Marine Corps Force Recon

Marine Force Recon Missions

Force Recon Marines missions include scout swimming, small boat operations, close combat skills, helicopter and submarine insertion/extraction techniques, assault climbing, demolitions, forward observer procedures for supporting arms, initial terminal guidance operations for heliborne assaults, airborne insertion operations, and various waterborne operations, communications, photography, and various types of amphibious reconnaissance operations.

As a Recon Marine you'll fight the secret wars that never make the front page and you'll bring the highest level of expertise to every operation you are involved in.

However there's a catch, becoming a member of Force Recon is extremely difficult. Are you up to the challenge? If so you need to check out the requirements become a Reconnaissance Marine.

Marine Force Recon History

The Marine Corps Force Recon got its start during WWII in the South Pacific as the Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion. In 1957 the Marine Corps merged the amphibious reconnaissance company with an experimental recon team to form the 1st Force Reconnaissance Company.

Force Recon saw their first military action in Viet Nam, but they were deactivated not long after the end of the conlict. It wasn't until 1986 that the 1st Force Reconnaissance was reactivated and later deployed in the Gulf War.

Today the Marine Corps has four Force Reconnaissance units, which serve as the far-reaching eyes and ears of the Corps' top battlefield commanders.

A NEW CHAPTER IN MARINE HISTORY

In February 2006 the Marine Special Operation Command was activated, making Force Recon Marines an official part of the U.S. Special Operations Command team along with the other special operations units — SEALS, Rangers, Special Forces and Special Tactics teams. Even though MARSOC won't be fully constituted until 2010, you can bet that Force Recon will continue to be in the fight.

Learn more about becoming part of the Marine Force Recon team.