Reconnaissance , surveillance , and target acquisition ( United States ) Reconnaissance , surveillance , and target acquisition ( RSTA ) , is a type of unit in the United States Army . Overview and makeup . RSTA units are small reconnaissance units based on cavalry squadrons , and act at the squadron ( battalion ) level as a brigade reconnaissance team for the regiment ( brigade ) . Some units , such as the Stryker brigades have a relatively standard order of battle for a RSTA squadron . Typically the Department of the Army designates a battalion within a brigade / regiment as a RSTA squadron . That RSTA squadron will have 4 – 6 troop s / companies , typically : 3 reconnaissance troops / companies ( consisting of 19D MOS cavalry scout s and 11B infantry men ) ; a headquarters troop ( HHT ) which contains organic ( that is , permanently and directly assigned ) intelligence , communications , and fire ( artillery ) support , and a surveillance section ( sometimes a troop ) with UAV aerial support . While the above is the most typical RSTA order of battle , it was derived from the newly created Stryker Brigade Combat Team s ( SBCT ) and is designed around Stryker support . The IBCT Reconnaissance Squadron is composed of a headquarters and headquarters troop ( HHT ) , two motorized ( mounted ) recon troops , a dismounted recon troop , and a forward support company . The HHT is organized like a typical HHC , with the squadron command group and staff sections . The motorized recon troops consist of a troop headquarters and 3 scout platoons . The scout platoons consist of 6 Humvee s , armed with . 50 cal M2 machine guns , 40 mm Mk 19 grenade launcher s , M41 TOW improved target acquisition system , M240B machine guns , and are equipped with the LRAS3 ( Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System ) . Currently , the scout platoons are manned by 24 19D cavalry scouts . The dismounted recon troop ( DRT ) consists of a troop headquarters including sniper and 60mm mortar sections , and 6 recon teams organized into 2 platoons . The teams are armed with M249 LMGs , M320 grenade launchers , M4 carbines , Javelins , and a Raven UAS . The DRT is capable of airborne and amphibious insertions , and can conduct self - sustained long - range , covert surveillance and target acquisition for up to 72 hours . Women are not eligible to serve in a RSTA unit , as RSTA soldiers are considered a combat unit on the front line of enemy engagement . In practice , however , this regulation only holds true for the ' line ' troops ( the mounted / dismounted recon troops ) . The Forward Support Company , despite being attached to the squadron , is technically a part of the Brigade Support Battalion , allowing female soldiers to support the men in a RSTA Squadron in non - combat roles such as mechanic s , and truck driver s . RSTA mission scope . According to JP 3 – 55 , the official Joint Services publication defining the scope of RSTA operations , RSTA operations are designed to provide several tiers of capability at the strategic ( national defense policy ) , operational ( theater level ) , or tactical ( individual unit ) levels . These include : Indications and warning ( I & W ) . RSTA I & W operations provide " information necessary to assess forces and installations that threaten the United States and its allies . " RSTA missions 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 . These operations may be conducted at the strategic , operational , or tactical levels . 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 , Limited Attack Option plan , Unified Command Plan , and Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan s . 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 ( in some cases , elimination ) , and real - time intelligence and surveillance . This is generally provided through the RSTA unit ' s scout company , UAVs , and sniper teams . Assessment . At all three levels of command , RSTA units provide assessment both during and after military operations , such as bomb damage assessment and follow - on surveillance . As a side effort to this , RSTA units conduct OPDEC ( OPerational DECeption ) missions to impede enemy intelligence gathering . Training . RSTA line troops are a mix of 19D ( cavalry scout ) and 11B ( Infantryman ) MOS ' 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 ( Zodiac 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 s . The reconnaissance squadron . As part of the Army - wide transfer to brigade units of action , some brigades are transitioning to the infantry brigade combat team ( IBCT ) , others are transforming to heavy brigade combat teams ( HBCT ) , while other brigades are becoming Stryker brigade combat teams ( SBCT ) . In each of the three types of brigades there is a reconnaissance squadron which performs reconnaissance , surveillance , and target acquisition or RSTA . Many elite long range reconnaissance detachments ( LRSD ) of the Vietnam era were disbanded and their combat role was transitioned to the infantry companies within the RSTA squadrons . Modern reconnaissance squadrons within infantry brigade combat teams are combined arms forces of mounted and dismounted scouts ( 19D ) . This allows for added capabilities , speed and equipment never before found within an LRSD . the reconnaissance squadron is composed of a squadron headquarters , a headquarters troop , two recce troops , a dismounted infantry scout company ( often containing the regimental / brigade reconnaissance team and brigade / regimental sniper section ) , and a forward supply support troop . Some squadrons may have an additional support troop consisting of a UAV platoon , a Zodiac boat section , and additional signal and maintenance assets that , while organic to the squadron ' s TOE , have unique capabilities requiring them to exist outside the HHT troop . For example , a support troop may include a UAV platoon , its associated maintenance , a boat section , a USAF satellite communications detachment , a HUMINT analysis team and interpreters . Typically , support troops contain mechanics , truck drivers , and other ' low density ' combat service support troops . The infantry companies within the reconnaissance squadron have specially trained and designated infantrymen serving as snipers , scouts ( long range reconnaissance personnel ) and mortarmen . Communications and Intelligence personnel are also attached due to the sensitive enemy information gathered . Scouts may perform specialized tasks such as pathfinders , scout swimmers , coxswains , fast rope masters , air liaison , etc . These specialized units are capable of waterborne , air assault , and vehicle insertions . Organic vehicles to the units include un - armored HMMWV ' s and may include small offroad vehicles . These infantry companies typically perform long range movements to conduct reconnaissance tasks with very limited combat support and resupply . The infantry company within a reconnaissance squadron is not a traditional 19D cavalry unit . it does not perform traditional mounted cavalry operations , instead it performs RSTA on foot , again with a limited resupply and combat support element . Within heavy brigade combat teams ( HBCT ) , the cavalry squadron is structured as an armored reconnaissance squadron ( ARS ) . Each ARS has one headquarters and headquarters troop ( HHT ) and three line troops . The line troops are equipped with M3 series Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicles and various types of Humvees . The reconnaissance squadron is completely different from the armored cavalry formations of the cold war with massive armored and BFV units intended to engage massive armored threats . FM ' s are still being written on the doctrine . Many soldiers are scrambling to understand the new concepts of combined arms and the reconnaissance squadron . The criticisms of the IBCT RSTA include a lack of dismount capability in the mounted troops and an organizational framework that makes a poor compromise between stealth and economy of force , producing elements too heavy to conduct the traditional LRSD mission , but too weak to conduct the traditional cavalry mission . RSTA units in the U . S . Army . Active Component RSTA Units National Guard RSTA units