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Reconnaissance assets of Marine Air-Ground Task Force From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A United States Marine Corps Reconnaissance Battalion (or commonly called Marine Division Recon) is a reconnaissance unit within the Ground Combat Element (GCE) of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) that conducts amphibious reconnaissance, underwater reconnaissance, advanced force operations, battlespace shaping, ground reconnaissance, surveillance, raids and direct action in support of the Marine division (MARDIV), subordinate division elements, or a designated MAGTF.[2][1][3][4]
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2013) |
| Marine Division Reconnaissance | |
|---|---|
Division Recon badge | |
| Active | 1958 – present |
| Country |  United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Marine Corps |
| Type | Reconnaissance unit |
| Role | Direct support of the Ground Combat Element for |
| Size | Four battalions: three active duty and one reserve |
| Garrison/HQ | Camp Pendleton, California Camp Lejeune, North Carolina Camp Schwab, Okinawa |
| Motto(s) | "Swift, Silent, Deadly" |
| Colors | Black & gold |
| Engagements | Vietnam War Gulf War Kosovo War Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol | Recon Jack |
Although reconnaissance companies are conventional forces they do share many of the same tactics, techniques, procedures and equipment of special operations forces.[a]
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Reconnaissance forces are an asset of the MAGTF that provides military intelligence to command and control for battlespace, allowing the MAGTF to act, and react, to changes in the battlefield.[7] While Marine reconnaissance assets may operate in specialized missions, they are unlike their United States Special Operations Forces counterparts. Both division and force are solely reserved for supporting the infantry, which are directly involved in the commander's force of action in the battlefield, or battlespace shaping.[8]
Many of the types of reconnaissance missions that are conducted by Marine Recon units are characterized by its degree in depth of penetration. This greatly increases the mission time, risk, and support coordination needs. Division reconnaissance are in charge of the commander's Area of Influence, the close and distant battlespace; the force reconnaissance platoons are employed farther in the deep battlespace, or the Area of Interest.
These are the main missions that are outlined to some, or all of, the reconnaissance assets in the Marine Corps:
The Marine Corps's division-level reconnaissance was first conceived in 1941 by Lieutenant Colonel William J. Whaling. He needed a group of specialized scouts and skilled marksmen to form a "Scout and Sniper Company". Two of the newly established Marine divisions, 1st and 2nd Marine Division contained their own scout company. Larger infantry regiments called for more recon, scouts and sniper assets. By 1945, the divisions had instituted and organized their own scout-sniper, light armored reconnaissance (LAR), and division reconnaissance assets.
As a result of MCO 5401.5, dated 24 August 1952, the USMC Force Restructure and Implementation Plan, the Marine Corps shrunk its forces and as a result reconnaissance battalions were eliminated and reconnaissance companies became a part of infantry regiments.
2nd Reconnaissance Battalion was formed on 22 January 1958.[9] 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion was formed on 15 April 1958.[10] 1st Reconnaissance Battalion was formed on 1 May 1958.[11] 4th Reconnaissance Battalion was formed on 1 July 1962.[12] 5th Reconnaissance Battalion was formed in 1966.[13]
In July 1974, Force Reconnaissance was downsized to one active duty company. As a result, in March 1975 both 1st and 3rd Reconnaissance Battalions received a 23-man Force Reconnaissance platoon.[14]
In February 2006, the Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) was formed.[15] In August 2006, 2nd FORECON company was deactivated with the majority of its personnel transferred to MARSOC with two platoons reassigned to 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion to establish D Company.[16][15][17] Two months later in October, 1st FORECON met the same fate, with the majority of its personnel transferred to MARSOC with two platoons reassigned to 1st Reconnaissance Battalion to establish D Company.[18] The D companies in the Division Reconnaissance Battalions were designed to maintain and preserve a deep reconnaissance capability for the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF).[19][20] In 2007, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion deactivated its D Company.[19][20]
In 2008, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, directed that Force Reconnaissance companies be re-established from Division Reconnaissance Battalion personnel to support the three MEFs: I MEF, II MEF and III MEF.[21][22] The companies were placed under the operational command of the MEF and under the administrative control of the Division Reconnaissance Battalion.[23][24] In December 2008, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion activated its Force Reconnaissance Company.[19]
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5th Reconnaissance Battalion | 5th Marine Division | Camp Pendleton, California |
Each active duty reconnaissance battalion consists of five companies: a headquarters and service company, three reconnaissance companies and one force reconnaissance company.[25] Each reconnaissance company has a company headquarters section and four reconnaissance platoons.[25]
The reserve duty 4th Reconnaissance Battalion consists of six companies: a headquarters and service company and five reconnaissance companies.[26] Each reconnaissance company has a company headquarters and three reconnaissance platoons.[27]
Platoons normally consist of three reconnaissance teams and a headquarters team. A reconnaissance platoon is composed of 1 officer, 21 enlisted Marines, and 1 Navy corpsman for a total strength of 23 personnel. The platoon commander is a first lieutenant, the team leaders are sergeants and the platoon sergeant is a gunnery sergeant.[28]
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All amphibious recon Marines [Force and Division] and Corpsmen [IDC Corpsmen and SARC] are provided general issued equipment, these are the weapons that are generally used by both MAGTF Recon assets. These weapons are generally used by most other Marines in the infantry, except with minor modifications. Although Force Recon units receive the same equipment as their division recon counterparts, they also have equipment similar to that issued to comparable USSOCOM units. Force Recon are assigned to missions remote from any available fire support and fully rely on specialized weapons that are versatile enough to be flexible in the commander's area of interest.
The combative and protective gear is used by both recon assets of MAFTF. However, again, there are 'additional' equipment in the Force Recon's T/E to meet their assignments in deep operations and/or direct action missions. And to include FORECON's necessary equipment that are capable of being jumped out of aircraft; and long-range communications due to their operability at greater distances than Division Recon geographically-assigned boundaries.
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Most of the recon patrols or insertions are either in maritime, amphibious environments or on the ground. They have to rely on equipment that is essential to their mission. Both recon assets contain a Table of Equipment (T/E) that has combatant diving equipment. A Marine within a recon platoon will be assigned as the "Special Equipment NCO", fully responsible for the procurement and maintenance of the equipment when operating in the field.
Force Recon's Parachute Loft, or Paraloft section has in addition to their "mission-essential" equipment, the Parachutist Individual Equipment Kit (PIEK) and Single Action Release Personal Equipment Lowering Equipment (SARPELS) for their parachute capabilities.
The scuba equipment listed under the T/E set by the US Navy for the Marine Corps reconnaissance:
Realizing it is my choice and my choice alone to be a Reconnaissance Marine, I accept all challenges involved with this profession. Forever shall I strive to maintain the tremendous reputation of those who went before me.
Exceeding beyond the limitations set down by others shall be my goal. Sacrificing personal comforts and dedicating myself to the completion of the reconnaissance mission shall be my life. Physical fitness, mental attitude, and high ethics—The title of Recon Marine is my honor.
Conquering all obstacles, both large and small, I shall never quit. To quit, to surrender, to give up is to fail. To be a Recon Marine is to surpass failure; To overcome, to adapt and to do whatever it takes to complete the mission.
On the battlefield, as in all areas of life, I shall stand tall above the competition. Through professional pride, integrity, and teamwork, I shall be the example for all Marines to emulate.
Never shall I forget the principles I accepted to become a Recon Marine. Honor, Perseverance, Spirit and Heart. A Recon Marine can speak without saying a word and achieve what others can only imagine.[29]
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