Scouts Out!

Reconnaissance and counterreconnaissance are battlefield missions as old as military history itself for which many armies have created specialized units. Since the early 20th century, the search for the right mix of equipment, the proper organization, and the best employment of reconnaissance units has bedeviled armies around the world. This survey uses historical cases to illustrate the enduring issues that surround equipping, organizing, and employing scouts. McGrath ends his study with an intriguing conclusion about the role that specialized reconnaissance units should have in the future that may surprise many readers.