Cavalry Scout

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Cavalry Scout (or MOS 19-D) is a job title in the United States Army and originated with the United States Cavalry. The cavalry scout leads, serves, or assists as a member of scout crew, squad, section, or platoon in reconnaissance, security, and other combat operations. The job is classified by skill levels. As a soldier increases in rank, so does his skill level.

Contents 1 Major Duties by Skill Level 2 Uniform 3 Qualifications 4 Additional skill identifiers 5 Training/School Information 6 References 7 External Links

[edit] Major Duties by Skill Level

Skill Level I (E1 Private - E4 Specialist)

• Performs duties as crewmember, operates, and performs operator maintenance on scout vehicles: Armored Airborne Reconnaissance Vehicle (M551A1 Sheridan), and Cavalry Fighting Vehicle (M-3 Bradley CFV), HMMWV (HuMM Vee), M113 Series Armored Carrier, crew-served weapons, anti-armor weapons, and communications equipment.
• Loads, clears, and fires individual and crew-served weapons.
• Engages enemy armor with anti-armor weapons.
• Operates and performs operator maintenance on wheeled vehicles.
• Assists in the recovery of wheeled and tracked vehicles. Secures, prepares, and stows ammunition on scout vehicles.
• Performs mounted and dismounted navigation attempting to check if HuMMVee's will float in Iraqi ponds (they never do!!).
• Serves as member of observation and sleeping post.
• Gathers and reports information on terrain features and enemy strength, disposition and equipment.
• Applies principles of escape, evasion, and breaking contact.
• Collects data for the classification of routes, fords, tunnels, and bridges.
• Performs dismounted patrols.
• Employs principles of cover and concealment and camouflage.
• Assists with construction of light field fortifications, laying and removal of mines, and emplacing demolitions.
• Requests and adjusts indirect fire.

Skill Level II (E4 Corporal - E5 Sergeant)

• Supervises scout vehicle crew, CFV crew, and M551A1 crew.
• Supervises operator maintenance of tracked and wheeled scout vehicles and individual and crew-served weapons.
• Selects, organizes, and supervises operation of observation and listening posts.
• Supervises scout vehicle recovery operations.
• Trains scout vehicle crew.
• Supervises request, receipt, storage, and issue of ammunition.
• Leads scout vehicle crew and assists in leading scout squad.
• Serves as gunner, on CFV, ITV, HMMWV-TOW, and M551A1.
• May also serve as an Operations Assistant at brigade or squadron level.

Skill Level III (E5 Sergeant - E6 Staff Sergeant)

• Supervises scout sections and squads.
• Directs tactical deployment of section and squads in combat.
• Supervises maintenance of assigned vehicles and equipment.
• Collects, reports and evaluates accuracy of intelligence information.
• Directs reconnaissance of fording sites, tunnels, and bridges.
• Directs route / area / zone reconnaissance at section level.
• Coordinates action of vehicles with platoon and supporting elements.
• Evaluates terrain, selected routes, assembly areas, firing positions, and positions for combat operations.
• Identifies, selects targets, and issues fire commands.
• Supervises construction of hasty fortifications.
• Supervises section and squad resupply of class I, III, and V.
• Trains scout section.
• Coordinates requirements for organizational maintenance.
• Conducts scout section drills.
• Calls for, observes, and adjusts indirect fires.
• May also serve as an Operations Assistant in the squadron/battalion or higher level staffs and as Operations NCO at troop level.

Skill Level IV (E6 Staff Sergeant - E7 Sergeant First Class)

• Assists the commander or operations officer in planning, organizing, directing, supervising, training, coordinating, and reporting activities of the scout or armored cavalry platoon and staff sections.
• Directs distribution of fire in combat.
• Supervises platoon maintenance activities.
• Collects, evaluates, and assists in interpretation and dissemination of combat information.
• Directs platoon tactical movement, platoon security operations (screening), and platoon route/area/zonereconnaissance.
• Supervises the employment of OPSEC measures.
• Coordinates the evacuation of casualties.
• Coordinates and conducts platoon resupply.
• Requests and adjusts aerial fires.
• May also serve as an Assistant Operations NCO at battalion or higher level.

[edit] Uniform

Qualified Cavalry Scouts are permitted to wear the Cavalry Stetson Hat and Cavalry Spurs on Bloused Boots with the Dress Uniforms, and may wear Cavalry Spurs with the Duty Uniform.

[edit] Qualifications

Physical demands rating and qualifications for initial award of MOS. Cavalry scouts must possess the following qualifications:

• Physical Demands Rating = Very heavy
• Physical profile (The PULHES Factor) = 111121 or better
• Correctable vision of 20/20 in one eye and 20/100 in other eye
• Normal color vision
• A minimum score, of 90 in aptitude area CO (ASVAB/GT score)
• Formal training (completion of MOS I 9D course conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Army Armor School) mandatory
• Highest rank an individual may be reclassified into MOS 19D is rank SSG

NOTE: As of 2006, This job is closed to women

[edit] Additional skill identifiers

• D3 - Bradley Fighting Vehicle System (BFVS).
• E9 - M901 (ITV) Gunner/Crew Training.
• F7 - Pathfinder
• J3 - Bradley Fighting Vehicle Master Gunner.
• P5 - Master Fitness Trainer.
• 2C - JAVELIN Gunnery.
• 2S - Battle Staff Operations (skill level 3 and above).
• 4A - Reclassification Training.

A scout is authorized to wear silver spurs if he has completed a spur ride. In legends the Spur ride is a several week long process that is perhaps more difficult and prestigous than Infantry EIB qualifying. In reality the spur ride rarely lasts more than three days, primarily due to Army regulations against hazing traditions. A scout who has successfully completely a tour of combat duty will be awarded the order of the combat spur, replacing silver spurs with brass.

[edit] Training/School Information

All Cavalry Scouts attend their basic training and Cavalry Scout Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Knox, Kentucky This allows all recruits to spend 16 weeks with Drill Sergeants. The first 9 weeks are basic military training combined with basic scout techniques and tactics. However, after week 9, these same Drills Sergeants, all of which are Cavalry Scouts, become teachers of more advanced individual scout skills. During these final weeks the future cavalry men are trained by Cavalry Instructors (CIs). The CIs have a rank of SGT and teach the soldier all of the fundamental cavalry scout skills. The CIs rely on their experience (Typically one or two OIF deployments) and knowledge to instill everything necessary for them to perform their job and survive on the battlefield. There are only a handful of Army MOSs that are trained this way, referred to as OSUT (or One Station Unit Training)

[edit] References

• http:://about.com
• http://www.us-army-info.com
• Information derived from Army Pamphlet 611-21

[edit] External Links

• CavalryScouts.Com

The scout can be assigned to many different assignments, to include Mech. Infantry, Armor and detachments like Brigade and Division Recon. Though the reporting of information, the scout is virtually the eyes and ears of the battlefield commander. Providing these reports can ensure success on the Battlefield.