# Overview

## Combined Arms 

Combined arms is the synchronized and simultaneous application of the warfighting functions (WFFs) to achieve an effect that is greater than if each arm were used in sequence. It involves the full integration of different capabilities in such a way that, to counteract one, the enemy must become more vulnerable to another. Combined arms employ all the WFFs and their supporting systems, multiplying the effectiveness of Army forces in all operations.

Employing combined arms is simple in concept. However, it requires highly trained soldiers, skilled leadership, effective staff work, and integrated information systems. Combined arms operations must be synchronized so the effects of combat power occur simultaneously. Synchronization is the arrangement of military actions in time, space, and purpose to produce maximum relative combat power at a decisive place and time. Through synchronization, commanders arrange WFFs to mass the effects of combat power at the chosen place and time to overwhelm an enemy or dominate the situation.

**Achieving Combined Arms**

Combined arms are achieved through organizational design (standing organizations) and temporary reorganization (tailored and task-organized units). For example, units organic to brigade combat teams (BCTs) perform all WFFs. However, the BCT does not organically include Army aviation. When required, the capabilities are added through tailoring and task-organizing, temporarily subordinating elements of different units under one commander.

Aviation battalions plan, coordinate, and execute operations. They create opportunities for commanders to disrupt the enemy's decision-making process, forcing them to make decisions that disrupt initial plans. The battalion, through coordination, liaison, command and control (C2), situational awareness (SA), and situational understanding (SU), helps set conditions for the force's success.

The Army Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB) conducts full spectrum operations in support of their higher headquarters. The ARB supports offensive and defensive operations (reconnaissance, security, and attack) against various threat forces. While less suited for stability and civil support operations based on organization, the ARB can support these operations by providing security and reconnaissance through the supported unit’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations.

## **Fundamentals**

All battalions should be able to:

* Plan and conduct strategic deployment.
* Conduct administrative and tactical movements.
* Coordinate with supported maneuver units.
* Develop and maintain intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB).
* Use the full spectrum of communications means to satisfy internal and external requirements for combat information.
* Act as a battalion task force (TF) headquarters.
* Conduct multiple simultaneous operations.
* Plan multiple future operations.
* Conduct liaison with adjacent and supported units.
* Protect and sustain their forces.
* Conduct air-ground integration.

**Army Warfighting Functions**

Battalion commanders and staffs must be fully aware of the six Army WFFs. Table 1-1 gives examples of tasks the ARB may perform in support of each WFF.

Table 1-1. Attack reconnaissance battalion’s role in Army warfighting functions

| Army Warfighting Function | ARB’s Role                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| ------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Movement & Maneuver       | <p>- Engage enemy forces decisively through attack operations. </p><p></p><p>- Shape the operational environment through aggressive IAs, reconnaissance, and security operations.</p>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Intelligence              | <p>- Assist commander and staff in conducting IPB. - Provide higher headquarters SA.</p><p></p><p> - Confirm or deny elements of the ISR plan and priority intelligence requirements. </p><p></p><p>- Conduct reconnaissance to allow commander to make informed decisions, delegate authority, and synchronize the WFFs.</p><p> </p><p>- Conduct reconnaissance to find bypasses, adequate sites and routes, and provide overwatch for ground operations.</p> |
| Fire Support (FS)         | <p>- Designate for laser-guided artillery or other service munitions.</p><p></p><p> - Conduct counterbattery fires to find and target enemy mortars and artillery. </p><p></p><p>- Synchronize indirect fires to delay, disrupt, or destroy enemy forces, systems, and facilities.</p>                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Sustainment               | <p>- Generate combat power in support of ground operations. </p><p></p><p>- Perform reconnaissance to identify routes and provide pickup zone (PZ), landing zone (LZ), or convoy security.</p><p></p><p> - Provide security for air movement of personnel, supplies, and equipment in support of ground forces, refugees, or disaster victims.</p>                                                                                                             |
| C2                        | - Provide backup radio communications with supported forces.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Protection                | <p>- Provide direct fires and/or call for indirect fires to cover obstacles. </p><p></p><p>- Provide security for ground movement, assembly area (AA), and fixed based operations.</p>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |

### Decisive, Shaping, and Sustaining Operations

The ARB may operate over a dispersed area of operations (AO) supporting their higher headquarters through decisive, shaping, and sustaining operations (FM 3-0).

### Decisive Operations

The battalion participates in decisive operations to find, fix, and destroy enemy forces (especially moving forces), and to confirm intelligence. Decisive operations do not require the presence of overwhelming forces; they simply require the ability to mass overwhelming firepower and other effects at the time and place where the enemy’s assets and strengths are most vulnerable. The battalion may be tasked to perform movement to contact or attack operations including close combat attack (CCA), interdiction attack (IA), or a raid. ARBs also support decisive operations by conducting reconnaissance to confirm intelligence.

### Shaping Operations

Shaping operations establish conditions for success of the decisive operation by setting the battlefield to our advantage. Shaping includes lethal and nonlethal operations that make the enemy vulnerable to attack, impede or divert its attempts to maneuver, provide combat support to facilitate the maneuver of friendly forces, enhance deception, or otherwise dictate the time and place for decisive battle. Through shaping, commanders gain the initiative, preserve momentum, and control the tempo of combat. Shaping operations may occur with, before, or after initiation of decisive operations and may involve any combination of forces.

Some shaping operations, especially those that occur simultaneously with the decisive operation, are economy of force actions. If the available force does not permit simultaneous decisive and shaping operations, the commander sequences shaping operations around the decisive operation. A shaping operation may become the decisive operation if circumstances or opportunities dictate. In that case, the commander weighs the new decisive operation at the expense of other shaping operations.

In addition to finding, fixing, and destroying enemy forces and confirming intelligence, the battalion can facilitate shaping operations by—

* Conducting reconnaissance and surveillance (R\&S) operations to complement other maneuver forces.
* Orchestrating joint air attack team (JAAT) operations.
* Providing security for air assault and air movement operations.
* Conducting feint and/or demonstration operations.

### Sustaining Operations

Sustaining operations generate and maintain combat power. Failure to sustain normally results in failure of the overall effort. Sustaining operations at any echelon are those that assist the decisive and shaping operations by ensuring freedom of action and continuity of operations. Sustaining operations include base security, maintenance, sustainment, movement control, terrain management, and protection of lines of communications (LOCs) and headquarters.

The ARB elements are excellent for protecting sustainment forces as they move from one location to another, or in their AAs. The battalion also participates as an element in larger sustainment operations by providing R\&S missions for LOCs and QRFs for sustainment areas.


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