Reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition
Wikimedia disambiguation page
Reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) squadrons are a type of unit in the United States Army. These are cavalry squadrons (though in IBCTs they typically contain at least one dismounted infantry troop), and act at the squadron (battalion) level as a reconnaissance unit for their parent brigade combat teams. These RSTA squadrons continue on the Recondo legacy of the Vietnam era Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LRRP), however, compared to the LRRPs they are often assigned additional non-reconnaissance responsibilities such as battlespace ownership. As of 2025, RSTA squadrons in IBCTs are in the process of being deactivated; instead each infantry battalion will gain a Multipurpose Company (MPC) and the dismounted reconnaissance troop is replaced with a Multifunctional Reconnaissance Company (MFRCs) for providing brigade-level reconnaissance.
Additionally, RSTA is a doctrine that groups the tasks of reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition conducted by the Department of Defense (United States). RSTA supports military operations at a strategic (national defense policy), operational (theater level), or tactical (individual unit) level, either by dedicated RSTA forces or those which possess the capability.
The RSTA squadron
As part of its modernization and reorganization plan, the US Army has transitioned to the use of a modular brigade combat team (BCT) scheme. For each of its three main types of BCTs, whether an infantry brigade combat team (IBCT), armored brigade combat team (ABCT), or Stryker brigade combat team (SBCT), there is a reconnaissance squadron which is tasked with performing reconnaissance and security missions for the BCT. Related to these units were reconnaissance and surveillance squadrons, which operated as part of battlefield surveillance brigades; however since 2015 all BfSBs have been converted into expeditionary military intelligence brigades or inactivated.
The primary task of the RSTA squadron is to carry out reconnaissance and security missions for its parent BCT or for higher commands, whether as part of offensive or defensive operations. Reconnaissance missions can include area, route, zone, and reconnaissance-in-force.
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