Reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) refers to a joint doctrine of

reconnaissance In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities. Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops (skirmisher ...

surveillance Surveillance is the monitoring of behavior, many activities, or information for the purpose of information gathering, influencing, managing or directing. This can include observation from a distance by means of electronic equipment, such as c ...

and

target acquisition Target acquisition is the detection and identification of the location of a target in sufficient detail to permit the effective employment of lethal and non-lethal means. The term is used for a broad area of applications. A "target" here is an e ...

conducted by the

United States Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is the ...

. RSTA operations are designed to support military operations at a strategic (national defense policy),

operational An operational definition specifies concrete, replicable procedures designed to represent a construct. In the words of American psychologist S.S. Stevens (1935), "An operation is the performance which we execute in order to make known a concept." F ...

(theater level), or

tactical Tactic(s) or Tactical may refer to: * Tactic (method), a conceptual action implemented as one or more specific tasks ** Military tactics, the disposition and maneuver of units on a particular sea or battlefield ** Chess tactics ** Political tacti ...

(individual unit) level, either by dedicated RSTA forces or those which possess the capability. Additionally, an RSTA squadron is a type of unit in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

. These are small reconnaissance units based on

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

squadrons, and act at the squadron (

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions are ...

) level as a reconnaissance unit for their parent

Brigade Combat Team The brigade combat team (BCT) is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the U.S. Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branch maneuver brigade, and its assigned support and fire units. A brigade is normally commanded by a ...

Doctrine Overview

RSTA operations are concerned not only with the collection of

military intelligence Military intelligence is a military discipline that uses information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to assist commanders in their decisions. This aim is achieved by providing an assessment of data from a ...

, but ensuring that it is accurate, relevant, and distributed in a timely manner to the appropriate user. This includes maintaining

Operational Security Operations security (OPSEC) is a process that identifies critical information to determine if friendly actions can be observed by enemy intelligence, determines if information obtained by adversaries could be interpreted to be useful to them, a ...

(OPSEC) so that critical information cannot be exploited by an opposing force. Likewise, RSTA can play a role in Operational Deception (OPDEC) operations to confuse opposing forces. Across the strategic, operational and tactical level, RSTA operations fall within three areas:

Indications and Warning (I&W)

Indications and Warnings (I&W) are "intelligence activities intended to detect and report time-sensitive intelligence information on foreign developments that could involve a threat to the United States or allied and/or coalition military, political, or economic interests or to US citizens abroad." On a strategic and operational level, RSTA operations may provide continuous surveillance or as-required reconnaissance, in order to provide warnings of impending threats or attacks, as well as to monitor compliance with international agreements.

Planning and Employment

Strategically, RSTA Planning and Employment operations are used to support the planning of military operations, by monitoring foreign nations' centers of warmaking capability, and providing information on enemy system capabilities, locations, and installations for the National Target Base and other target lists. This information is used to assist in formulation of the U.S. military's

Single Integrated Operational Plan The Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP) was the United States' general plan for nuclear war from 1961 to 2003. The SIOP gave the President of the United States a range of targeting options, and described launch procedures and target sets a ...

, Limited Attack Option plan,

Unified Command Plan A unified combatant command (CCMD), also referred to as a combatant command, is a joint military command of the United States Department of Defense that is composed of units from two or more service branches of the United States Armed Forces, ...

, and Joint Strategic Capabilities Plans. Operationally, RSTA operations are similar to both the strategic and tactical levels, in that they provide commanders with data on areas such as environment, organization, infrastructure, and enemy forces to assist in planning theater wide operations. Tactically, RSTA operations provide detailed information about enemy orders of battle, movement plans, offensive and defensive capabilities, terrain, and enemy disposition. RSTA units provide target detection and acquisition ( and in some cases, elimination), and real-time intelligence and surveillance.

