What does the step "Conduct reconnaissance" primarily focus on?

The step "Conduct reconnaissance" primarily focuses on surveying the operational area for intelligence. This process involves collecting detailed information about the enemy, terrain, weather conditions, and other factors that could affect operational planning and execution. Effective reconnaissance aids leaders in making informed decisions by providing a clearer understanding of the environment in which they will operate. This step is crucial for identifying potential threats, opportunities, and logistical considerations before the mission begins. While assessing resource availability, gathering equipment, and evaluating troop readiness are important aspects of mission planning, they are not the main objectives of reconnaissance, which specifically centers on obtaining intelligence about the operational environment.