Urban
Reconnaissance and
Surveillance
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Terminal Learning
Objective
Action: Perform urban reconnaissance
Condition: Given a period of instruction and an
urban environment during the practical exercise
Standards: Correctly perform reconnaissance
in an urban environment
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
References
• FM 3-21.8
• FM 3-21.92
• FM 3-55.93
• FM 3-21.94
• FM 3-06.11
• MCWP 3-35.3
• FMFM 1-3B
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Administrative Notes
Safety Requirements: Fire
Risk Assessment: Low
Environmental Considerations: None
Evaluation: During your practical exercise
you will be required to conduct
reconnaissance in an urban environment.
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Enabling Learning
Objective A
Action: Understand the types of
reconnaissance and surveillance missions in
urban terrain
Conditions: Given a classroom period of
instruction and a practical exercise
Standards: Understand the types of urban
reconnaissance and surveillance missions
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
In most cases, a reconnaissance mission
involves a high risk of detection due to
required movement in the target area. This
risk is increased in an urban environment
and requires special attention to security and
stealth to properly and safely complete the
mission.
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Reasons for Urban
Reconnaissance
A unit may receive an urban reconnaissance
mission to observe known enemy locations or
determine the trafficability of roads in the
urban area. Reconnaissance elements may
be used to determine enemy locations during
movement to contact missions.
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Types of Recon and
Surveillance Missions in Urban
Terrain
1. Area reconnaissance
2. Route reconnaissance
3. Surveillance
4. Reconnaissance during
movement to contact missions
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Reconnaissance Versus
Surveillance in Urban Terrain
Active reconnaissance is difficult to
accomplish in an urban environment due
to the lack of suitable cover and concealment.
Surveillance missions give the recon element
the best opportunity to accomplish the mission
with a lower risk of compromise.
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Area Reconnaissance
Area reconnaissance missions for LRS teams
are limited in urban environments. UAV and
other imagery intelligence can accomplish
most of the area recon in an urban area.
Humint is used to gather detailed information.
Types of area recon missions include:
• Bridge recon
• Obstacles
• Key terrain over-watching the city
• Known enemy locations and key leaders
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Area Reconnaissance
A mounted or dismounted reconnaissance
platoon will be able to accomplish area recon
missions in a more traditional sense. With
the size of their elements they can utilize
converging route techniques to pinpoint
enemy positions for follow on forces.
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Route Reconnaissance
A route recon can be conducted through a
built-up area to determine the enemy
defenses and intentions in the area. This
operation is conducted in the same manner
as standard route recon missions. Route
recons in urban areas should be conducted
utilizing mounted techniques to provide
additional protection to the recon element.
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Route Reconnaissance
The element conducting the route recon in
an urban environment should not utilize a
planned attack route. The use of this route
would allow the enemy to prepare for the
attack force by reinforcing defenses along the
route. An urban route recon is designed to
determine the enemy’s intention throughout
the area and on multiple routes.
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Surveillance
Surveillance offers the recon platoon the ability
to observe a location with minimal exposure.
A surveillance position can limit the area that is
observable and may force the recon team to
use multiple surveillance sites. Movement
between sites should utilize cover and
concealment and be conducted during hours of
limited visibility.
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Movement to Contact
Reconnaissance
During movement to contact missions in urban
terrain, ground forces will utilize recon elements
to move ahead of the main force to pinpoint
enemy locations. Once the enemy elements
are fixed the ground forces can move forward to
destroy them.
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Questions
Name 2 types of recon in an Urban Area.
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Questions
Name 2 types of recon in an Urban Area.
• Area Recon
• Route Recon
• Surveillance
• Movement to Contact Recon
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Enabling Learning
Objective B
Action: Insertion and extraction in an urban
environment
Conditions: Given a classroom period of
instruction and a practical exercise
Standards: Successfully utilize individual
and team movement techniques during a
MOUT practical exercise
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Insertion and Extraction
In Urban Terrain
Considerations
• Type of environment
- Permissive / High intensity
- Semi-permissive / Low intensity
• What is the enemy accustomed to seeing
• What assets are available
• Task organization and attachments
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Insertion and Extraction
In Urban Terrain
Possible infiltration/exfiltration means
• Vehicle military/civilian
• Foot patrols
• FRIES
• Disguised as workers
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Individual Movement in
Urban Terrain
Dismounted movement in urban terrain should
be avoided if possible. The recon element
should use covered and concealed routes on
the outskirts of the urban area. When the
element is forced to move in urban terrain they
should use the interior of buildings and
subterranean routes when possible.
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Movement Past
Windows
• Avoid bottom/basement windows if possible
• Stay below the window level and near the bldg
• Step or jump past the window without exposing
the legs
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Movement Around
Corners
• Observed before moving (below height
expected)
• Masking of weapon (common mistake)
• Pie method (used when speed is required)
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Movement Over Walls
• Recon opposite side of wall
• Roll over wall (keep low silhouette)
• Speed movement and a low silhouette deny the
enemy a good target
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Crossing Open Areas
• Open areas should be avoided
• Natural kill zones
• Cross using bounding over-watch technique
• Use of smoke for concealment
• Thermals are unaffected
• Enemies use of suppressive fire
• Recon shortest route and next position before
moving
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Team Movement
Outside Building
• Over-watch method
• Move parallel to building
• Maintain 12” separation between wall and
soldier
• Stay in the shadows/maintain low silhouette
• Maintain 3-5 meters separation between
soldiers
• Mounted recon for over watch positions
- Allows greater standoff/optics/fire support
- Speedy extraction
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Movement Inside of
Buildings
• Avoid silhouetting from doors and windows
• Hallways- never move alone
• Stay 12 to 18 inches away from walls when
moving
• Avoid rubbing against walls
- ricochets
-compromise
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Questions
Why do you maintain 12 inches off of a wall
When moving in a MOUT area?
