Complete the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. Three weeks of advanced reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition training that produces the Army's elite intelligence-gathering leaders.
The Academics phase builds the doctrinal foundation for reconnaissance operations. Students learn the military decision-making process as it applies to recon planning, intelligence preparation of the battlefield, and the full range of reconnaissance and surveillance tasks at the company level and below.
Advanced land navigation is tested early — night land nav eliminates roughly 12% of the class. Students must demonstrate mastery of map reading, terrain association, and movement in restricted terrain before progressing to practical application.
Intelligence reporting formats are drilled repeatedly. Every observation must be converted into actionable intelligence using standardized formats that higher headquarters can process and act upon immediately.
Practical application is where classroom theory meets reality. Students build and occupy hide sites, establish observation posts, and conduct surveillance operations for extended periods while remaining undetected by opposing forces.
Sketching and reporting are graded events — panoramic sketches must meet exacting standards for detail, accuracy, and completeness. Every terrain feature, target, and observation must be documented in a format that provides actionable intelligence to supported commanders.
Students who cannot remain concealed, produce accurate reports, or maintain discipline during extended observation periods are dropped from the course.
The FTX integrates every reconnaissance skill into a sustained multi-day tactical operation. Students plan, brief, and execute full-spectrum reconnaissance and surveillance missions from infiltration through exfiltration under simulated combat conditions.
Leadership is evaluated throughout the FTX. Students must demonstrate they can plan reconnaissance operations, lead teams in the field, collect actionable intelligence, and report to higher headquarters — all while avoiding detection by opposing forces.
Failure to complete the FTX results in course failure regardless of previous performance. The FTX is the ultimate test of whether a student can function as a reconnaissance and surveillance leader.
Winter RSLC classes test cold-weather discipline. Fort Liberty winters are mild compared to northern posts, but extended surveillance operations in freezing rain and near-freezing temps still cause significant cold-weather injuries. Long nights favor surveillance operations but make movement more demanding.
Spring is prime RSLC season. Moderate temperatures allow students to focus on skills rather than fighting the weather. Increasing vegetation provides natural concealment for hide sites and observation posts. Night temperatures remain cool enough for comfortable extended operations.
Summer RSLC is a heat battle. North Carolina humidity makes extended field operations miserable. Thick vegetation provides excellent concealment but restricts observation. Insect pressure during static surveillance operations is relentless and tests mental discipline.
Fall is an excellent RSLC window. Cooling temperatures make extended field operations manageable. Declining foliage reduces natural concealment, forcing students to rely more on fieldcraft skills for hide site construction. Longer nights favor surveillance operations.
RSLC runs approximately 6 classes per fiscal year at Fort Liberty, NC. Classes are 21 days. Source: USAJFKSWCS / Fort Liberty.
| Class | Report Date | Graduation | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSLC 01-26 | 13 Jan 2026 | 02 Feb 2026 | Winter |
| RSLC 02-26 | 10 Mar 2026 | 30 Mar 2026 | Spring |
| RSLC 03-26 | 05 May 2026 | 25 May 2026 | Spring |
| RSLC 04-26 | 14 Jul 2026 | 03 Aug 2026 | Summer |
| RSLC 05-26 | 01 Sep 2026 | 21 Sep 2026 | Fall |
| RSLC 06-26 | 27 Oct 2026 | 16 Nov 2026 | Fall |
Land navigation, reconnaissance planning, and fieldcraft failures account for the majority of drops. The enemy you're watching doesn't know you're there — keep it that way.
Every failure at RSLC has a type. We built a fix for each one.
Reconnaissance planning isn't just an OPORD. It's MDMP applied to intelligence collection — and most students have never done it before. Learn the process now.
Night land navigation drops ~12% of the class. Terrain association, pace count, and dead reckoning in the dark separate recon leaders from everyone else.
If you can't detect, identify, and accurately report targets from an OP, you fail. Train your eye for detail, range estimation, and systematic scanning now.
SALUTE reports, SPOT reports, and INTREPs must be accurate, timely, and actionable. Sloppy reporting means your intelligence is useless to the commander.
Panoramic sketches and range cards must be precise. If your sketch doesn't match reality, the supported unit can't use your intelligence. Practice drawing terrain features.
Hide site construction, camouflage discipline, and noise/light discipline determine whether you're detected. Get compromised and your mission — and grade — is over.
Key Takeaway: Land navigation and reconnaissance planning are the two biggest eliminators. Master night land nav, learn the recon planning process cold, and practice writing intelligence reports under time pressure. The FTX tests leadership — arrive ready to lead, not just survive.
See First, Act First
Graduates of the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course are the Army's elite intelligence-gathering leaders. They operate forward of friendly lines, deep in enemy territory, collecting the intelligence that commanders need to make decisions. They see without being seen. They report without being detected. They lead from the front of the front.
From the training areas of Fort Liberty, RSLC graduates carry their skills to every corner of the battlefield — leading reconnaissance patrols, establishing surveillance sites, and providing the eyes and ears that no technology can replace. The human sensor remains the most valuable asset on the battlefield.
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