Military Review English Edition November-December 2014 | Page 31

LOSING OUR WAY

T

he traditional mission set of cavalry included
reconnaissance and security, while the related
contemporary doctrine underscored the symbiotic relationship between information collection and
the active security screen, guard, and cover missions.
In contrast, today cavalry remains associated with
reconnaissance, but without the once clear linkage with
the active security missions. Pervasive notions throughout the Army now relate reconnaissance organizations
with surveillance, but those notions consider security
largely in the context of the catchall phrase “area security,” with its force protection orientation. Despite the
obvious relevance of area security to counterinsurgency
(COIN), it cannot substitute for the ability to exec