RECON MARINESBasic Reconnaissance Course (From SOI West)
(1) Entry level (pipeline) Marines are first screened while at the School of Infantry to attend the Basic Reconnaissance Course (BRC). (2) Marine and Navy (corpsman) personnel from other military occupational specialties must be volunteers. (3) General prerequisites for all students to attend the BRC are listed below. |
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Marines' temporary additional duty orders to attend the BRC must have a statement certifying the Marine meets the requirements of the below subparagraphs in order to become Marine Recon.
A. Must have a GT score of 105 or higher.
B. Must posses a 3rd class swim qualification to enter BRC (During phase I of BRC, the
student will be required to obtain a 1st class swim qualification).
C. Must obtain a 2nd class score of 200 on the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) to enter BRC (During phase I of BRC, the student will be required to obtain a 1st class score of 225 on the PFT).
D. Must have 20/ 200 near visual acuity or visual acuity not to exceed 20/ 400 with a completed PRK eye surgery candidate consult. Normal color vision is recommended, but not required provided the student can complete a vivid red and vivid green recognition test, per P117 medical manual of the Navy and Army AR 40-501
E. All Enlisted Marines attending BRC for the purpose of attaining the PMOS 0321 must have completed the Marine Infantry Training Battalion course of instruction.
F. Must be fluent in the English language. International military students must score an 80 on the english comprehensive language test.
G. Must be a U.S. Citizen.
H. Must be eligible for a secret clearance.
I. Must be medically and physically qualified to participate in arduous physical activities and training (It is strongly recommended that students report free of any upper respiratory infections, ear, nose, throat disorders, or any other medical disorder that precludes exposure to salt water).
1. Purpose: To provide Marines and other services with Basic Reconnaissance training in preparation for duty as a Recon Man within a Reconnaissance Platoon of a Recon Battalion, Company, or as a member of the Marine Special Operation Battalion, or other Reconnaissance units.
2. Scope: The Reconnaissance Man is responsible for the pre-assault and deep post-assault Reconnaissance in support of the Landing Force
Commander. He is also capable of performing limited small unit special operations when directed. The Recon Man is the nucleus of a Reconnaissance team or assault force within the Reconnaissance Community. In addition to Basic Infantry skills, he is responsible for highly refined scouting and patrolling skills. Recon Marines must also possess advanced proficiency in scout swimming, small boat operations, close combat skills, helicopter insertion/extraction techniques, assault climbing, demolitions, forward observer procedures for supporting arms, initial terminal guidance operations for heliborne, airborne, and waterborne forces, communications, photography, threat weapons and equipment identification, and various point and area reconnaissance and surveillance, and amphibious reconnaissance operations. Selected Reconnaissance men are further trained as Static-line and Multi-Mission Parachute System parachutists and open and closed circuit divers. Non-Commissioned Officers are assigned as Reconnaissance or Assault Team Leaders, and may be qualified as Jump Masters, Dive Supervisors, and HRST Masters.
Before joining Marine Corps reconnaissance there are a few things worth knowing. United States Marine Corps Reconnaissance is an asset to
the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). The MAGTF forms the principle organization for missions over the range of all military operations. They are under a single commander and are a combined arms task force organization for balanced air-ground missions. Marine Corps reconnaissance was formalized by publishing the order that states:
A Marine air-ground task force with separate air ground headquarters is normally formed for combat operations and training exercises in which substantial combat forces of both Marine aviation and Marine ground units are included in the task organization of participating Marine forces.
Marine Recon provides division level ground and amphibious reconnaissance for the ground combat element of the United States Marine Corps. A division is a military unit of 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers and is made up of several regiments or brigades. A division is further divided into smaller organic units. Amphibious reconnaissance is a combination of both land and naval reconnaissance that is concerned with maritime interests for collecting information.
Marine recon units are usually used to observe and report on all enemy activities and gather information for military intelligence in close operation. A division of Marine Corps reconnaissance has further organic reconnaissance that act as additional assets for the commander. One such asset is the scout sniper assets that provide long range precision firing and also provide long range surveillance and acquisition of target. They are also known as STA snipers. STA platoons are also organic to Marine Infantry Battalions.
The mission of a Marine Corps reconnaissance is to provide the MAGTF with reports and military intelligence information in time for them act and change battlefield decisions. Recon units provide support to infantry units in battle. Infantry are those Marines who are directly in the force of action.
Here are some of the missions of a Marine Corps reconnaissance team.
• The main mission is to plan, co-ordinate and conduct amphibious and ground reconnaissance that will help them gather military intelligence and observe, identify and report all enemy activities.
• Their mission is to conduct special surveillance that will give them information regarding underwater reconnaissance or demolitions, beach permeability and topography, routes, bridges and structures. They also provide surveillance on rural and urban areas, helicopter landing zones, parachute drop zones, aircraft forwarding sites and mechanical reconnaissance.
