FM 3-34.170 ENGINEER RECONNAISSANCE

US Army Field Manual on CD in Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) format.

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What's inside:

Doctrine provides a military organization with unity of effort and a common philosophy, language, and purpose. This field manual provides doctrine for the application of engineer reconnaissance capabilities in support of the combined arms team conducting full spectrum operations.

Engineer reconnaissance, like chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) and other technical applications, is not a form of reconnaissance (see chapter 3 for a discussion of the four forms of reconnaissance). Engineer reconnaissance is instead a focused application of special/unique capabilities supporting reconnaissance operations and is applicable over/pertinent to all four forms of reconnaissance. Field manual (FM) 3-34.170/Marine Corps Warfighting Publication (MCWP) 3-17.4 updates the FM that provides doctrinal guidance for engineer reconnaissance in support of full spectrum operations, including engineer reconnaissance in support of tactical operations as well as engineer technical reconnaissance support. This manual supersedes FM 5-170 and supports the doctrine found in FM 3-0, FM 3-34, and FM 6-0, and Field Manual Interim (FMI) 5-0.1. This manual will serve as a reference document for engineer commanders and staff, leaders, training developers, and doctrine developers throughout the Army and Marine Corps. It will also provide guidance to commanders for the employment of engineer reconnaissance capabilities in support of all operations. It is also the primary reference for engineer reconnaissance for Joint Publication (JP) 3-34.

This FM has an introduction and six chapters. It includes significant discussion on integrating the planning for engineer reconnaissance support within the planning doctrine in FM 5-0 and the command and control (C2) doctrine in FM 6-0. The introduction expands upon the manual’s purpose and summarizes the doctrinal changes it contains. Chapter 1 provides a doctrinal framework for the provision of engineer reconnaissance capabilities resident within engineer functions and supporting the warfighting functions, describes a range of tactical to technical engineer reconnaissance capabilities, and provides capabilities and limitations of the engineer reconnaissance team (ERT). Chapter 2 provides doctrine for integrating the planning for engineer reconnaissance within information management and planning processes of the combined arms team. It specifically addresses integration of geospatial support and provides specific C2 considerations for integration of engineer reconnaissance. Chapter 3 provides doctrine for integrating the application of engineer reconnaissance within tactical reconnaissance operations of the combined arms team. It also addresses considerations for the sustainment of engineer reconnaissance elements. Chapter 4 provides doctrine for the conduct of ERT operations providing engineer reconnaissance support at the tactical end of the range described in Chapter 1. ERTs conduct zone, area, and route reconnaissance with a specified additional focus on required technical information. Chapters 5 and 6 provide doctrine for the conduct of engineer assessments and surveys which provide engineer reconnaissance support at the technical end of the range described in Chapter 1. Assessment and survey teams conduct reconnaissance specifically focused on collecting detailed technical information. Appendix B illustrates the preparation of required engineer reconnaissance reports and forms. Appendix C incorporates the smartcard tools developed for infrastructure assessment. Appendix D provides the environmental baseline assessment tool. Appendix H includes a collection of other useful tools and resources.

The target audience for this manual is focused at the brigade and below maneuver commander and supporting staff. This also includes nonorganic unit commanders and staffs that will support brigade and below maneuver organizations. Additionally, it is pertinent to other commanders and staffs at all echelons. This doctrine will assist branch schools in teaching the integration of engineer capabilities. Engineer involvement is a virtual certainty for nearly every military operation. FM 3-34.170 is intended to inform all Service components of the types of engineer reconnaissance tasks and the variety of capabilities available to perform them.

This FM is built directly on the doctrine articulated in the following manuals:

• FM 3-0
• FM 3-20.96
• FM 3-34
• FM 3-34.221
• FM 3-90
• FM 3-90.6
• FM 5-0
• FM 5-7-30
• FM 5-71-2
• FM 5-71-3
• FM 6-0
• FMI 5-0.1

Given the magnitude of doctrinal changes in recent years, becoming familiar with these documents is essential to effectively using this manual. It also applies to selected portions of engineer support across echelons and throughout the area of operations (AO). Doctrine in FM 3-34.170 applies across the spectrum of conflict (from peace to general war) and the operational components of full spectrum operations (offense, defense, and stability, or civil support). However, it is focused at the tactical level of war and support of the tactical commander’s engineer reconnaissance needs.

Terms that have joint or Army definitions are identified in both the glossary and the text. Glossary terms: The glossary lists most terms used in FM 3-34.170 that have joint or Army definitions. Terms with an asterisk in the glossary indicate that this FM is the proponent FM (the authority). Text references: Definitions printed in boldface in the text indicate that this FM is the proponent FM. These terms and their definitions will be incorporated into the next revision of FM 1-02/Marine Corps Reference Publication (MCRP) 5-12A. For other definitions in the text, the term is italicized, and the number of the proponent FM follows the definition. As a dual service manual, references made to the United States (U.S.) Army, Soldiers, and brigade combat team (BCT) are interchangeable with and/or include the United States Marine Corps (USMC), Marines, and regimental combat team (RCT) unless stated otherwise in the text. Additionally, unless this publication states otherwise, masculine nouns or pronouns do not refer exclusively to men.

This FM applies to the Active Army, the Army National Guard (ARNG)/Army National Guard of the United States (ARNGUS), the United States Army Reserve (USAR) unless otherwise stated and to the USMC.

PAGES: 368

PUBLICATION DATE: MARCH, 2008

DUE TO LARGE FILE SIZE, THIS ITEM IS AVAILABLE FOR CD-ROM DELIVERY ONLY