Assessment

At all three levels of command, RSTA units provide

combat assessment The objective of combat assessment is to identify recommendations for the course of military operations. The determination of the overall effectiveness of force employment during military operations. Combat assessment is composed of three major co ...

before, during and after military operations. This includes tasks such as

bomb damage assessment Bomb damage assessment (BDA), also known as battle damage assessment, is the practice of assessing damage inflicted on a target from a Standoff missile, stand-off weapon, most typically a bomb or air launched missile. It is part of the larger disc ...

or determining if an OPDEC mission has succeeded. RSTA assessment can help to decide if a military operation was successful in achieving its objectives, whether additional resources need to be directed to complete the objectives or if they can be redirected to another operation.

The RSTA Squadron

As part of its current modernization and reorganization plan, the US Army has transitioned to the use of a modular

(BCT) scheme. For each of its three main types of BCTs, whether it's an Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT), or

Stryker The Stryker is a family of eight-wheeled armored fighting vehicles derived from the Canadian LAV III. Stryker vehicles are produced by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada (GDLS-C) for the United States Army in a plant in London, Ontario. It ...

Brigade Combat Team (SBCT), there is a reconnaissance squadron which is tasked with performing reconnaissance and security missions for the BCT.FM 3–20.96 Reconnaissance and Cavalry Squadron
Department of the Army. May 2016. Ch. 1 Sec. 1 Related to these units are Reconnaissance & Surveillance Squadrons which operate as part of

Battlefield Surveillance Brigade The battlefield surveillance brigade (BfSB) was a United States Army surveillance/reconnaissance formation introduced from 2006 to 2015. The United States Army planned for the creation and transformation of nine intelligence brigades to a 'batt ...

s. The primary task of the RSTA squadron is to carry out reconnaissance and security missions for its parent BCT or for higher commands, whether as part of offensive or defensive operations. Reconnaissance missions can include

area Area is the quantity that expresses the extent of a region on the plane or on a curved surface. The area of a plane region or ''plane area'' refers to the area of a shape A shape or figure is a graphics, graphical representation of an obje ...

route Route or routes may refer to: * Route (gridiron football), a path run by a wide receiver * route (command), a program used to configure the routing table * Route, County Antrim, an area in Northern Ireland * ''The Route'', a 2013 Ugandan film * Ro ...

zone Zone or The Zone may refer to: Places Climate and altitude zones * Death zone (originally the lethal zone), altitudes above a certain point where the amount of oxygen is insufficient to sustain human life for an extended time span * Frigid zone, ...

, and

reconnaissance-in-force In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities. Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops (skirmishers, ...

. Security missions can include

screening Screening may refer to: * Screening cultures, a type a medical test that is done to find an infection * Screening (economics), a strategy of combating adverse selection (includes sorting resumes to select employees) * Screening (environmental), a ...

(whether stationary or mobile), guard, cover, area security and local security. When necessary, the squadron can be augmented with additional forces to help in carrying out its missions.

ABCT Squadron

The ABCT Cavalry squadron is composed of a headquarters troop, two cavalry troops (transitioning to three cavalry troops), an armored company, and a forward support company attached from the

brigade support battalion A brigade support battalion (BSB) is a combat service support battalion of the United States Army. A BSB is an organic part of a brigade combat team (BCT), providing self- sustainment to the BCT for up to 72 hours of high-intensity combat before re ...

.FM 3–20.96 Reconnaissance and Cavalry Squadron. Department of the Army. May 2016. Ch. 1 Sec. 3 *The headquarters troop includes a command group, the troop headquarters section, the squadron primary staff, a medical platoon, an attached fire support cell, and a

tactical air control party The Tactical Air Control Party, commonly abbreviated TACP, is a small team of military personnel who provide coordination between aircraft and ground forces when providing close air support. Australia Australian TACPs are provided by the RAAF ...

