Marine Rifle Squad

contamination, terrain, and enemy forces within a particular zone defined
by specific boundaries.
c. Route Reconnaissance. A route reconnaissance is a reconnaissance
along specific lines of communications, such as a road, railway, or waterway,
to provide information on route conditions and activities along the route.
(1) Reconnaissance of routes and axes of advance precede the movement
of friendly forces. Lateral routes and terrain features that can control
the use of the route must be reconnoitered.
(2) Considerations include trafficability, danger areas, critical points,
vehicle weight and size limitations and locations of obstacle
emplacements.
(3) The route reconnaissance is narrower in scope than the zone reconnaissance.
The limits of the mission are normally described by a line of
departure, a specific route, and a limit of advance.
8404. Task Organization of Reconnaissance Patrols
Generally, a rifle squad is used for reconnaissance patrols; other teams or
individuals having specialized capabilities may be attached to the squad for
the conduct of the patrol's mission. The patrol should be organized with one
or two fire teams to actually conduct the reconnaissance mission and the
remaining fire team to provide security. A small point reconnaissance patrol
needs only one team for the assigned mission. An area reconnaissance patrol
should use two teams to physically conduct the mission and one team for
cover and security. The patrol security team should cover the likely avenues
of approach into the objective, protect the units conducting the reconnaissance,
and cover the objective rally point.
8405. Equipment
Patrol members are armed and equipped as necessary to accomplish the mission.
The automatic rifle in each fire team provides a degree of sustained
firepower in case of enemy contact.
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