The types of reconnaissance include patrolling the local area of operations and long-range reconnaissance patrols, which are tasks usually realized in the United States of America by U.S. Army Rangers, cavalry scouts, and military intelligence specialists, using navy ships and submarines, reconnaissance aircraft, satellites to collect raw intelligence; and establishing observation posts.

The four forms of reconnaissance are route, zone, area, and reconnaissance in force.

Army Doctrinal Reference Publication (ADRP) 3‐90 identifies the five forms of reconnaissance as route, area, zone, reconnaissance‐in‐force and special.

Scout platoons perform three types of reconnaissance: route, zone, and area.