. Total strength includes 149 personnel, two

Bradley Fighting Vehicle The Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) is a tracked armoured fighting vehicle platform of the United States developed by FMC Corporation and manufactured by BAE Systems Land & Armaments, formerly United Defense. It is named after U.S. General Om ...

s, three M577A1 Command Post Carriers, two M577A1 Medical Treatment Vehicles, eight M113A3 Ambulances, fourteen

HMMWV The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV; colloquial: Humvee) is a family of light, four-wheel drive, military trucks and utility vehicles produced by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles previously performed by the ori ...

s, and six FMTVs, with appropriate equipment carried in additional trailers.The U.S. Military’s Force Structure: A Primer
Congressional Budget Office. June 2016. Chapter 2 - Army Armored Brigade Combat Teams *Each cavalry troop consists of a headquarters section, two scout platoons, and a mortar section. The headquarters section includes the troop commander,

executive officer An executive officer is a person who is principally responsible for leading all or part of an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization. In many militaries and police forces, an executive officer, o ...

, first sergeant, unit supply, and attached fire support team and combat medics. Each scout platoon consists of three

M3 Bradley The M3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicle (CFV) is an American tracked armored reconnaissance vehicle manufactured by BAE Systems Land and Armaments (formerly United Defense). A member of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle family, the M3 CFV is used by ...

vehicles (each carrying two

scouts Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpacking ...

) and five HMMWVs equipped with long-range multisensor systems, with plans to transition each troop to have six M3 vehicles. The mortar section has two 120-mm mortars and a fire direction center. Total strength for each cavalry troop includes 93 personnel, seven Bradley vehicles, eleven HMMWVs, two

M1064 mortar carrier The M1064 mortar carrier is an American vehicle, consisting of the M121 mortar – a version of the Soltam K6, M120 mortar – mounted on an M113 armored personnel carrier, M113 chassis. The M1287 Mortar Carrier Vehicle will replace the M1064 in ...

s, an M113 Armored Personnel Carrier, an M577A1 Command Post Carrier, and an FMTV. *The armor company consists of a headquarters element and three tank platoons. The headquarters consists of two tanks commanded by the company commander and executive officer, with attached fire support team and combat medics. Total strength includes 62 personnel, fourteen

M1 Abrams The M1 Abrams is a third-generation American main battle tank designed by Chrysler Defense (now General Dynamics Land Systems) and named for General Creighton Abrams. Conceived for modern armored ground warfare and now one of the heaviest ta ...

, an M577A1 Command Post Carrier, two HMMWVs and an FMTV. The ABCT Cavalry squadron can fight against comparable armor forces, including tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, in order to conduct its missions. However it has significant logistical and maintenance requirements and the use of different vehicle types creates a mix in survivability between platforms. The limited number of scout platoons reduces the size of the area the troop can operate in.

IBCT Squadron

The IBCT Cavalry squadron includes a headquarters troop, two mounted cavalry troops, and a dismounted cavalry troop. A forward support company will also be attached from the brigade support battalion for sustainment purposes. *The headquarters troop includes a command group, the troop headquarters section, the squadron primary staff, a medical platoon, an attached fire support cell, and a tactical air control party. Total strength includes 130 personnel, seventeen HMMWVs, ten M997 Ambulances, three

M1117 Armored Security Vehicle The M1117 Guardian, also denoted Armored Security Vehicle (''ASV''), is an internal security vehicle based on the V-100 and V-150 Commando series of armored cars. It was developed in the late 1990s for service with the United States' Militar ...

s, and five FMTVs, with appropriate equipment carried in additional trailers.The U.S. Military’s Force Structure: A Primer. Congressional Budget Office. June 2016. Chapter 2 - Army Infantry Brigade Combat Teams *Each mounted cavalry troop consists of a headquarters section, three scout platoons and a mortar section. The headquarters section includes the troop commander, executive officer, first sergeant, unit supply, and attached fire support team and combat medics. Each scout platoon has two HMMWVs, each with a crew of three of which one is available for dismounted scouting. The scout platoons are equipped with six M220 TOW-2 anti-armor systems firing the

BGM-71 TOW The BGM-71 TOW ("Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided") is an American anti-tank missile. TOW replaced much smaller missiles like the SS.10 and ENTAC, offering roughly twice the effective range, a more powerful warhead, and a greatly ...

