Force Reconnaissance (FORECON) are United States Marine Corps reconnaissance units that provide deep ground and amphibious reconnaissance, surveillance, and limited-scale raids. They primarily support the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) and other Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (MAGTF). Although FORECON companies are conventional forces they share many of the same tactics, techniques, procedures and equipment of special operations forces. Though commonly misunderstood to refer to reconnaissance-in-force, the name "Force Recon" actually refers to the unit's relationship with the Marine Expeditionary Force or Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Since the mid-1980s, a force recon detachment has formed part of a specialized sub-unit of Marine Expeditionary Units known as the Maritime Special Purpose Force (MSPF) or Maritime Raid Force (MRF).

Mission The mission of Force Reconnaissance is to conduct amphibious reconnaissance, deep ground reconnaissance, surveillance, battle-space shaping, and limited scale raids in support of the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), other Marine air-ground task forces, or a joint force. Operational missions are categorized into two types: "green" operations, which focus on reconnaissance, and "black" operations, which involve direct action. Force Recon remains a conventional asset under the direct control of the Marine Corps, distinct from the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), and are not special operations forces. The Force Recon platoons operate farther inland than their Division Recon counterparts, penetrating deeper into enemy territory from their assigned littoral (coastal) region within a force commander's tactical area of responsibility (TAOR), often at ranges beyond the support of friendly artillery and/or naval gunfire support (NGFS).

Reconnaissance vs. Direct Action Two mission sets emerged during the Vietnam War: Key Hole (deep reconnaissance) and Sting Ray (direct action). Key Hole patrols were designed purely around reconnaissance and surveillance. Usually lightly equipped and armed with defensive weapons, they employ evasive techniques to break away from the enemy should the need arise; avoiding enemy contact is paramount. Conversely, Sting Ray operations had goals more closely aligned with offensive strikes. In a Sting Ray operation, the FORECON operators were heavily armed and use artillery and/or naval gunfire support, if available. However, what began as a "keyhole" patrol could become a "stingray" patrol with little warning. The versatility of FORECON is demonstrated through switching between deep reconnaissance patrols to direct action engagements in certain situations.

Green operations

Green operations are the principal mission of Force Recon to collect any pertinent intelligence of military importance, observe, identify, and report adversaries to MAGTF commanders.Fleet Marine Force Manual (FMFM) 2-1, Intelligence (Sep 1980). Like Division Recon (also known as the Marine Recon Battalions), they employ a mixed element of amphibious reconnaissance and ground reconnaissance. This practice fundamentally covers a wide spectrum of reconnaissance but primarily the FORECON operators conduct deep reconnaissance. Their reconnaissance missions include preliminary (or "pre–D-Day") and post-assault reconnaissance. Some examples are: Battle damage assessment (BDA) missions – Witnessing and reporting damage to targets, either from heavy support fire measures (artillery and naval gunfire), air strikes, or thermonuclear weapons. Remote sensors operationsMarine Corps Warfighting Program (MCWP) 2.15.1, Remote Sensor Operations. – Placing remote sensors and beacons is vital for marking friendly/hostile boundaries and areas for helicopter assault and infantry transport. Initial terminal guidance (ITG)–setting up/preparing landing zones (LZ) and drop zones (DZ) for forward operating sites, Marine fixed or rotary-wing aircraft, or waterborne locations (landing force, ship-to-shore).

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 "look for trouble."

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).

They provide personal security detail (PSD) for critically important personnel within the MAGTF. They were formerly capable of performing In-Extremis Hostage Rescue (IHR), but this is no longer a Force Recon mission task.Patrick A. Rogers, Strong Men Armed: The Marine Corps 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, theaccuraterifle.com Part II: Volume 4, Number 1 (Manchester, CT: Feb 2001)

Organization In the past, early Force Reconnaissance companies initially were designed to function under the echelon of the Navy/Marine force commanders (e.g. 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 without hampering their valuable support to its infantry regiments.

Due to these changes, FORECON has been detached and reported to multiple commanders of Marine 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. These companies, for a few times in their 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.

The creation of Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) on February 24, 2006, marked the United States Marine Corps' first commitment to the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). On August 11 2006, 2nd FORECON was deactivated with the majority of its personnel transferred to MARSOC to establish 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion (2nd MSOB) with two platoons reassigned to 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion to establish D Company. Two months later in October, 1st FORECON met the same fate, with the majority of its personnel transferred to establish 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion (1st MSOB) with two platoons reassigned to 1st Reconnaissance Battalion to establish D Company. The D companies in the Division Reconnaissance Battalions were designed to maintain and preserve a "deep reconnaissance" asset for the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). In 2007, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion deactivated its D Company.

