This concise history chronicles the role of military recon, from the ancient warfare of Greeks and Romans to the operations of modern scout snipers.

Since the earliest recorded military history, scouting and reconnaissance have been key tools for military commanders in order to make tactical decisions. As military strategy, weapons, and equipment developed over the centuries, methods of scouting and reconnaissance evolved as well but were never discarded.

This short history paints a revealing picture of the art of military scouting and reconnaissance. From the secret sciritae of the Spartans and the scouts employed by Julius Caesar to the Middle Ages, Napoleonic Wars, and modern era of scout snipers and special forces units, this volume covers the evolution of recon operations across centuries of conflict.