missile backed up by

FGM-148 Javelin The FGM-148 Javelin, or Advanced Anti-Tank Weapon System-Medium (AAWS-M), is an American-made portable anti-tank missile system in service since 1996, and continuously upgraded. It replaced the M47 Dragon anti-tank missile in US service. Its fire- ...

anti-tank missiles; four of the six HMMWVs are also equipped with the Long-Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System. The mortar section consists of two HMMWV-towed 120mm mortars and a fire direction center. Total strength includes 92 personnel, nine HMMWVs, and two FMTVs. *The dismounted cavalry troop includes a headquarters section, two scout platoons, a mortar section, a sniper squad and attached fire support team; it can also include up to eight two-man dismounted forward observer teams. The headquarters section includes the troop commander, executive officer, first sergeant, unit supply, and attached fire support team and combat medics. Each scout platoon is divided into three sections, while the sniper squad consists of a squad leader, two three-man sniper teams, and an HMMWV. The dismounted reconnaissance troop is a specialized unit with air and water assets to allow for clandestine infiltration and, unlike the other troops, is composed of Infantrymen. The mortar section consists of two 60mm mortars and a fire direction center. While largely lacking organic transport, the dismounted cavalry troop is easily deployable from both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Total strength includes 79 personnel, four HMMWVs and an FMTV. The IBCT Cavalry squadron is able to support its parent unit through the combination of the firepower and mobility offered by its mounted forces and the ability to operate in complex and difficult terrain with its dismounted forces. However the mix of mounted and dismounted troops creates a mismatch in maneuvering ability and may require augmentation with additional transportation resources.

SBCT Squadron

The SBCT Cavalry squadron includes a headquarters troop and three cavalry troops, along with a forward support company attached from the brigade support battalion. *The headquarters troop includes a command group, the troop headquarters section, the squadron primary staff, a medical platoon, an attached fire support cell, and a tactical air control party. Total strength includes 131 personnel, six Stryker CVs, fifteen HMMWVs, and seven FMTVs, with appropriate equipment carried in additional trailers.The U.S. Military’s Force Structure: A Primer. Congressional Budget Office. June 2016. Chapter 2 - Army Stryker Brigade Combat Teams *Each cavalry troop consists of a headquarters section, two scout platoons and a mortar section. The headquarters section includes the troop commander, executive officer, first sergeant, unit supply, and attached fire support team and combat medics. Each scout platoon has four Stryker RVs (with plans to transition to six Stryker RVs) and four FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles. The mortar section consists of two Stryker MCVs and a fire direction center. Total strength includes 92 personnel, one Stryker CV, thirteen Stryker RVs, two Stryker MCVs, and two FTMVs. The SBCT Cavalry squadron can cover a large area thanks to its three cavalry troops equipped with extremely mobile Stryker vehicles. The squadron is limited though in its ability to conduct dismounted reconnaissance or engage enemy armor units. The four-vehicle cavalry troops also face additional risks during route reconnaissance as individual Strykers are forced to reconnoiter lateral routes and terrain adjacent to the route.

Training

RSTA line troops are a mix of 19D (

cavalry scout Cavalry Scout is the job title of someone who has achieved the military occupational specialty of 19D Armored Reconnaissance Specialist in the Combat Arms branch of the United States Army. As with all enlisted soldiers in the United States Caval ...

) and 11B (Infantryman)

MOS MOS or Mos may refer to: Technology * MOSFET (metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor), also known as the MOS transistor * Mathematical Optimization Society * Model output statistics, a weather-forecasting technique * MOS (filmm ...

's, which serve as scouts and snipers. Also included are 11C (Indirect Fire Infantryman), which operate a 60 mm M224 Mortar Section, as well as various intelligence and communications soldiers. The MTOE of the infantry troop includes organic

Combat Rubber Raiding Craft The Zodiac Milpro Futura Commando 470 or in short FC470 Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC), also known as the "Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft," is a specially fabricated rubber inflatable boat often used by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps ...

(

Zodiac The zodiac is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the Sun path, apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. ...

