Military Review English Edition March-April 2016 | Page 94

The Use of the
Reconnaissance
Squadron during Joint
Forcible Entry
Capt. Mike Mobbs, U.S. Army

A

rguably, there is no greater commitment of
U.S. military resources than an invasion of
a sovereign country. Known as joint forcible
entry, this type of operation aims to “seize and hold
lodgments against armed opposition.”1 A lodgment
may be a beachhead, an airfield, or anything that
allows for “the continuous landing of troops and
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materiel,” and that provides “maneuver space for
subsequent operations.”2
There are several methods for delivering the invasion force—amphibious landing, air assault, ground,
or airborne assault—and each can be used in various
combinations as the situation requires. Of these options, only airborne assault provides national command
March-April 2016  MILITARY REVIEW