Editing Reconnaissance (section)

===Area===
[[File:Montagnards in field.png|right|thumb|[[United States Army|U.S. Army]] [[Long-range reconnaissance patrol|LRRP]] [[Montagnard (Vietnam)|Montagnard]] scouts in [[Quảng Trị province|Quang Tri Province]], [[Vietnam]]]]
Area reconnaissance refers to the observation, and information obtained, about a specified location and the area around it; it may be terrain-oriented and/or force-oriented.  Ideally, a reconnaissance platoon, or team, would use surveillance or vantage (static) points around the objective to observe, and the surrounding area. This methodology focuses mainly prior to moving forces into or near a specified area; the military commander may utilize his reconnaissance assets to conduct an area reconnaissance to avoid being surprised by unsuitable terrain conditions, or most importantly, unexpected enemy forces.  The area could be a town, ridge-line, woods, or another feature that friendly forces intend to occupy, pass through, or avoid.<ref name="FM 7-92"/>

Within an [[area of operation]] (AO), area reconnaissance can focus the reconnaissance on the specific area that is critical to the commander.  This technique of focusing the reconnaissance also permits the mission to be accomplished more quickly.  Area reconnaissance can thus be a stand-alone mission or a task to a section or the platoon.  The commander analyzes the mission to determine whether the platoon will conduct these types of reconnaissance separately or in conjunction with each other.<ref name="FM 7-92"/>