Heavy Cavalry Fights for Information

I was very unhappy about how we lightened up our recon units during the Iraq War and remain convinced we need armored cavalry regiments and smaller units of that type in our brigade combat teams. The  Army study of the Iraq War (volumes one and two) should remind us of the value of traditional heavy cavalry.

Thank God the squadron was able to fight for battlefield intelligence:

Intelligence on the location of the Fedayeen units did not come from the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS), UAVs, and other similar systems that the division had rehearsed using in exercises prior the invasion. Instead, 3d Infantry Division leaders found themselves using the division cavalry squadron and special operations units to locate enemy forces. This more traditional tactical reconnaissance capability became the 3d Infantry Division’s eyes and ears on the battlefield.

The urge to lighten up recon units to "make them more agile" strengthens the longer an army doesn't fight a conventional war. But once you are in a conventional war you find that "agile" just means too weak to survive when enemy heavy forces start shooting at you. And then your recon units are dead.

When you start to build an armored cavalry unit, build an armored cavalry unit.

But no worries, apparently. We have more of those awesome drones now.