Marine Corps

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Lore & Background

The historical roots of "Force Recon" companies can be traced back to the antecedent Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, whose numerous pre-D-Day reconnoitering of enemy beaches during the Pacific campaigns of World War II proved the vitality of the Fleet Marine Force's amphibious reconnaissance doctrine. This unique unit reported directly to the landing force commander, providing him important intelligence at his disposal. Formed initially as a company-size element from the Observer Group, under the command of Major James L. Jones, they were among the first—along with the early Navy Combat Demolition Units (the predecessor to the Underwater Demolition Teams [i.e., the Navy SEALs])—to embark from submarines; most of their missions complemented those of the NCDU and the UDT. The "amphibious reconnaissance" doctrine clearly outlined that the recon Marines' duties consisted of scouting the littoral areas, or beachhead, and inland; to test the soil permeability for a possible beach landing; to clear any obstacles that may hinder an amphibious assault; and to observe any sign of enemy activity. The Navy UDT were tasked with providing the same, but from off the coastline to the littoral, or adjacent beach areas. Jones and his Recon Marines scouted the Japanese-fortified beaches and observed the terrain, materials, or other entities, primarily reporting to the force commander any vital intelligence of mission-oriented importance. Two mission sets emerged during the Vietnam War: Key Hole (deep reconnaissance) and Sting Ray (direct action). Key Hole patrols were designed purely around reconnaissance and surveillance. Usually lightly equipped and armed with defensive weapons, they employ evasive techniques to break away from the enemy should the need arise; avoiding enemy contact is paramount. Conversely, Sting Ray operations had goals more closely aligned with offensive strikes. In a Sting Ray operation, the FORECON operators were heavily armed and use artillery and/or naval gunfire support, if available. However, what began as a "keyhole" patrol could become a "stingray" patrol with little warning. The versatility of FORECON is demonstrated through switching between deep reconnaissance patrols to direct action engagements in certain situations. The creation of Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) on February 24, 2006, marked the United States Marine Corps' first commitment to the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). On August 11 2006, 2nd FORECON was deactivated with the majority of its personnel transferred to MARSOC to establish 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion (2nd MSOB) with two platoons reassigned to 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion to establish D Company. Two months later in October, 1st FORECON met the same fate, with the majority of its personnel transferred to establish 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion (1st MSOB) with two platoons reassigned to 1st Reconnaissance Battalion to establish D Company. The D companies in the Division Reconnaissance Battalions were designed to maintain and preserve a "deep reconnaissance" asset for the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). In 2007, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion deactivated its D Company. 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. The companies were placed under the operational command of the MEF and under the administrative control of the Division Reconnaissance Battalion. In December 2008, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion activated its Force Reconnaissance Company. The three Force Reconnaissance companies of I, II, and III MEF are currently the only active components of force-level reconnaissance; whereas the 3rd FORECON is the Selected Reserve force reconnaissance asset available to augment and reinforce the Fleet Marine Force. In the Marine Corps Reserve, the FORECON is a separate unit reporting directly to the 4th Marine Division Commanding General (4th MarDiv CG), unless mobilized and ordered detached to a Gaining Force Commander. Additionally, as a separate unit, the FORECON are not part of 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, which is itself a separate unit reporting directly to the 4th MarDiv CG. In February 2021, 4th Force Reconnaissance Company was deactivated and consolidated into the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion.

In Their Own Story

A force recon detachment had, since the mid-1980s, formed part of the Maritime Special Purpose Force (MSPF), a specialized sub-unit of a Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable) (MEU(SOC)). From 2013 to 2023, MEU(SOC) were defunct, including the integral MSPF. A MEU had a Maritime Raid Force (MRF), the successor of the MSPF built around a FORECON detachment. In July 2023, II Marine Expeditionary Force certified the first MEU(SOC) in over a decade, including an MSPF.

Reader's Guide

The mission of Force Reconnaissance is to conduct amphibious reconnaissance, deep ground reconnaissance, surveillance, battle-space shaping, and limited scale raids in support of the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), other Marine air-ground task forces, or a joint force. Operational missions are categorized into two types: "green" operations, which focus on reconnaissance, and "black" operations, which involve direct action. Force Recon remains a conventional asset under the direct control of the Marine Corps, distinct from the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), and are not special operations forces. The Force Recon platoons operate farther inland than their Division Recon counterparts, penetrating deeper into enemy territory from their assigned littoral (coastal) region within a force commander's tactical area of responsibility (TAOR), often at ranges beyond the support of friendly artillery and/or naval gunfire support (NGFS). Green operations are the principal mission of Force Recon to collect any pertinent intelligence of military importance, observe, identify, and report adversaries to MAGTF commanders. Like Division Recon (also known as the Marine Recon Battalions), they employ a mixed element of amphibious reconnaissance and ground reconnaissance. This practice fundamentally covers a wide spectrum of reconnaissance but primarily the FORECON operators conduct deep reconnaissance. Their reconnaissance missions include preliminary (or "pre-D-Day") and post-assault reconnaissance. Some examples are: Battle damage assessment (BDA) missions – Witnessing and reporting damage to targets, either from heavy support fire measures (artillery and naval gunfire), air strikes, or thermonuclear weapons. Remote sensors operations – Placing remote sensors and beacons is vital for marking friendly/hostile boundaries and areas for helicopter assault and infantry transport. Initial terminal guidance (ITG)–setting up/preparing landing zones (LZ) and drop zones (DZ) for forward operating sites, Marine fixed or rotary-wing aircraft, or waterborne locations (landing force, ship-to-shore). Black operations are the missions that require direct action (DA). They are the opposite of green operations missions, where the Force Recon operators "look for trouble." Examples are the seizures and occupation of gas/oil platforms (GOPLAT) and the visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) of ships during Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO). They provide personal security detail (PSD) for critically important personnel within the MAGTF. They were formerly capable of performing In-Extremis Hostage Rescue (IHR), but this is no longer a Force Recon mission task. Each Force Reconnaissance company is basically the same; they all contain a command element and Force Recon platoons. Each company is commanded by a company commander and his executive officer.

Did You Know?

• The name 'Force Recon' refers to the unit's relationship with the Marine Expeditionary Force or Marine Air-Ground Task Force, not to 'reconnaissance-in-force' as commonly misunderstood.
• Two mission sets emerged during the Vietnam War: Key Hole (deep reconnaissance) and Sting Ray (direct action); what began as a Key Hole patrol could become a Sting Ray patrol with little warning.
• On August 11, 2006, 2nd FORECON was deactivated with the majority of its personnel transferred to MARSOC to establish 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion (2nd MSOB).
• In July 2023, II Marine Expeditionary Force certified the first MEU(SOC) in over a decade, including an MSPF built around a FORECON detachment.
• In February 2021, 4th Force Reconnaissance Company was deactivated and consolidated into the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion.