USMC Force Recon
The Force Reconnaissance Companies (abbreviated as either ‘Force Recon’ orFORECON), are one of the United States Marine Corps’s special operations “capable” forces that provide pertinent military intelligence to the combined combat elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF); either supporting the subordinate infantry units of the Fleet Marine Force (FMF), on the west coast, Pacific (FMFPac) and east coast, Atlantic (FMFLant).
They are fully capable of operating independently behind enemy lines conducting deep reconnaissance, direct action (DA), and other supportive arms deemed necessary to the Fleet Marine Force. Using combined methods of heliborne and waterborne insertions and extractions in cohesion of conventional warfare, they are capable of performing unconventional special operations similar, or to the extent, to those of the United States special operations forces (USSOCOM) [e.g. navy SEALS, Army Special Forces and Rangers, or Air Force Combat Controllers), although Force Recon's missions and tasks do differ by a margin.
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) often looks to MARSOC and specificallyForce Reconnaissance to recruit operators into their elite Special Activities Division (SAD). SAD is the home of the storied Special Operations Group (SOG) which conducts covert action paramilitary operations.[3] The history of joint Force Recon and CIA operations is substantial and long standing. It includes a unique lashup with the highly secretive Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) during the Vietnam War.
Mission
Two different mission types emerged during the Vietnam War, which is still implemented in the force reconnaissance motives today: Key Hole and Sting Ray. These practices subsequently became known today as “deep reconnaissance“, or green operations; and “direct action“, which are known as black operations.
Key Hole patrols were designed purely around reconnaissance and surveillance; usually lightly equipped and armed with defensive weapons—evasive techniques were employed to break contact from the enemy should the need arise, avoiding contact with the enemy was paramount. Sting Ray operations were the exact opposite of Key Hole missions with goals more in closely in line of offensive strikes, the FORECON operators were heavily armed and utilized artillery and/or naval gunfire support, if available.
However, what began as a ‘key hole’ patrol could become a ‘sting ray’ patrol with little warning. The versatility of FORECON is demonstrated when missions quickly turn, planned or not, from a deep reconnaissance patrol to a direct action engagement.
Green Operations
The main principle mission of Force Recon is reconnaissance, to collect any pertinent intelligence of military importance, observe, identify and report adversaries to MAGTF commanders. Alike Division Recon (also known as theMarine Recon Battalions), they imply a mixed element of amphibious reconnaissance and ground reconnaissance. These missions are known asgreen operations. This practice fundamentally covers a wide spectrum of reconnaissance but primarily the FORECON operators conduct deep reconnaissance.
The force recon platoons operate further inland than their division recon counterparts, penetrating deeper into enemy territory from their assigned littoral (coastal) region within the commander’s (e.g. a commander of ATF, LF, MAGTF, MEF, etc.) ‘tactical area of responsibility’ (TOAR). They operate in such great distances that they are beyond the boundaries, or fan, of any artillery and/or naval gunfire support (NGFS); unlike their division recon brethren, whose operations are strictly within the artillery and gunfire support fan. Silence and stealth are vital in reducing chances of compromising their position—if a single round is fired, the mission has failed.
Objectively, their reconnoitering roles (whether in elements of amphibious or ground) are an abstract of preliminary (or pre-’D-Day’) and post-assault reconnaissance, which mainly consist of numerous missions, some examples are provided as such:
- battle damage assessment (BDA) missions–these missions involve witnessing and reporting collateral damage of target(s) caused by delivered payload, either from heavy support fire measures (artillery and naval gunfire support), high-explosive– or thermonuclear weapons.
- remote sensors operations[7]–placing remote sensors and beacons are vital for the marking friendly/hostile boundaries and areas for helicopter pilots, for assault or infantry transport, becoming detrimental for combat or logistic support; this mission has made pathfinding operations obsolete.
- initial terminal guidance (ITG)–setting up/preparing landing zones (LZ) and drop zones (DZ) for forward operating sites Marine fixed or rotary wing aircraft, possible future landing spots for parachute entry, or waterborne locations (landing force, ship-to-shore) operations.
Black Operations
Black operations are the missions that require direct action (DA). They are the opposite of green operations missions, where the force recon operators basically “look for trouble”. Determining on the situation and the target location, the FORECON operators usually conduct direct action missions within the artillery and naval gun support fan; these operations demonstrate “small-scale” shock and awe.
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), as well as orchestrating close air support, a vital skill exercised in DA missions; force recon operators forward observe from static positions and spider holes for artillery and naval gunfire support, or ordnance and payload delivery.
They also provide Personal Security Detail (PSD) for critically important personnel. They are capable of performing In-Extremis Hostage Rescue (IHR) but this is no longer a Force Recon mission task. TheMaritime Special Purpose Force (MSPF) are designed for IHR missions for the MEF’s subordinateMarine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) [MEU (SOC)] in its stead.
Organization
In the past, early force reconnaissance companies in the Marine Corps had made numerous titular changes to its table of organization (T/O), so much in fact, it can be quite hard to exactly describe in detail on its primary command structure. However, the companies initially were designed to function under the echelon of the Navy/Marine force commanders (e.g. the under the direct operational control of the Commander, Amphibious Task Force (CATF) and Landing Force (CLF), and Fleet Marine Force) during amphibious landing operations or expeditionary engagements—to provide timely intelligence without exhausting their reconnaissance assets from the Marine Division—thus hampering their valuable support to its infantry regiments.
Due to these changes, FORECON has been detached and reported to multiple commanders of Marine infantry divisions, the Command Elements (CE) of the Marine Air-Ground Task Forces, and the immediate commander of the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). They were re-organized or reserved for ‘special reconnaissance’ assignments that would otherwise help shape the outcome of his battlefield. Also, these companies a few times in its existence had either folded into the Marine division, its regiment’s Recon Battalions, or dissolved entirely to only resurface during conflicts, or when other similar reasons had arisen.
After the creation of Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) in August 11, 2006, it marked the United States Marine Corps’s first commitment to the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). By February 2006, 2nd FORECON deactivated its command. The most experienced operators were selected to fill the ranks for the newly-established Marine Special Operations Battalion’s (MSOBs) teams. A month later in January, 1st FORECON met the same fate. The remaining Marines in both force recon companies molded into new “D” companies within the division recon battalions, forming the Deep Reconnaissance Platoons (DRPs). The DRPs are designed to maintain and preserve the ‘deep reconnaissance’ assets to the MAFTF commanders.
In October 2008, by the direction of the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC), the D companies within both 1st and 2nd Reconnaissance Battalions were redesignated as “Force Reconnaissance” companies and assigned operational control to the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) accordingly, particularly the I MEF and II MEF. These companies will assume the traditional deep reconnaissance and supportive arms mission set and will deploy in support of current directive required by the United States Marine Corps.
The two Force Reconnaissance companies of 1st and 2nd Recon Battalions, along with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion‘s DRP [formerly 5th Force Recon Company], are currently the only active components of force-level reconnaissance; whereas the 3rd and 4th FORECON are the Active Reserve component to the Fleet Marine Force.
