Which of the following is a purpose of patrol?

• A. Recon
• B. Establish supply routes
• C. Evacuate civilians
• D. Build fortifications

Answer: (A)

Patrols are used to obtain information about the enemy and the terrain through discreet movement, observation, and reporting. That focus on discovering enemy positions, strength, routes, and terrain features is why recon is the best description of a patrol’s purpose: it provides the essential information commanders need to make informed decisions and plan actions. The other options describe tasks outside the patrol’s primary role—establishing supply routes is logistics, evacuating civilians is a civil-military or evacuation task, and building fortifications is an engineering job. In practice, a reconnaissance patrol might observe from concealment, verify enemy locations, and identify usable or dangerous routes for friendly forces.