Study the minimap to get a feel for the nearby terrain and potential obstacles in your way. Though it may be difficult to decipher 3-D terrain on the minimap, it’s good for identifying covers spots like buildings, walls, and other structures.
Most important, scouted enemies appear on the minimap as red V’s after you spot them, and once an enemy is on the minimap, you can track his movements and determine the potential threat to your next action.