• When they are organized with other forces they provide support with radio, specialized engineering, and mobile and other special reconnaissance missions.
• They provide surface, sub-surface and airborne operations to infiltrate mission areas.
• Their mission is also to provide counter reconnaissance.
• Marine Corps reconnaissance mission is to conduct initial terminal guidance for helicopter, landing craft, parachutists, air-delivery and re-supply.
• To conduct post-strike reconnaissance to assess the damage and gather further data.
• Raids amd ambushes of limited scale are part of their mission too.
Marine Corps Reconnaissance Selection and prerequisites. There are certain prerequisites that are needed in order to be selected for Recon. You should be ready with the following.
1. Updated and current physical.
2. A GT score that is minimum 105.
3. A first class score on the physical fitness test.
4. First class swim qualification.
5. 20/20 vision is absolutely essential. Of course it is acceptable if you can get this done with laser surgery and in case you are color blind as long as you can distinguish between red and green color it is a go for you.
6. Once you have done the basic reconnaissance course you need to remain at least 18 months on the current enlistment contract.
7. Should be able to get a secret security clearance.
8. Should have completed the infantry rifleman course at the infantry battalion training.
Once the preliminary selection process is done with you will move on to the screening process. The screening process for Marine Corps reconnaissance is to test all the potential candidates. The screening board will screen all the possible candidates for combat swimming skills, physical stamina and endurance. This screening process happens over a period of 48 hours at MCB Camp Pendleton or at MCB Camp Lejeune every last Thursday of each month. If any Marine fails they are encouraged to try again at the next screening if they wish to. Also midway through the screening process if a candidate wants to drop out they can do so and try again at the next screening process.
The screening process involves combat water aerobics because Marine Corps reconnaissance is amphibious in nature. They need to do a 25m underwater swim, deep water rifle retrieval which depending on which screening you might have to do it with cinder blocks. The next step involves a 25 feet tower jump with full combat gear while treading the water for 30 minutes as a follow up. There are a few more steps in this water test to do. However once that is done they move on to physical fitness test where the candidate would have to score more than 225 for a first class. The next day involves some obstacle course and running with a 50 lb sand bag in a rucksack. They also should maintain a speed of 4 or 5 miles an hour and if they slow down they are dropped. If they pass the screening program then they are sent for a psychological screening test followed by the interview. If they are fit for training they are interviewed by the Marine Corps reconnaissance staff.
If all goes well then they move on to the indoctrination program. They are then trained further for amphibious reconnaissance, patrolling, communication and land navigation. They are then made to go through a training which might include a minimum of two schools and a period of 1.5 to 2 years before they become a fully qualified marine reconnaissance operator.
A. Must have a GT score of 105 or higher.
B. Must posses a 3rd class swim qualification to enter BRC (During phase I of BRC, the
student will be required to obtain a 1st class swim qualification).
C. Must obtain a 2nd class score of 200 on the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) to enter BRC (During phase I of BRC, the student will be required to obtain a 1st class score of 225 on the PFT).
D. Must have 20/ 200 near visual acuity or visual acuity not to exceed 20/ 400 with a completed PRK eye surgery candidate consult. Normal color vision is recommended, but not required provided the student can complete a vivid red and vivid green recognition test, per P117 medical manual of the Navy and Army AR 40-501
E. All Enlisted Marines attending BRC for the purpose of attaining the PMOS 0321 must have completed the Marine Infantry Training Battalion course of instruction.
F. Must be fluent in the English language. International military students must score an 80 on the english comprehensive language test.
G. Must be a U.S. Citizen.
H. Must be eligible for a secret clearance.
I. Must be medically and physically qualified to participate in arduous physical activities and training (It is strongly recommended that students report free of any upper respiratory infections, ear, nose, throat disorders, or any other medical disorder that precludes exposure to salt water).
1. Purpose: To provide Marines and other services with Basic Reconnaissance training in preparation for duty as a Recon Man within a Reconnaissance Platoon of a Recon Battalion, Company, or as a member of the Marine Special Operation Battalion, or other Reconnaissance units.
2. Scope: The Reconnaissance Man is responsible for the pre-assault and deep post-assault Reconnaissance in support of the Landing Force
Commander. He is also capable of performing limited small unit special operations when directed. The Recon Man is the nucleus of a Reconnaissance team or assault force within the Reconnaissance Community. In addition to Basic Infantry skills, he is responsible for highly refined scouting and patrolling skills. Recon Marines must also possess advanced proficiency in scout swimming, small boat operations, close combat skills, helicopter insertion/extraction techniques, assault climbing, demolitions, forward observer procedures for supporting arms, initial terminal guidance operations for heliborne, airborne, and waterborne forces, communications, photography, threat weapons and equipment identification, and various point and area reconnaissance and surveillance, and amphibious reconnaissance operations. Selected Reconnaissance men are further trained as Static-line and Multi-Mission Parachute System parachutists and open and closed circuit divers. Non-Commissioned Officers are assigned as Reconnaissance or Assault Team Leaders, and may be qualified as Jump Masters, Dive Supervisors, and HRST Masters.
