Now it is time to focus on the second area of planning consideration which stresses surveillance. Surveillance focuses on:
During this phase, you must make sure the S3 and all maneuver elements know the locations of surveillance assets.
Surveillance of the objective should detect any changes while the friendly elements are maneuvering forward. The surveillance assets report any enemy leaving or entering the objective area.
Any terrain that can control the friendly AA should be covered with surveillance or controlled by one of the seven BOS listed at the bottom of the DST.
Any routes leading into the friendly AA or the objective should be covered with surveillance to provide early warning of an enemy counterattack or reinforcements approaching. Again, these surveillance operations occur while the friendly elements are maneuvering toward the objective.
The third area of planning consideration focuses on both R&S missions. This area concerns planning R&S missions once your unit takes the objective. The S3 can now task subsequent R&S missions to those assets which provided surveillance to the maneuver elements. These R&S missions depend on the type of follow-on missions planned.
If the unit’s mission is to reconsolidate and prepare to continue the attack to a subsequent objective, you should have a plan to continue R&S activities forward to the next objective. Remember, planning is continuous. After you accomplish this, your unit can implement missions discussed in supporting the second and third areas of planning considerations. A key scout mission is maintaining visual contact with the enemy.
If the unit’s mission is to occupy and defend the objective, you should recommend an R&S plan stressing early warning and CR operations.
If the unit’s mission is to pursue the fleeing enemy, you could recommend that scout elements provide flank security as other maneuver elements conduct guard operations.
The most important aspect of the final planning consideration is that it be planned out well in advance. This ensures the assets are prepared to execute the mission, not reorganizing the objective.
The three areas of planning considerations previously stated work particularly well in a deliberate attack. You can apply these same principles for a movement to contact.
Do not be misled into thinking these three areas of planning considerations take place independent of each other at different times. On the contrary, many times these missions overlap.
We have shown you a technique for constructing complete R&S plans in offensive operations. Refer to Chapter 12 for examples.