F470) to insert the infantry. The infantry troop (being in a cavalry squadron, makes it a "troop", not a company) has few wheeled vehicles which directly belong to the troop. The operational cycle for the infantry troop is plan, insert, infiltrate, execute, exfiltrate, extract, and finally debrief. In squadrons supporting an airborne brigade combat team, 100% of the RSTA soldiers are qualified

paratrooper A paratrooper is a military parachutist—someone trained to parachute into a military operation, and usually functioning as part of an airborne force. Military parachutists (troops) and parachutes were first used on a large scale during World ...

RSTA units in the United States Army

Active Component RSTA Cavalry Units * 1st Cavalry ** 1-1st Cavalry, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss ** 2–1st Cavalry, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson ** 5–1st Cavalry, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, Fort Wainwright ** 6–1st Cavalry, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss ** 8–1st Cavalry, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis * 2nd Cavalry ** 4–2nd Cavalry, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany * 3rd Cavalry Regiment ** 4-3rd Cavalry, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas * 4th Cavalry ** 1–4th Cavalry, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley ** 3–4th Cavalry, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii ** 5–4th Cavalry, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley * 7th Cavalry ** 1–7th Cavalry, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood ** 3–7th Cavalry, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart **~~4–7th Cavalry, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Korea~~ (Rotational ABCTs, now take over the role of 4-7 every 9 months. It only exists on paper) ** 5–7th Cavalry, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart * 8th Cavalry ** 6–8th Cavalry, 4th Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart * 9th Cavalry ** 4–9th Cavalry, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood ** 6–9th Cavalry, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood * 10th Cavalry ** 4–10th Cavalry, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson * 13th Cavalry ** 1–13th Cavalry, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss ** 2-13th Cavalry, 4th Arnored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss * 14th Cavalry ** 1–14th Cavalry, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis ** 2–14th Cavalry, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks * 32nd Cavalry ** 1–32nd Cavalry, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky * 33rd Cavalry ** 1–33rd Cavalry, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky * 40th Cavalry ** 1–40th Cavalry, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska * 61st Cavalry ** 1–61st Cavalry, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky ** 3–61st Cavalry, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado * 71st Cavalry ** 1–71st Cavalry, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York ** 3–71st Cavalry, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York * 73rd Cavalry ** 1–73rd Cavalry, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina ** 3–73rd Cavalry, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina ** 5–73rd Cavalry, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina * 75th Cavalry ** 1–75th Cavalry, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky (Created out of 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment) * 89th Cavalry ** 1–89th Cavalry, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York ** 3–89th Cavalry, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana * 91st Cavalry ** 1–91st Cavalry, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Grafenwoehr, Germany Army National Guard RSTA Cavalry Units * 18th Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 18th Cavalry (RSTA),

79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team The 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is an infantry brigade of the United States Army and the California Army National Guard. In late 2008, the 40th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States), 40th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was redesignated ...

California Army National Guard The California Army National Guard (CA ARNG) is one of three components of the California National Guard, a reserve of the United States Army, and part of the National Guard of the United States. The California Army National Guard is composed o ...

* 82nd Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry (RSTA), 41st Brigade Combat Team,

Oregon Army National Guard The Oregon Army National Guard is a federally mandated and equipped military organization under the civilian direction of the Oregon Military Department, with the Governor of Oregon as its Commander-in-Chief. It responds to state and national eme ...

94th Cavalry Regiment
** 1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry (RSTA), 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard * 101st Cavalry ** 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry (RSTA), 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,

New York Army National Guard The New York Army National Guard is a component of the New York National Guard and the Army National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the United States Army's available combat forces and approximat ...

* 102nd Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 102nd Cavalry (RSTA), 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 42nd Infantry Division

New Jersey Army National Guard The New Jersey Army National Guard consists of more than 6,000 Citizen-Soldiers. The New Jersey Army National Guard is currently engaged in multiple worldwide and homeland missions. Units have deployed to Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan, Germ ...

