Chinese territorial ambitions cause Philippines to reconsider American presence

Just a few months after announcing that his country was ending the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte has reversed that decision, as territorial disputes with China pressured him to act. As Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. posted on social media, the decision’s reversal came “in light […]

The Pic of the Day: Recon Marines shoot in the rain

U.S. Marines with Force Reconnaissance (Recon) Company, 2d Recon Battalion, 2d Marine Division conduct a chance contact drill with a vehicle pick-up on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, May 22, 2020. Force Recon Company conducted live-fire immediate action drills including vehicle drop-offs, vehicle pick-ups, and simulated casualty evacuations to enhance weapons familiarization and unit capabilities.

The Pic of the Day: Recon Marines and their drones

A reconnaissance Marine assigned to the Maritime Raid Force, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), prepares to launch an RQ-20 Puma aboard a combat rubber raiding craft May 24, 2020. The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and 26th MEU, supported by air power from the Aviation Combat Element of the ARG/MEU, including AV-8B Harriers and attack helicopters, […]

When Special Forces Recon Team Python ruled the Valley of Death

Situated in the northwestern portion of South Vietnam, along the border with Laos, lies the A Shau Valley.  At 25 miles long and one mile wide, A Shau the valley consists of tall and thick elephant grass flanked on either side by steep mountain ranges, dense with jungle, that rise between 3,000 and 6,000 feet. […]

1st Recon Battalion voted the fittest unit in the Marine Corps

The 1st Reconnaissance Battalion was voted the fittest unit in the entire Marine Corps. To achieve this honor, the 1st Recon Marines had to beat not only the other Recon battalions but also the Marine Raider units. This is the second year that the Marine Corps is holding this competition. To win, a unit must […]

Watch: Russians ambush and wipe-out Ukrainian recon patrol

The advent of portable cameras, coupled with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, saw an exponential increase in helmet-cam footage. Add to the equation WikiLeaks and YouTube, and one has vast access to combat footage. Yet it is very rare that one gets the chance to experience the same military operation from both sides of […]

UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR)

Note: This is part two of a multi-part series exploring the various units within the U.K. Special Forces (UKSF). The United Kingdom’s prolonged involvement in the Global War on Terror (GWOT) has created the demand for an increase in the country’s number of special forces operators. From that need emerged the United Kingdom’s newest special […]

The Pic of the Day: 1st Recon laying some hate downrange

Reconnaissance Marines assigned to the 1st Recon Battalion, 1st Marine Division, during a firefight with Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, 2010. Each Marine division has its own Reconnaissance Battalion (1st Recon Bn, 2nd Recon Bn, 3rd Recon Bn, and 4th Recon Bn which is the reserve component of the Recon community).

The Pic of the Day: Marine Recon students having some fun

Marines and sailors in the Basic Reconnaissance Course practice their helocasting skills at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado and in San Diego Bay on Nov. 6. These students have been training to become reconnaissance Marines and are half-way through the course. The 12 week training evolution provides the students with the basic knowledge of reconnaissance doctrine, […]

Female Marine becomes the first to pass grueling Marine Recon selection

A female Marine has passed the grueling Marine Corps Basic Reconnaissance Course (BRC). Earlier in November, Lance Corporal Alexa Barth became the first-ever female to graduate from the 12-week course. Although Lance Cpl. Barth has been awarded the coveted 0321 military occupational specialty (MOS), which distinguishes her as a Recon Marine, she is currently going […]

The Pic of the Day: The first ever Special Reconnaissance course

A U.S. Air Force Special Tactics operator fires his weapon during long-range weapons training as part of a beta Special Reconnaissance training course near Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 20, 2019. The Special Tactics Training Squadron conducted the course to identify specific core tasks required for each skill level of the new SR career field. Special […]