Within your Data Book should be a list of common equipment- a recognition guide, if you will. There’s many, many resources out there to develop such information. Believe it or not, 90% of the equipment you’ll encounter in the bush has been around for some time, is easy to obtain information upon, and develop strategies to defeat it’s capabilities- right now. Barring minor facelifts, there’s few new things truely evolving out there. As a matter of fact, the trend in defense tech seems to be going in the opposite direction at the macro-level as the newest technologies are proving to be expensive to field and unreliable at best.

Professionals in the Recon field harp on SALUTE/SALT formats as the basic spot report for sending information to the Intelligence cell. As I’ve written in the past, the more technical information you can provide, the easier their job will become. That’s why it’s imperative a Scout knows more than just how to carry a ruck, key a mic and shoot a rifle.

One skill taught to prospective Scouts-to-be is an extension of Kim’s Game; the more details remembered, the better; the ability to know what you’re looking at is all the more important. The difference between a 60 year old DshK and a recent manufacture KPV in use on vehicles might be significant in many more ways that one. You’re the Scout- and it’s your job to know how to spot the differences. The best way to do that is start learning it now any way you can.

We know that Artillery requires coordination with the spotter units to work. Without that link, those guns fall silent. That link is different for every armed force out there. Some data on the radio in use above:

Intended for crystal-stabilized radio communications without search and fine tuning, when on the move or stationary, in one of the three frequency subbands: 30 – 48 MHz, 45 – 73 MHz, and 70 – 108 MHz.

Source- Russian Forces Equipment

Notice it’s also in the FM broadcast band here in the US? That might very well be significant. While the likelyhood of a Russian incursion into the US is next to zero, the equipment itself may show up at some point. That’s just one example- there’s tons out there, and gives us a starting point on how to kit-bash and plan around what we might encounter in the field.

So while there’s been a long history of paranoia and fear-mongering among the Patriot community about this invasion or that invasion, no matter how likely or unlikely this may be, little has been done in the way of actual capabilities building aside from arguing over which rifle shoots the best. I’ll let you in on a little secret- the bulk of what Intelligence agencies do is technology information collection and analysis, both civilian and military, to develop strategies based on how to replicate it and how to defeat it if need be. There’s no reason you, the Patriot, shouldn’t be doing the same at every given opportunity. It’s out there, and for the most part it’s free.

Russian Forces Information

PLA Defense Forum

More PLA Equipment

Jane’s Defense

Amazon- Jane’s Recognition Guides

Information, Skills, and Strategy is far more important than cool-guy gear.