(formerly 2nd Battalion, 102nd Armor) * 104th Cavalry ** 2nd Squadron, 104th Cavalry (RSTA), 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division,

Pennsylvania Army National Guard The Pennsylvania Army National Guard, abbreviated PAARNG, is part of the United States Army National Guard and is based in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Together with the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, it is directed by the Pennsylva ...

* 105th Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 105th Cavalry (RSTA), 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team,

Wisconsin Army National Guard The Wisconsin Army National Guard ("Guard") has dual state and federal roles, and is jointly funded and maintained by both governments. Its federal mission is to provide trained units to the United States Army in time of war or national emergenc ...

formerly 2–128th Infantry (2001–2007) and 632nd Armor (1963-2001) * 106th Cavalry ** 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry (RSTA), 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team,

Illinois Army National Guard The Illinois Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. With the Illinois Air National Guard it forms the Illinois National Guard. National coordination of various state National Guard uni ...

107th Cavalry The 107th Cavalry Regiment, Ohio Army National Guard, is a parent regiment under the U.S. Army Regimental System, with headquarters at Hamilton, Ohio. It currently consists of the 2nd Squadron, 107th Cavalry Regiment, part of the 37th Infan ...

** 2nd Squadron, 107th Cavalry (RSTA),

37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team The 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Buckeye) is an Infantry Brigade Combat Team, infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army National Guard with the brigade headquarters, cavalry squadron, infantry battalion, field artillery battal ...

Ohio Army National Guard The Ohio Army National Guard is a part of the Ohio National Guard and the Army National Guard of the United States Army. It is also a component of the organized militia of the state of Ohio, which also includes the Ohio Naval Militia, the Ohio ...

* 108th Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry (RSTA), 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,

Georgia Army National Guard The Georgia Army National Guard is the Army National Guard component of the Georgia National Guard, administratively part of the Georgia Department of Defense. It consists of more than 11,100 citizen-soldiers training in more than 79 hometown ...

(formerly 1–108th Armor) ** 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry (RSTA), 256th Infantry Brigade,

Louisiana Army National Guard The Louisiana Army National Guard (French: Garde nationale de Louisiane) is a component of the Louisiana National Guard, and the state's reserve force within the United States Army. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the ...

(formerly 1-156th AR) headquartered in

Shreveport Shreveport ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is the third most populous city in Louisiana after New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Baton Rouge, respectively. The Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area, with a population o ...

** 3rd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Reconnaissance & Surveillance (R&S), 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade,

(reflagged as 3-121st Infantry with the disbanding of the 560th BSB) * 112th Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 112th Cavalry (RSTA), 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division, Texas Army National Guard * 113th Cavalry Regiment ** 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry (RSTA), 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army National Guard * 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team ** 2nd Squadron, 116th Cavalry, 116th Cavalry (Heavy) Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division,

Idaho Army National Guard The Idaho Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one thi ...

* 124th Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 124th Cavalry (RSTA), 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division, Waco, TX "Out Front" (not to be confused with 1–124th Inf, FLARNG) ** 3rd Squadron, 124th Cavalry (R&S),

71st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade The 71st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade (EMIB) is a unit of the Texas Army National Guard. The formation traces its history to elements of the 36th Infantry Division. The 71st was previously a Battlefield Surveillance Brigades (BfSB ...

, Wylie, TX (formerly 1–112th Armor Regiment, 36th Infantry Division) * 126th Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 126th Cavalry (RSTA), 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 38th Infantry Division, Wyoming, MI "HUNTERS" * 134th Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 134th Cavalry (R&S),

67th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade The 67th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade is a maneuver enhancement brigade (MEB) of the Nebraska Army National Guard. It derives its lineage from the 67th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized), previously a component of the 35th Infantry Division (Mecha ...

Nebraska Army National Guard The Nebraska Army National Guard is a group of Army National Guard units in the U.S. state of Nebraska. The Adjutant General for these units is Major General Daryl L. Bohac, who was announced as the new Deputy Director of the Army National Guard ...

