The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the one-hundredth-and-thirty-third episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by MAJ Marc Howle, the Brigade Senior Engineer / Protection Observer-Coach-Trainer, and MAJ Michael Stewart, BDE S-3 Operations OCT, from Brigade Command & Control (BDE HQ) on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today’s guests are subject matter experts from the Brigade Command & Control task force: CPT Lowell Gothard is the Air Defense Support Element / Air-Ground Integration Element OCT (formerly the Air Defense Airspace Management / Brigade Aviation Element OCT), MAJ Edward Pecoraro the BDE S-2 Intelligence Officer OCT, CW2 Luis Alicea the Senior BDE Electronic Warfare Targeting Officer OCT, and CSM Bryan Jaragoske acting Command Sergeant Major of Operations Group (formerly BC2 CSM).

 

This episode examines how infantry brigade combat teams must reclaim reconnaissance and security as core competencies following the loss of cavalry squadrons. A central theme is that while the structure has changed, the requirement has not—brigades still must answer PIRs, develop NAIs, and shape the fight before committing combat power. Without a dedicated squadron headquarters to plan and synchronize reconnaissance, those responsibilities now sit squarely with the brigade staff. The discussion highlights friction points in intelligence architecture, reporting pathways, and the synchronization of collection assets, stressing that reconnaissance is no longer “someone else’s problem.” Infantry battalions, multi-purpose companies (MPCs), and multi-functional reconnaissance companies (MFRCs) must all contribute to the reconnaissance fight, requiring commanders and staffs to deliberately task, synchronize, and integrate ground patrols, UAS, and other sensing capabilities. 

 

The conversation also underscores the need to return to fundamentals—patrolling, reporting discipline, and combined arms integration across warfighting functions. Leaders emphasize that reconnaissance is not limited to scout formations; any element with the capability and proximity can be tasked to collect and report, provided it understands the task and purpose. Effective reconnaissance now demands tighter integration between S2, S3, aviation planners, and electronic warfare sections to sequence sensors, manage airspace, and fuse reporting into actionable intelligence. The key takeaway is clear: brigades must deliberately plan reconnaissance during MDMP, publish detailed reconnaissance guidance, and train these skills at home station. Without that discipline, formations risk fighting blind in LSCO.    

 

Part of S13 “Hip Pocket Training” series.

 

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“The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.