1. Urban Reconnaissance and Surveillance

2. 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

3. References FM 3-21.8 FM 3-21.92 FM 3-55.93 FM 3-21.94 FM 3-06.11
MCWP
FMFM 1-3B

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Types of Recon and Surveillance Missions in Urban Terrain
1. Area reconnaissance
2. Route reconnaissance
3. Surveillance
4. Reconnaissance during
movement to contact missions

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. Questions
Name 2 types of recon in an Urban Area.

17. Questions Name 2 types of recon in an Urban Area. Area Recon
Route Recon
Surveillance
Movement to Contact Recon

18. 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

19. 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

20. Insertion and Extraction
In Urban Terrain
Possible infiltration/exfiltration means
Vehicle military/civilian
Foot patrols
FRIES
Disguised as workers

21. 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.

22. 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

23. Movement Around Corners
Observed before moving (below height expected)
Masking of weapon (common mistake)
Pie method (used when speed is required)

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. Questions Why do you maintain 12 inches off of a wall
When moving in a MOUT area?

29. 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

30. Questions
When is the pie method used for clearing around corners?

31. Questions When is the pie method used for clearing around corners?
When speed is the priority

32. 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

33. Subterranean Route Considerations
Obtain blueprints or maps
Unique conditions/hazards
Long movements/short tunnels
Noxious gases
Obstacles
Booby traps
Marking of route
Chalk
Chemlights

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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

39. Windows

40. 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

41. Loop Holes

42. 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.

43. Roof Tops

44. 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

45. Rubbled Buildings

46. Questions
What are the disadvantages to a subsurface surveillance site in an Urban area?

47. Questions
What are the disadvantages to a subsurface surveillance site in an Urban area?
Noise
Time
Area to be observed (upper levels)

48. Questions
Which urban surveillance site gives the best opportunity to successfully accomplish the mission?

49. Questions
Which urban surveillance site gives the best opportunity to successfully accomplish the mission?
METT-TC dependant

50. 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

51. 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

52. 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

53. PVC Pipe Darkroom

54. 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

55. 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

56. False Walls

57. 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

58. 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

59. Screened Windows

60. Summary