Can Systems Thinking Be Used to Enhance Battalion Task Force Reconnaissance at the National Training Center?

Abstract

Reconnaissance performance by battalion task forces rotating through the National Training Center, is generally ineffective and frequently results in the task force's defeat during offensive operations. In the vast majority of battles, the decisive combat between the rotating battalion task forces and the Opposing Forces, is preceded by a reconnaissance battle that battalions lose about seventy-two percent of the time. This monograph examines the continuing problem of ineffective battalion task force reconnaissance at the National Training Center, and the consequences of that ineffectiveness. An examination of U.S. Army doctrine for conducting battalion task force reconnaissance is undertaken, and a description made of the interrelated components of a battalion task force reconnaissance system. Responsibilities of key personnel in the reconnaissance process are established, and the doctrinal importance of organic scout platoons to the reconnaissance effort confirmed. The monograph reviews the results of three studies which establish positive correlations of eighty to ninety percent, between successful reconnaissance and successful offensive operations. A review of findings from a 1986 RAND Study, a study by the Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL), and the results of more recent battalion task force reconnaissance evaluations is presented, with no indication of significant improvement to reconnaissance performance over the past decade. Development of a Reconnaissance and Surveillance plan, and early deployment of task force scouts, are shown to be critical events in the battalion task force reconnaissance process, and those specific components of the problem are examined in greater detail using systems theory.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 14, 1995
Accession Number
ADA309948

Entities

People

  • Michael W. Drumm

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Deployment
  • Doctrine
  • Education
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military Training
  • Reconnaissance
  • Surveillance
  • Task Forces
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Thinking
  • Training

Readers

  • Economics
  • Instructional Design and Training Evaluation.
  • Military Science