Reconnaissance & Observation

Surface Reconnaissance

Includes reconnaissance or area observation by land or water to detect and report illegal drug activities that include, but are not limited to, cultivated marijuana, suspected isolated drug trafficking airstrips, drug drop zones, drug trafficking corridors, drug laboratories, and suspicious aircraft, watercraft or motor vehicles.

Information will be reported as designated by the supported Law Enforcement Agency (LEA). Approved categories of counterdrug activities include, but are not limited to:

• Unattended Sensor Support -- Personnel will support LEAs in the placement, monitoring and maintenance of unattended sensors in areas where suspected drug activity is occurring.
• Visual Reconnaissance / Observation -- Mobile patrols will extasblish listening posts / observation posts (LPs / OPs), using binoculars, cameras, night vision devices, and infrared / thermal imagery, including FLIR or lowlight devices. A law enforcement officer must be present or in direct contact with the National Guard team.

Aerial Reconnaissance

Includes reconnaissance / observation of airspace, maritime or surface areas (land and internal waterways of the U.S. and territories) for illegal drug activities, which include, but are not limited to, cultivation of marijuana or delivery of illegal drugs.

Reconnaissance may be directed toward suspected drug trafficking airstrips / drop zones / corridors or suspicious aircraft, watercraft or motor vehicles. For CD RAID and C-26 FLIR missions, a Law Enforcement Officer must be present or in direct contact with the National Guard team.

Approved equipment and techniques include, but are not limited to:

• RADAR
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
• Aerial Visual Techniques -- including infrared / thermal imagery and photographic reconnaissance.
• Photographic Reconnaissance Film Processing