Maritime Special Purpose Force - Force Recon

A Force Recon Marine (left) transitions to his sidearm while training at a range with other Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's (Special Operations Capable)'s Maritime Special Purpose Force (MSPF), 2005. The assault element of a MSFP was the Force Recon Direct Action Platoon (DAP).

Before the creation of Marine Special Operations Companies (MSOCs) in 2006, the Maritime Special Purpose Force was the MEU's in-house "special operations capable" force. These days, a deployed MEU may have a MSOC detachment with them on the float as well as their own organic small-scale special mission capability in the form of the Maritime Raid Force (MRF).