The U.S. Army’s multi-functional reconnaissance company (MFRC) represents a new era in combat. The war in Ukraine remains an active conflict, but the lessons learned are reshaping how American military leadership views the future of combat.
Lighter, more lethal units, equipped with state of the art technology, are being seen as the way forward for the service. MFRCs, like the one with the 101st Airborne Division, represent the Army’s most significant transformation in more than 40 years.
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This elite recon unit now has access to drones and a host of combat-ready technology, all designed to monitor the enemy while remaining concealed.
“We have been tasked with being painfully light and disproportionately lethal to sense, kill, and protect on behalf of the brigade,” said Capt. Charles O’Hagan, the Multi-Functional Reconnaissance Company commander.
This shift marks a departure from focusing on counterterrorism operations to equipping units to deter enemy forces and leverage current technology and warfighting trends. An MFRC consists of three “hunter-killer” platoons. One for drones, another for electronic warfare, and a third for robotics and autonomous systems.
Once airborne troops are on the ground, they need a way to reach their destination. Enter the Army’s Infantry Squad Vehicle, essentially a stripped-down version of the Chevrolet Colorado. The vehicle is large enough to supply a recon team for several days, but light enough to navigate rough terrain.
Established in March, the MFRC has already participated in two large-scale field training exercises. The first was at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in April, and most recently at Fort Johnson, Louisiana.
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