Patrol

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Patrol

Military
In military tactics

Military tactics

Military tactics are the techniques for using weapons or military units in combination for engaging and defeating an Enemy in battle. Changes in philosophy and technology over time have been reflected in changes to military tactics....
, a patrol(pu'tro'wl) is often a small tactical grouping sent out by land, sea or air to perform a specific task. The basic task of a patrol is to follow a known route at regular intervals looking out for anything out of the ordinary — which if found will be reported or dealt with as appropriate.

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Encyclopedia

Military

In military tactics

Military tactics

Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance is a military and medical term denoting exploration conducted to gain information. Militarily, its shorthand Australian, Canadian, and British form is recce , its American usage form is recon ....
patrol, sent to investigate some feature of interest, or a fighting patrol (US combat patrol), sent to find and engage the enemy. A patrol can also mean a small cavalry

Cavalry

The Cavalry is the second oldest of the Combat Arms, and as soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat, it represents the mobility and offensive power of the armed forces....
or armoured unit, subordinate to a troop

Troop

A troop is a military unit, originally a small force of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron and headed by the troop leader. A cavalry soldier of Private is called a Trooper ....
or platoon

Platoon

A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four Section or squads and containing about 30 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organised into a company , which typically consists of three, four or five platoons....
. A patrol usually comprises a section

Section (military unit)

A section is a small infantry military unit first introduced in the British Army. A section generally consists of about seven or eight soldiers, with a junior-Non-commissioned officer as commander....
or squad

Squad

In military terminology, a squad is a small military unit led by a non-commissioned officer that is subordinate to an infantry platoon. In countries following the British Army tradition this organization is referred to as a section ....
of mounted trooper

Trooper

Trooper may refer to:* Trooper , a Canadian rock band* Trooper , a Romanian heavy metal band* Trooper , a military private rank* Trooper , a rank used by some state police agencies in the United States...
s, or two AFVs

Armoured fighting vehicle

An armoured fighting vehicle is a military vehicle, protected by vehicle armour and armed with weapons. Most AFVs are equipped for driving in rugged terrain....
(often tank

Tank

A tank is a Continuous track, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility and Military tactics Offensive and defence capabilities....
s).

Law enforcement

In law enforcement, patrol officers are uniformed police officers assigned to patrol specified geographic areas — that is, to move through their areas at regular intervals looking out for any signs of problems of any kind. They are the officers most commonly encountered by the public, as their duties include responding to calls for service, making arrests, resolving disputes, taking crime reports, and conducting traffic enforcement, and other crime prevention measures. A patrol officer is often the first to arrive on the scene of any incident; what such an officer does or fails to do at the scene can greatly influence the outcome of any subsequent investigation. The patrol officer, as the person who is in the field daily, is often closest to potential crime and may have developed contacts who can provide information.

Schools

Some elementary school

Elementary school

An elementary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as Primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in many countries, especially in North America....
s use the term patrol to refer to students who are selected to monitor safety

Safety

Safety is the state of being "safe" , the condition of being protected against physical, social, spiritual, financial, political, emotional, occupational, psychological, educational or other types or consequences of failure, damage, error, accidents, harm or any other event which could be considered non-desirable....
in the classroom

Classroom

A classroom is a room in which teaching or learning activities can take place. Classrooms are found in educational institutions of all kinds, including public and private schools, corporations, and religious and humanitarian organizations....
or to those students who assist crossing guard

Crossing guard

A crossing guard , a school crossing patrol officer , school crossing supervisor or school road patrol is a traffic management specialist who is normally stationed on busy roadways to aid pedestrians....
s with safety of children crossing busy street

Street

A street is a public thoroughfare in the built environment. It is a public parcel of landform adjoining buildings in an urban area context, on which people may freely assemble, interact, and move about....
s. Another common term for this use of patrol is hall monitor
Hall monitor

A hall monitor is a student volunteer in United States schools who is charged with maintaining order in the school's corridors. They may be either students who are chosen for the position because they are responsible, or that may be chosen on a rota from all available students....
.

Life saving

In Surf Lifesaving, volunteer patrol units monitor the beaches during the summer. In Australia and some other countries, the patrolled area is marked by red and yellow flags.

Scouting

In Scouting

Scouting

Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, so that they may play constructive roles in society....
, a patrol is six to eight youth under the leadership of one of them, the basic unit of the Scout movement. The Patrol method
Scout method

The Scout method is the informal education used by Scouting. The aim of Scouting is character training, to become an independent person, helpful to other people....
is an essential characteristic of Scouting by which it differs from all other organizations, using the natural dynamics of the gang for an educational purpose.

Etymology

From French patrouiller from Old French patouiller (“‘to paddle, paw about, patrol’”) from patte (“‘a paw’”)