Yeah, the scout-light scout to corvette-landingship/small alien base jump is kinda severe if you're on ironman, or first time player, or just unlucky. The routine for me during the light scout-scout phase was pretty simple stuff, got kinda monotonous. Use shields, scout until you find someone, spam kill them, repeat. Once you get to the UFO you just flashbang with a shield a few times then either use explosives or guns.
This really is my routine for all missions early-mid game but with the lack of enemy variety and enemy population during that time it gets boring fast for scout missions.
^