Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance, sometimes called scouting, is the act of exploring to gain military information. Often referred to as recce (UK, Canada and Australia, ) or recon (U.S., ), the associated formal verb is reconnoitre (British spelling) or reconnoiter (American spelling).  In informal English, both recce and recon are often also used as a verb. The term is sometimes used in civilian / paramilitary and various government contexts.