on a continuous basis. Small unmanned
aircraft systems can also assist in providing surveillance depth to the screen securing the route. Ground
sensors can be used in surveillance of key avenues of approach or areas that do not require continuous
surveillance by Scouts. This reduces the manpower and sustainment demands on the DRT’s resources.
4-18 ATTP 3-20.97 16 November 2010