FM 3-34.22 - Army Electronic Publications & Forms - U.S. Army

Engineer Support to Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
3-22. The ERT is normally task-organized for a specific mission, and its elements are drawn from the
combat mobility platoons or the mobility support platoon. The ERT—
� Increases the supporting unit reconnaissance capabilities by providing detailed technical
information on complex obstacles and enemy engineer equipment.
� Conducts an analysis of assets needed to bypass, breach, mark, or reduce any encountered
obstacle.
� Provides detailed technical information on routes (including classification) and specific
information on bridges, tunnels, fords, and ferries along the route.
� Provides the initial level of technical information required for an airfield assessment.
� Conducts tactical reconnaissance with a specified focus on the initial technical information
required for environmental or infrastructure assessments.
3-23. An ERT conducts operations as part of a larger combined arms force, directly augmenting the
reconnaissance element or operating as a discrete element within the plan. The team normally performs
reconnaissance of one named area of interest (NAI) or multiple NAIs within the same vicinity on the
battlefield. In most instances, the ERT conducts its reconnaissance dismounted. However, the team may
arrive in the vicinity of the reconnaissance objective in many ways—including dismounted, air, or ground.
If the team travels dismounted or is air-inserted, it should consist of at least three personnel. If the team
uses an organic vehicle to arrive in the vicinity of its reconnaissance objective, it should consist of at least
five personnel—three with the dismounted element and two with the team vehicle as the mounted element.
Ideally, it travels in a vehicle that is similar to other reconnaissance vehicles to blend in and maintain
comparable mobility, maneuverability, and vehicle protection. The dismounted element mission is to locate
and report all necessary information required by the supported commander according to the ISR plan.
3-24. This information can be transmitted directly to the supported unit headquarters on the appropriate net
(according to the SOP or the ISR plan) or relayed through the mounted element. The mission of the
mounted element is to maintain communication with the dismounted element and the supported unit. The
mounted element is responsible for relaying intelligence collected by the dismounted element to the
appropriate C2 node and ensuring that the team vehicle is not discovered by the enemy. OBSTINTEL
collected by a reconnaissance team is also sent to its parent engineer headquarters if possible. The
secondary mission of the mounted element is to be prepared to go forward and complete the
reconnaissance if the dismounted element is unsuccessful.
OTHER RECONNAISSANCE CAPABILITIES
3-25. Despite a lack of dedicated reconnaissance assets, engineer units can augment the supported BCT RS
troops or maneuver battalion scouts with ERTs by accepting risk to other engineer support requirements.
Engineers teamed directly with dedicated reconnaissance assets add a degree of technical skill to the team,
increasing the tempo and effectiveness of the reconnaissance mission. Combat engineers are typically task
organized directly to maneuver battalion scouts or RS troops to augment those units during tacticalreconnaissance
operations. The reconnaissance unit conducts the overall mission, while the assigned
engineer team focuses on the more technical information required (detailed information on a complex
obstacle or a proposed crossing site). While various engineers are available to be task-organized into
reconnaissance units, the teaming of engineers into the reconnaissance forces directly supporting the BCT
is the most common application.
3-26. If required, the engineer company commander forms ERTs that range in size from a three-man team
to a platoon. ERTs may operate independently; however, they normally augment one of the squadron
troops or other maneuver units directly involved in reconnaissance operations. If an ERT augments a
squadron element, the team must be task-organized with equipment that is compatible with mission
requirements and the supported reconnaissance force.
3-27. General engineer reconnaissance capabilities, when not in direct support of combat engineers, are
typically organized in the form of assessment or survey teams. These task-organized teams have a specific
focus for the collection of technical information and are less likely to be teamed directly with
reconnaissance units in the BCT. (Additional discussion on engineer assessment and survey teams is
provided in FM 3-34.170.)
11 February 2009 FM 3-34.22 3-5