Before joining Marine Corps reconnaissance there are a few things worth knowing. United States Marine Corps Reconnaissance is an asset to
the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). The MAGTF forms the principle organization for missions over the range of all military operations. They are under a single commander and are a combined arms task force organization for balanced air-ground missions. Marine Corps reconnaissance was formalized by publishing the order that states:
A Marine air-ground task force with separate air ground headquarters is normally formed for combat operations and training exercises in which substantial combat forces of both Marine aviation and Marine ground units are included in the task organization of participating Marine forces.
Marine Recon provides division level ground and amphibious reconnaissance for the ground combat element of the United States Marine Corps. A division is a military unit of 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers and is made up of several regiments or brigades. A division is further divided into smaller organic units. Amphibious reconnaissance is a combination of both land and naval reconnaissance that is concerned with maritime interests for collecting information.
Marine recon units are usually used to observe and report on all enemy activities and gather information for military intelligence in close operation. A division of Marine Corps reconnaissance has further organic reconnaissance that act as additional assets for the commander. One such asset is the scout sniper assets that provide long range precision firing and also provide long range surveillance and acquisition of target. They are also known as STA snipers. STA platoons are also organic to Marine Infantry Battalions.
The mission of a Marine Corps reconnaissance is to provide the MAGTF with reports and military intelligence information in time for them act and change battlefield decisions. Recon units provide support to infantry units in battle. Infantry are those Marines who are directly in the force of action.
Here are some of the missions of a Marine Corps reconnaissance team.
• The main mission is to plan, co-ordinate and conduct amphibious and ground reconnaissance that will help them gather military intelligence and observe, identify and report all enemy activities.
• Their mission is to conduct special surveillance that will give them information regarding underwater reconnaissance or demolitions, beach permeability and topography, routes, bridges and structures. They also provide surveillance on rural and urban areas, helicopter landing zones, parachute drop zones, aircraft forwarding sites and mechanical reconnaissance.
• When they are organized with other forces they provide support with radio, specialized engineering, and mobile and other special reconnaissance missions.
• They provide surface, sub-surface and airborne operations to infiltrate mission areas.
• Their mission is also to provide counter reconnaissance.
• Marine Corps reconnaissance mission is to conduct initial terminal guidance for helicopter, landing craft, parachutists, air-delivery and re-supply.
• To conduct post-strike reconnaissance to assess the damage and gather further data.
• Raids amd ambushes of limited scale are part of their mission too.
Marine Corps Reconnaissance Selection and prerequisites. There are certain prerequisites that are needed in order to be selected for Recon. You should be ready with the following.
1. Updated and current physical.
2. A GT score that is minimum 105.
3. A first class score on the physical fitness test.
4. First class swim qualification.
5. 20/20 vision is absolutely essential. Of course it is acceptable if you can get this done with laser surgery and in case you are color blind as long as you can distinguish between red and green color it is a go for you.
6. Once you have done the basic reconnaissance course you need to remain at least 18 months on the current enlistment contract.
7. Should be able to get a secret security clearance.
8. Should have completed the infantry rifleman course at the infantry battalion training.
Once the preliminary selection process is done with you will move on to the screening process. The screening process for Marine Corps reconnaissance is to test all the potential candidates. The screening board will screen all the possible candidates for combat swimming skills, physical stamina and endurance. This screening process happens over a period of 48 hours at MCB Camp Pendleton or at MCB Camp Lejeune every last Thursday of each month. If any Marine fails they are encouraged to try again at the next screening if they wish to. Also midway through the screening process if a candidate wants to drop out they can do so and try again at the next screening process.
The screening process involves combat water aerobics because Marine Corps reconnaissance is amphibious in nature. They need to do a 25m underwater swim, deep water rifle retrieval which depending on which screening you might have to do it with cinder blocks. The next step involves a 25 feet tower jump with full combat gear while treading the water for 30 minutes as a follow up. There are a few more steps in this water test to do. However once that is done they move on to physical fitness test where the candidate would have to score more than 225 for a first class. The next day involves some obstacle course and running with a 50 lb sand bag in a rucksack. They also should maintain a speed of 4 or 5 miles an hour and if they slow down they are dropped. If they pass the screening program then they are sent for a psychological screening test followed by the interview. If they are fit for training they are interviewed by the Marine Corps reconnaissance staff.
If all goes well then they move on to the indoctrination program. They are then trained further for amphibious reconnaissance, patrolling, communication and land navigation. They are then made to go through a training which might include a minimum of two schools and a period of 1.5 to 2 years before they become a fully qualified marine reconnaissance operator.