Reconnaissance and Intelligence: Training the Cavalry Leader for the Future Battlefield

While current cavalry leaders are trained experts in tactical reconnaissance, they are lacking in the training and understanding of the tactical military intelligence collection disciplines and the intelligence collection assets employed by the military intelligence personnel in their units. Although many people in the military and defense community argue that the most valuable intelligence collection can simply come from sensors and drones, this paper argues that the most valuable reconnaissance and intelligence collected comes from human intelligence (HUMINT), and further demands that cavalry leaders in reconnaissance organizations have an adequate knowledge and understanding of the tactical collection, analysis, planning, and management of HUMINT, OSINT, and SIGINT. Small adjustments in the program of instruction in the Army's reconnaissance schools aimed at improving the understanding of cavalry leaders in these intelligence disciplines will increase tactical effectiveness and operational planning in reconnaissance organizations.