In 2008, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, directed that Force Reconnaissance Companies be re-established from Division Reconnaissance Battalion personnel to support the three MEFs: I MEF, II MEF and III MEF. The companies were placed under the operational command of the MEF and under the administrative control of the Division Reconnaissance Battalion. In December 2008, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion activated its Force Reconnaissance Company.

The three Force Reconnaissance companies of I, II, and III MEF are currently the only active components of force-level reconnaissance; whereas the 3rd FORECON is the Selected Reserve force reconnaissance asset available to augment and reinforce the Fleet Marine Force. In the Marine Corps Reserve, the FORECON is a separate unit reporting directly to the 4th Marine Division Commanding General (4th MarDiv CG), unless mobilized and ordered detached to a Gaining Force Commander. Additionally, as a separate unit, the FORECON are not part of 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, which is itself a separate unit reporting directly to the 4th MarDiv CG.

A force recon detachment had, since the mid-1980s, formed part of the Maritime Special Purpose Force (MSPF), a specialized sub-unit of a Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable) (MEU(SOC)). From 2013 to 2023, MEU(SOC) were defunct, including the integral MSPF. A MEU had a Maritime Raid Force (MRF), the successor of the MSPF built around a FORECON detachment. In July 2023, II Marine Expeditionary Force certified the first MEU(SOC) in over decade, including an MSPF.

In February 2021, 4th Force Reconnaissance Company was deactivated and consolidated into the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion.

Table of organization (T/O) Each Force Reconnaissance company is basically the same; they all contain a command element and Force Recon platoons. Each company is commanded by a company commander and his executive officer.

Commanding officer (CO)Executive officer (XO) Command Element (S-1) Administration (S-2) Intelligence (S-3) Operations (S-4) Logistics (S-6) Communications Headquarters and Service (H&S) Platoon1st Platoon (DAP)2nd Platoon (DAP)3rd Platoon (DRP)4th Platoon (DRP)5th Platoon (SSP)

Active Emblem Name Parent division/Battalion Location Force Reconnaissance Company 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division MCB Camp Pendleton, CA 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division MCB Camp Lejeune, NC 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division Camp Schwab, Okinawa 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company 4th Marine Division (Reserve) Marine Forces Reserve Mobile, Alabama

Deactivated Logo Name Parent command Location 1st Force Reconnaissance Company I Marine Expeditionary Force MCB Camp Pendleton, CA 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company II Marine Expeditionary Force MCB Camp Lejeune, NC 4th Force Reconnaissance Company Marine Forces Reserve Alameda, CA 5th Force Reconnaissance Company III Marine Expeditionary Force MCB Camp Butler, Okinawa

History

The historical roots of "Force Recon" companies can be traced back to the antecedent Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, whose numerous pre-D–Day reconnoitering of enemy beaches during the Pacific campaigns of World War II proved the vitality of the Fleet Marine Force's amphibious reconnaissance doctrine. This unique unit reported directly to the landing force commander, providing him important intelligence at his disposal.

Formed initially as a company-size element from the Observer Group, under the command of Major James L. Jones, they were among the first—along with the early Navy Combat Demolition Units (the predecessor to the Underwater Demolition Teams [i.e., the Navy SEALs])—to embark from submarines; most of their missions complemented those of the NCDU and the UDT. The "amphibious reconnaissance" doctrine clearly outlined that the recon Marines' duties consisted of scouting the littoral areas, or beachhead, and inland; to test the soil permeability for a possible beach landing; to clear any obstacles that may hinder an amphibious assault; and to observe any sign of enemy activity. The Navy UDT were tasked with providing the same, but from off the coastline to the littoral, or adjacent beach areas.Fleet Training Publication 167

Jones and his Recon Marines scouted the Japanese-fortified beaches and observed the terrain, materials, or other entities, primarily reporting to the force commander any vital intelligence of mission-oriented importance. Although Jones's Marines were all skilled surface swimmers, they usually inserted by boats—mostly due to the multiple radios (primary and contingent) they carried, as relaying communication to the landing force commander was paramount, and as a timely means of sending in a platoon-sized element with heavy firepower (mortars, machine guns, etc.) at their disposal since they were greatly outnumbered and isolated from other major Marine forces, which were still embarked on the destroyer-transport ships.