Review: Recon Class June 2025: Jason
HEAT Reconnaissance: 19-22 June 2025:
The MVT Recon class is the fourth class I’ve attended with MVT in the last 9 months, so it goes to say that I have a high degree of confidence in the quality of the instruction and the learning experience.
The Recon class is four days long, roughly split between 2 days of class room lecture and 2 days of simulation fire, force-on-force, exercises. Day 1 featured history lessons on military recon teams and an extended focus on avoiding contact. “Don’t get compromised” is the lesson focus and details are given on all the means that may occur and how to avoid doing so. Observation
skills are discussed and KIMs games are played to practice those skills.
On Day 2, the lecture focus was on gear. The mission specifics of a recon operation drives equipment selection, but detailed instruction is given on selecting Backpacks, LBE, food, clothes, ammo, and all other personal and mission-specific gear. Day 2 finishes with additional observation exercises under optics, as well as movement tactics of a small recon patrol. The day ends with a Warning Order from the instructor on the next day’s mission and time for the team to write an Op Order.
Day 3 begins with reviewing the Op Order with the instructor and then time for battle drills and rehearsals prior to running the mission. Most of the day is in the field infiltrating and exfiltrating from the objective, as well as time on target conducting observation. The instructor keeps up the tension by engaging the recon patrol with potential compromises and force-on-force enemy combatants throughout the day. The day ends with another Warning Order and more planning an Op Order.
Day 4 is conducted in the same manner as Day 3, this time with an all new Mission. Challenges are made to the team’s well planned mission to make it represent real world evolving conditions. No plan survives first contact!
The Opposing Force (OPFOR) consists of a well trained, well organized group of former and current students of MVT. They were smart, young, and capable of proving to be a very competent aggressor and making the learning experience that more realistic.
The class reaches an excellent balance between classroom instruction, from a highly qualified instructor, and a simulation force-on-force recon patrol missions. Both parts are needed to convey the lessons of the class and both kept me engaged both intellectually and physically. I expect I will return to take the class again in the future to reinforce lessons from the first time
taking the class.
Jason