Long Range Surveillance Units (LRSUs)

Unit Profile

LRSUs are specially trained and equipped to collect reliable HUMINT (human intelligence). LRSUs have the capability to overcome certain man made and natural limitations of other collections systems. LRSUs organization, training, and equipment provide the capability to operate in enemy controlled areas. They observe and report enemy dispositions, movements and activities, and battlefield conditions. The tactical commander's IR(intelligence requirements) determines the LRSUs missions, targets, and objectives. The teams infiltrate the target by air (airborne, HELO/HEHO, helicopter/FRIES/rappel), ground (vehicle, patrol), or water (SCUBA, boat). The teams avoid contact with both the enemy and local civilians. Although similar, the missions performed by LRSUs are not the same as those of the Special Forces and 75th Rangers. The LRSUs conduct limited reconnaissance and stationary surveillance. They are not assigned direct action missions.

There are six major types of LRSU missions. They are surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, damage assessment, terrain and weather reporting, and collateral activities. Surveillance is the primary LRS mission. Reconnaissance is limited due to risk of detection by enemy or civilians. Movement by teams is kept to a minimum to avoid detection. Lrs teams are also capable of conducting pathfinder operations, coalition support, combat search and rescue, and disaster relief.

There are two types of LRSUs: 1. LRSCs (Long Range Surveillance Company) 2. LRSDs (Long Range Surveillance Detachment). LRSC is dedicated to a corps while LRSD is dedicated to a division. LRSCs are deployed 150 kilometers forward of the FLOT (forward line of own troops) and may operated for as long as eight days without replacing critical supplies and equipment. LRSDs are deployed 50 kilometers forward of the FLOT and may operate as long as six days without replacing critical supplies and equipment. In special cases, LRS teams are deployed for longer periods.

The LRSC is organic to the MI(military intelligence) brigade at corps level. It consists of three major sections, the LRS platoons, the communications platoon, and the headquarters platoon. The LRSC has three LRS platoons, each LRS platoon has six surveillance teams(for a total of 18 teams within the company) and its own headquarters section. Each team consists of 6 men, the team leader, assistant team leader, radio operator, assistant radio operator, senior scout/observer, and scout/observer. The Team may consist of 8 men due to METT-T(mission, enemy, time, terrain, and troops). The surveillance team is the backbone of LRSUs. The communications platoon consists of three base radio stations along with its own Headquarters section. The base radio stations provide commo between the operations base and the deployed teams. They are capable of setting up radio relay points if needed to maintain commo with the teams. The base radio teams operate on a 24 hours basis while teams are deployed. The headquarters platoon has three sections, the operations section, maintenance section, and the companies headquarters section. The maintenance section maintains the company's vehicles and generators. The operations section plan and coordinate the employment of each team. They receive and report information from committed teams, and coordinate the insertion and extraction of each team, including the provisions of externally supporting units.

The LRSD is organic to the MI battalion at division level. It consists of three sections HQ, commo, and surveillance teams. The number of surveillance teams within the detachment varies with the type of division. Light infantry divisions LRSD have four teams, and LRSD for air assault, mechanized, and armor divisions have six. The Commo for LRSD has only two base radio stations. The HQ is the command and control for the detachment.

There are currently LRSDs for almost all active divisions. I currently know of only three national guard LRSD units (there may be more that I don't know about) the 143rd LRSD in Austin, TX for the 49th armor division, 104th LRSD in Annville, PA for the 28th Infantry division, and one in Maine (I think). There is only one active LRSC I know about, 18th airborne corps LRSC in Ft. Bragg. There are 3 national guard LRSCs, one in Georgia, one in Michigan that's assigned to 5th corps, and my unit, G co. 143 LRS in Houston, TX that is under 3rd corps. There is no difference in quality of troops in both active duty and national guard LRSUs. We all have the same backgrounds and mission. The only difference is active units receive considerably more funding for schools and training.

The minimum standards for LRSUs recruiting is as follows:

(according to FM 7-93)

- Must agree to volunteer for Airborne and Ranger schools (if applicable)

- Airborne qualified (spec-4 or corporal and below)

- Airborne and Ranger qualified (Sergeant and above)

- GT score of 110 or above

- meet US Army height and weight or body fat standards.

- no prior disciplinary problems.

- no history of drug or alcohol abuse.

- have at least two years retainability in the unit

The minimum standards for LRSUs while attached to the unit is as follows:

(FM 7-93)

-Pass the APFT (Ranger school standards)

-pass the Combat Water Survival Test

-complete a five mile run within 40 minutes

-complete a 12 mile road march while carrying 35 pounds within 3 hours.

-Pass a written land navigation test.

-complete a day and night land navigation practical exercise.

-demonstrate proficiency in basic LRSU team skills (operation of HF radios, burst devices, and construction of antennas; basic vehicle identification; as a team member conducting operations)

-pass a comprehensive examination by the unit selection board.

These standards are THE BARE MINIMUM, each unit also has its own standards that exceed those set in FM 7-93.

Long Range Surveillance Units (LRSUs)

Web Sites and Information

G Co 143 LRS

Here are some more LRS links

Unit Profile