Division's Fight for Information: Ground Reconnaissance in a Mechanized World

Abstract

For the past several years, the US Army's proficiency in counterinsurgency operations expanded, arguably at the expense of other competencies. As the Army transitions back towards division-level operations, the need for timely and accurate information provided by reconnaissance and security assets will be greater than ever. While the division commander has numerous dedicated aviation assets at his disposal, noticeably absent in the current organizational structure is a dedicated ground element. Unlike its aviation counterpart, a ground reconnaissance unit can occupy terrain, a capability that is vital for a commander's ability to exploit battlefield opportunities. The experiences of the 82d ARB in World War II and 1-4 CAV in Desert Storm illustrate the necessity of a ground reconnaissance force. By emphasizing reconnaissance and security training and education in the division's subordinate units, the commander has options in the absence of a dedicated element.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 23, 2019
Accession Number
AD1083611

Entities

People

  • Michael L. Muskus

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Armored Personnel Carriers
  • Artillery
  • Combat Operations
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Infantry Fighting Vehicles
  • Lessons Learned
  • Light Armored Vehicles
  • Military History
  • Military Science
  • Organizational Structure
  • Reconnaissance
  • Second World War
  • Security
  • Training
  • United States
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • History

Readers

  • Economics
  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies