What Do Marine Force Recon do?
Marine Force Reconnaissance, commonly known as Force Recon, is a specialized unit of the United States Marine Corps tasked with conducting unconventional warfare and reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines. They are considered an elite unit within the Marines, and their mission profile is designed to be one of the most demanding and challenging in the entire armed forces.
The Early Years
The idea of a Marine Reconnaissance Battalion dates back to the earliest days of the United States Marine Corps. The Marines recognized the need for units that could gather intelligence on enemy positions and conduct rapid reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines. The first Recon Battalion was formed in 1921, but it was not until the post-Korean War period that Reconnaissance became a recognized major function of the Marine Corps.
What is their Primary Mission?
So, what do Marine Force Recon do? The primary mission of Marine Force Recon is to conduct:
Reconnaissance – Gather intelligence on enemy formations, troop movements, and installations.
Conduct ambushes and patrols in heavily contested areas to disrupt enemy supply lines and communications.
- Conduct maritime interdiction operations (MIops) to detect, deter, and disrupt enemy marine traffic.
Counter-Guerrilla Warfare – Conduct operations to disable or destroy guerrilla bands and insurgent groups.
- Conduct search and clearance operations to detect and exploit enemy caches and sanctuaries.
Supports the Marine Corps
Provide intelligence support to Regimental Combat Teams (RCTs) and higher-headquarters elements.
- Perform reconnaissance missions to gather target intelligence for the attack teams.
Other Mission Enabling Functions
- Maritime Special Operations – Conduct surface and subsurface maritime Special Operations missions, such as reconnaissance, counterterrorism, and direct action operations.
Counter-Special Forces – Conduct operations against irregular forces, including enemy snipers, demolitions personnel, and saboteurs.
- Train and advise friendly forces and conduct Foreign Internal Defense missions.
Marine Reconnaissance Battalion Organization
Force Reconnaissance Battalions are organized into six operating companies, each consisting of:
- Company Command Headquarters
- Operations Section – responsible for planning, scheduling, and executing reconnaissance operations.
- Reconnaissance Element – conducts the actual reconnaissance missions.
- Direct Support Element – provides engineering support, such as bridging and explosive ordnance disposal.
- Aviation Observer Element – provides aviation intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities.
- Communications Element – responsible for maintaining communication networks during extended operations.
Select few notable achievements of Force Recon
- During Operation Iron Triangle in Vietnam, they conducted over 4,000 reconnaissance missions in five months, accounting for half of all enemy prisoners and 70% of captured documents.
- During the Gulf War, Force Recon conducted over 700 hours of reconnaissance missions behind Iraqi lines, gathering vital intel for the Coalition’s push towards Baghdad.
- During Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, Force Recon members conducted numerous recon missions into hostile areas, capturing High-Value Individuals and interrupting enemy supply chains.
Conclusion
In summary, Marine Force Recon units are trained to conduct rapid reconnaissance, ambush, and counter-guerrilla warfare missions in all terrains and environments. With their expertise in intelligence gathering, unconventional warfare, and maritime special operations, Force Recon units have consistently shown themselves to be capable forces, supporting the success of Marine Corps and Coalition units in various theaters.
Table: Marine Reconnaissance Mission Types
| Reconnaissance | Counter-Guerrilla Warfare | MIops | FSO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Collection | Disrupt enemy guerilla movements | Surveillance and interdiction | Foreign Internal Defense |
The table above provides an outline of the main mission categories for Marine Force Recon: Reconnaissance, Counter-Guerrilla Warfare, Maritime Interdiction, and Foreign Special Operations (FSO).
I hope this article meets your needs!