* 150th Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 150th Cavalry (RSTA), 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team,

West Virginia Army National Guard The West Virginia National Guard is a part of the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety. It comprises the West Virginia Army National Guard and the West Virginia Air National Guard. Unlike some states, West Virginia does ...

* 151st Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 151st Cavalry, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,

Arkansas National Guard The Arkansas National Guard (ARNG), commonly known as the Arkansas Guard, is a component of the Government of Arkansas and the National Guard of the United States. It is composed of Army and Air National Guard units. The adjutant general's office ...

(previously 3–153rd infantry) * 152nd Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 152nd Cavalry (RSTA), 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Indiana Army National Guard (previously 1–151 Inf) ** 2nd Squadron, 152nd Cavalry (R&S), 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, Indiana Army National Guard * 153d Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 153rd Cavalry, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team,

Florida Army National Guard The Florida Army National Guard is Florida's component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. In the United States, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the federal army's available combat forces ...

(previously 3–124th Infantry) * 158th Cavalry **1st Squadron, 158th Cavalry (R&S), 58th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade,
Maryland Army National Guard The Maryland Army National Guard (MD ARNG) is the United States Army component of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is headquartered at the old Fifth Regiment Armory at the intersection of North Howard Street, 29th Division Street, near Martin Lut ...
. (formerly 1-158th Cavalry (RSTA), 58th Brigade Combat Team, 29th Infantry Division); unit was inactivated on 7 November 2015. * 167th Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 167th Cavalry, 34th Infantry Division,
Nebraska Army National Guard The Nebraska Army National Guard is a group of Army National Guard units in the U.S. state of Nebraska. The Adjutant General for these units is Major General Daryl L. Bohac, who was announced as the new Deputy Director of the Army National Guard ...
. 1-167th Cavalry was reorganized into the 1st Squadron, 134th Cavalry (R&S) in 2008. * 172nd Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry (RSTA),

86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team The 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) ("The Vermont Brigade") is an Army National Guard light infantry brigade headquartered in Vermont. It was reorganized from an armored brigade into an Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) as part o ...

(Mountain),

Vermont Army National Guard The Vermont National Guard is composed of the Vermont Army National Guard and the Vermont Air National Guard. Together, they are collectively known as the Green Mountain Boys. Both units use the original Revolutionary War-era Flag of the Green Mo ...

. * 182nd Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 182nd Cavalry (RSTA), 26th Infantry Division, Massachusetts Army National Guard; 26th subsequently inactivated, lineage perpetuated by the 26th BCT, 29th Infantry Division, later 26th BCT, 42nd Infantry Division, then reorganized and redesignated as the 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, consisting of a mix of support units. * 183rd Cavalry ** 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry (RSTA), 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 29th Infantry Division, Virginia Army National Guard (formerly 3rd Battalion, 111th ADA) * 263rd Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 263rd Cavalry (RSTA), 218th Brigade Combat Team (M)

South Carolina Army National Guard The South Carolina Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the U.S. Army's available combat forces and approximat ...

(Brigade reorganized as the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, a mix of engineer, military police and chemical units.) * 278th Cavalry ** 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment,

Tennessee Army National Guard The Tennessee Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one ...

* 299th Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry Regiment,

Hawaii Army National Guard The Hawaii Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one thi ...

(formerly the 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry Regiment) * 303rd Cavalry ** 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry Regiment,

Washington Army National Guard The Washington Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the Washington National Guard based in Washington. The history of the Washington Army National Guard dates back to 1854 with formation of the Washington Territorial ...

(formerly Troop E, 303rd Cavalry Regiment)

References

External links

Armor: The RSTA Squadron

JP 3–55 Doctrine for Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Support for Joint Operations ( Full PDF)

Organizing for the Future: The Army's Objective Force Cavalry Squadron
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reconnaissance, Surveillance, And Target Acquisition (United States) Cavalry units and formations of the United States Army Reconnaissance units and formations of the United States Army Command and control systems of the United States military Army reconnaissance units and formations