What is the difference between reconnaissance and surveillance in the context of COTAC?

• A. Reconnaissance actively collects information to influence decisions; surveillance passively observes ongoing conditions.
• B. Surveillance always leads to direct engagement.
• C. Reconnaissance is only about mapping terrain, not gathering data.
• D. Surveillance and reconnaissance are the same.

Answer: (A)

Reconnaissance and surveillance serve different purposes in planning and operations. Reconnaissance is an active information-gathering activity driven by a decision need: you go out to collect specific data—locations, routes, enemy dispositions, timing—to shape a plan and influence what you do next. It’s targeted and has a defined objective and decision point in mind.

Surveillance is about keeping watch over an area or activity over time. It’s more passive and continuous, aimed at maintaining situational awareness, spotting changes, or warning of events, rather than gathering data for a single, specific decision.

So the best description is that reconnaissance actively collects information to influence decisions, while surveillance passively observes ongoing conditions. Those roles aren’t interchangeable, and in practice you might use reconnaissance to determine where to act and then surveillance to monitor that area during the operation.