[Vulture6]

This subject seems to come up frequently, so let’s lay down some basic info so that everyone understands who the players are and what they do.

Reconnaissance Battalion (Recon) is a Division asset and is frequently referred to as the “eyes and ears” of the Commanding General (2 star). The primary mission of Recon Battalion is to conduct amphibious reconnaissance – to observe and report – enemy activity from the Forward Edge of the Battle Area (FEBA) usually out to the range of artillery (or the furthest range of Division fire support). They help the Division Commander and his staff plan the battle several days in advance. Recon Battalion is organized in companies and platoons, but is usually employed as teams. If a recon team has been given authority to engage the enemy forces that it observes, it is usually with air or indirect fire assets. This is to keep the enemy unaware of their presence (though observed artillery fire is a key indicator of being watched!). Sometimes, the nature of their mission is such that secrecy is more important than inflicting casualties on the enemy, and their mission may clearly state that they can engage enemy forces ONLY in self defense. In most cases, if a recon Marine uses his personal weapon, their mission has failed. This is somewhat different from how recon forces were employed in previous conflicts.

Force Reconnaissance Company is a MEF (Marine Expeditionary Force) asset and is frequently referred to as the “eyes and ears” of the MEF commander (3 star). Their primary mission is deep amphibious reconnaissance. Their missions frequently carry them beyond the range of indirect fire assets of the MEF, and the only fire support available is from aircraft. Their focus is to help the MEF commander plan the battle a week or so in advance. Like Recon Battalion, if they engage the enemy, it is usually with a laser designator so that an F-18 can launch a smart bomb from several miles away and several thousand feet up. Again, if they fire their personal weapons, chances are their mission is a failure.

There is, as always, an exception to the rule. Force Recon does train for, and occasionally executes, direct action missions (as do the SEALS). Keep in mind that their primary mission is deep amphibious reconnaissance. However, especially those platoons assigned to a MEU(SOC), they are the primary force for Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) where we board a ship in international waters to search for contraband (used to be a big deal enforcing the UN “food for oil” program in Iraq and trying to keep North Korean Silkworms out of Iran. They are also trained for IHR (in-extremis hostage rescue). Although Delta Force is the primary force for IHR, Force Recon platoons are trained for the mission because of their forward deployed nature (they can be on the ground in relatively few hours, or can wait off the coast on a 30 minute alert for weeks while diplomatic efforts are tried). If the joint commander can use Delta, that is the first choice, but may not always be feasible. There are other direct action missions that Force Recon trains for, but those are the two most visible (especially during MEU work ups), and their primary mission is still deep amphibious reconnaissance, and they are much more likely to employed by the MEU for beach and surf reconnaissance than for kicking down doors a la Tom Clancy.

Don’t get me wrong, these guys are the best of the best. They are solid fighters, tremendous athletes, and generally all around “hard” men. But they aren’t something out of a video game.

As far as Ranger School, the Army gives the Corps a certain number of slots per year to send Marines through. Force Recon and Recon Battalion get first priority on these slots, and most of their Marines have had the option to attend Ranger School. A handful of slots also get passed on to other parts of the MEF (ANGLICO for example) and Division – particularly the infantry regiments. This usually means that 3 or 4 Marines per regiment get the opportunity to go. Generally the battalions just back from deployment will select one or two Marines (top shelf guys who will be around for the next deployment) and there will be some kind of competition at the regimental level to see who gets the slots. When these guys come back from Ranger School, it is anticipated that they will impart the knowledge gained to their squads, platoons, and companies. Ranger School is without a doubt, the best school out there for patrolling and small unit tactics… it is also a hell of a gut check. Participants learn more about themselves and the others in the class than they do tactics. Frequently, those Marines who complete Ranger School then get a slot to Jump School, but not always. Sometimes those slots are passed out separately.

Ranger School is not a prerequisite to get into Recon or Force Recon… they have their own criteria. Also, if your infantry battalion sends you to Ranger School, they are going to want to keep you and have you use those skills and pass them on to the battalion, not send you off so that someone else can reap the benefits of your training. Think of it as an investment.

Can you get it in your contract when you enlist? No.