Recon Marines

The Zero MMX electric dirt bike is revolutionizing Marine Corps reconnaissance, offering stealth, sustainability, and adaptability.

The British Royal Marines Commandos have a long and illustrious history. These are some facts you may not know about them.

U.S. Marines and Sailors with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, inspect the hulls of naval range support vessels at the Port of Naha, Okinawa, Japan, June 9, 2020. Diving in support of naval range support vessels provides Marines the opportunity to work closely with U.S. naval personnel and enhances integration between the Marine Corps […]

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, […]

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Zachary Johnson, right, holds the bipod of an M40A6 sniper rifle over his shoulder as a stable shooting platform while a Philippine Marine fires during KAMANDAG 3 at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, Oct. 14, 2019. Exercises such as KAMANDAG increase our ability to work together in response to crises across the military […]

Why do so many candidates fail to become Reconnaissance Marines? With an attrition rate of over 50 percent, the Basic Reconnaissance Course (BRC) is one of the more difficult Special Operations selection programs in the U.S. military. Adding the rest of the Recon pipeline to the equation, and the attrition rate skyrockets. In an effort […]

ANTA RITA, Guam (Aug. 26, 2019) Marines assigned to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division and Clearance Divers assigned to the Royal Canadian Navy’s Fleet Diving Pacific and Atlantic Units board Military Sealift Command maritime prepositioning force container, roll-on/roll-off and mobile landing platform USNS Dahl (T-AKR 312), during a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) […]

On June 12, 2019, Marine Raiders carry a combat rubber raiding craft in preparation for the boating portion of the annual Marine Forces Special Operations Command 2019 Marine Raider Competition on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. The competition consisted of six teams of six participants each hailing from 1st Marine Raider […]

U.S. Marines with Force Reconnaissance Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, discuss their plan prior to an operation during Exercise Trident Juncture 18 at Vaernes Air Station, Norway, on October 31, 2018. Trident Juncture 18 demonstrates the II Marine Expeditionary Forces’ ability to deploy, employ, and redeploy the Marine Air Ground Task Force while improving interoperability with […]

In direct defiance to China’s claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea, the U.S Navy (USN) and British Royal Marines Commandos conducted joint training close to the disputed island chain. A Royal Marine Boarding Team from 42 Commando’s Juliet Company boarded and searched the USNS Guadalupe, a replenishment ship assigned to the 7th Fleet. […]

The Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) celebrated its 13th anniversary on February 21st with a ceremony at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Notables from across the Special Operations community and the United States Marine Corps attended the event, including Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. Ronald […]

There have been some questions lately as to what exactly the difference is between Force Recon and MARSOC.  Aside from the fact that Special Operations Marines now have their own MOS, a lot of it comes down to recent history. In 2003, MCSOCOM Detachment One was stood up, commanded by a former commanding officer of […]