Marine Force Recon

United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance, otherwise known as Force Recon units are a special operations force under the command of the United States Marine Corps. Many Force Recon Marines have now been integrated into MARSOC, however the Corps will retain its own dedicated Force Recon units until 2010.

Force Recon - Roles

The primary role of Force Recon marine is to gather intelligence in support of USMC operations.

amphibious operations
- scout swimming
- beach/coastline reconnaissance
- small boat operations
deep reconnaissance
unconventional warfare
foreign internal defense (FID)
special reconnaissance
direct action
counter-terrorism

A Marine from 3rd Force Reconnaissance comes out of the surf.(view full image)

Dod photo :
Cpl. Edward L. Mennenga

Force Recon - Organization

Force Reconnaissance Companies are integrated into Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable) (MEU(SOC)) formations. There are currently 4 Force Reconnaissance Companies:

1st Force Reconnaissance Company
Camp Pendleton, California
2nd Force Reconnaissance Company
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
3rd Force Reconnaissance Company
Mobile, Alabama
4th Force Reconnaissance Company
Honolulu, Hawaii

A typical Force Reconnaissance Company comprises:

Command element
- Commanding Officer (CO) - Lieutenant Colonel
- Executive Officer (XO) - Major
- Sergeant Major
- S1 (Administrative officer)
- S2 (Intelligence officer)
- S3 (Operations officer)
- S4 (Logistics officer)
- S6 (Communications officer)
6 platoons
- each led by a Platoon commander (Captain)
  1 of the 6 platoons is a scout sniper platoon

Force Recon- Operations

1965-1971 - Vietnam
1991 - Persian Gulf - Operation Desert Storm
2003 - Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom

Force Recon Links & Resources

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