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Questions
Why do you maintain 12 inches off of a wall
When moving in a MOUT area?
To avoid Ricochets that follow walls
To avoid rubbing or bumping walls and
alerting the enemy to your location
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Questions
When is the pie method used for
clearing around corners?
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Questions
When is the pie method used for
clearing around corners?
When speed is the priority
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Enabling Learning
Objective C
Action: Understand Subterranean
movement techniques
Conditions: Given a classroom period of
instruction
Standards: Be able to explain the proper
technique for moving through a subterranean
system
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Subterranean Route
Considerations
• Obtain blueprints or maps
• Unique conditions/hazards
– Long movements/short tunnels
– Noxious gases
– Obstacles
– Booby traps
• Marking of route
– Chalk
– Chemlights
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Movement Through
Subterranean Systems
• Team organization
– One soldier tasked with frontal security
– One point man
– One soldier tasked with rear security
– Engineer-Identifying/eliminating obstacles
– Team leader-Navigation/recorder
– Two soldiers remain at the point of entry as
a security post. They are responsible for
enemy detection and serve as a
communications link between the team
leader and higher
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Enabling Learning
Objective D
Action: Select suitable surveillance
positions in an urban environment
Conditions: Given a classroom period of
instruction and a practical exercise
Standards: Successfully select a suitable
surveillance site during the practical exercise
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Surveillance Site
Considerations
• The team needs to determine the best site or
sites for observing the target
• Affords best cover and concealment and
possible exfiltration routes
• Subsurface site can be constructed
– Considerations-noise, time, observation of upper
levels of a possible objective. These factors will
force most teams to seek sites higher off the ground
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Surveillance Site
Selection
• Surveillance vs firing positions
• Sites allow observation, minimizing exposure
– Windows, loop holes, rooftops, and rubbled
buildings
– Off avenues of approach
– Use of primary and alternate sites
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Windows
• Provide convenient observation ports
•. Avoid observing from the standing position
• Optics- Prepare to reduce reflection
• Observe far from window to avoid detection
• Break up silhouette using natural obstacles
• Utilize screen to limit external visibility
• Utilize a camo technique to blend in with
surroundings
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Windows
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Loop Holes
• A loop hole is a hole in a wall that allows a
soldier to observe from
• Loop holes are the most effective sites to
avoid enemy observation
• They can be utilized in the same manner as
a window
• Loop holes normally have small fields of
observation and may not be positioned in a
location to allow the team to see their target
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Loop Holes
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Roof Tops
• The peak of a roof provides greater vantage
point increasing field of vision and the ranges
at which they can observe objective
• The disadvantage to rooftops is the lack of
cover from above and the lack of a suitable
escape route if compromised.
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Roof Tops
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Rubbled Buildings
• Rubbled buildings provide excellent
surveillance sites.
• Off avenues of approach
• Affords cover and concealment
• Ensure to recon for stability to avoid injury
and compromise
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Rubbled Buildings
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Questions
What are the disadvantages to a subsurface
surveillance site in an Urban area?
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Questions
What are the disadvantages to a subsurface
surveillance site in an Urban area?
• Noise
• Time
• Area to be observed (upper levels)
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Questions
Which urban surveillance site gives the best
opportunity to successfully accomplish the
mission?
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Questions
Which urban surveillance site gives the best
opportunity to successfully accomplish the
mission?
METT-TC dependant
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Enabling Learning
Objective E
Action: Utilize pre-made surveillance
positions and camouflage techniques in an
urban environment
Conditions: Given a classroom period of
instruction and a practical exercise
Standards: Understand types and
techniques for using pre-made surveillance
positions and camouflage in urban terrain
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Surveillance Positions
and Camo Techniques
• Pre-made surveillance positions can consist
of any device created to aid in observation
- PVC pipe dark room
- Ventilation box for rooftops
• Camouflage techniques will limit your ability
to be seen by exterior forces
- Screen over windows
- False walls
- Painter smocks
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
PVC Pipe Darkroom
• A screened in room large enough to observe
from
• Placed over a window in a normally
darkened room
•Allows for observation out a window without a
back light from other activities in the room
•Consists of an observation area with two
screened light proof curtains to enter and a
light proof barrier all around
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
PVC Pipe Darkroom
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Ventilation Box
• Can be made of cardboard or tin
• Placed on a roof to blend in with other
ventilation outlets
• Extremely hard to carry in and emplace
secretly
• Tight cramped area for observation a
limited ability to switch out
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
False Walls
• Use walllockers or cubicles to create a
false room away from window
• Wall lockers can be covered with a grey
and white sheet to match most brick walls
and limit signature
• This allows for a working area in the room
without compromising the mission
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
False Walls
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Painters Smock
• Wear as an overgarment for BDUs
•White with gray stripes works best
• Utilize paint patterns across the smock to
break up pattern and blend in
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Screened Windows
• Screen will limit external vision into a room
from all angles except straight on
• Use a black nylon coated screen with small
holes to limit sun reflection
• Double up for better coverage
• Place inside of window to limit noticeable
change
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Screened Windows
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
Summary
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course
