RECON: 'EYES AND EARS' OF CORPS
By Cpl. Matthew R. Weir
 

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP S.D. BUTLER, Okinawa, Japan (Jan 30) -- Reconnaissance Marines throughout the Marine Corps are trained to carry out missions on land and from the air and sea.

Two reconnaissance companies currently reside on Okinawa: 3rd Reconnaissance (Recon) Co., Headquarters Battalion (Bn.), 3rd Marine Division (MarDiv.); and 5th Force Recon Co., Headquarters and Service Bn., III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF).

The mission of 3rd Recon Co. is to conduct amphibious and ground reconnaissance in support of the division and its subordinate elements, while the mission of 5th Force Recon Co. is to conduct pre-assault and deep-post assault reconnaissance in support of the III MEF and its subordinate elements.

"Fifth Force Reconnaissance supports the MEF through direct action and deep reconnaissance," said Sgt. Wells W. Samuel, team leader, 3rd Recon Co. "They mainly parachute in behind enemy lines.

"Third Recon Co. supports the division with amphibious and ground reconnaissance," he added.

Third Recon sets itself apart from 5th Force, by conducting more amphibious landings and deep patrolling exercises, said Staff Sgt. Brian Yarolem, Hq. platoon sergeant, 3rd Recon Co.

Third Recon. Co. is made up of five platoons, one headquarters and four training platoons.

The 3rd Platoon (Plt.) is currently with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), while 1st is gearing up for the next MEU deployment.

Second Plt. contains the Reconnaissance Indoctrination Program (RIP), a program all reconnaissance candidates must go through before receiving the reconnaissance military occupational specialty.

Fourth acts as a training platoon, giving Marines training time between RIP and deployment with the MEU.

These Marines collect data on everything in the air, on the ground and in the water, said Staff Sgt. Charles Kirwan, communications chief, 3rd Recon Co., 3rd MarDiv.

Marines accomplish their missions through various types of reconnaissance: zone reconnaissance, obtaining information on all routes, obstacles, terrain and enemy forces within certain boundaries; providing real time information through surveillance of areas of interest; and photographs and sketches, to provide accurate visual aids describing areas and enemies.

All missions depend on the ability to remain undetected. "If we even fire one shot, we have failed in our mission," said 2nd Lt. Dion Anglin, operations officer, 3rd Recon Co.

"A common misconception about reconnaissance Marines is that people think they are muscle bound, shoot-em-up, door kickers," he continued. "Most of our missions are just patrolling and eyes-on operations."

According to 2nd Lt. Matt Landry, platoon commander, 1st Plt., 3rd Recon Co., Marines must be able to use several different insertion and extraction methods during these operations because many battle environments today have no front lines.

Some of the capabilities and equipment reconnaissance Marines have at their disposal are Special Purpose Insert/Extract for quick evacuation or entrance into areas where helicopters cannot land as well as fast roping and rappelling from the air. Combat Rubber Raider Craft and scuba provide Marines accessibility to insert from water.

"Neither unit is better, just trained in different skills for different missions," said Anglin. The main mission of both is to get grunts safely on deck and provide them with a guide to their objective.

"Recon Marines are the eyes and ears of the commander," Anglin concluded. "They provide essential information for our command to make decisions."
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