What is the difference of a Recon Marine and an Force Recon Marine. Back in the early 90's  a friend of mine tried out for Recon made it through and wanted to join Force Recon they told him they would allow him if he re-enlisted. He did re-enlist but was never given a chance to try out.

 

Those Marines trying out in STC on the discovery channel are they Recon or Force Recon?

 

The Marines are given a lot credibility with physical fitness. However, those in the Army SF are given a lot of credit for their brains. It takes more than swimming and running when on the war field.

 

Recon is just that recon getting information then reporting back to the other units.

 

In SF these men aren't 18 or 19 until just recently. They were seasoned soldiers back in the nineties that had numerous years of training under their belt before being allowed to try out in an elite unit and if they did allow you that privilege it was in a Ranger training before SF training. The Ranger schooling (not the ranger tab qualification) was 2 years then if they thought you were excellent you could be in the 75th Ranger Regiment. The rest were sent off to the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions which were not easy Divisions. 

 

For those that did excellent in the 75th Ranger Regiment had to request to be allowed to be trained in SF. Most First Sargents didn't allow those soldiers that were doing excellent in their Ranger Regiment the option to be schooled in  SF because those soldiers would choose SF over coming back to Ranger Regiment because of more prestige in SF, the challenge and education.

 

Those that excelled in SF which was another two years of schooling would have the opportunity of joining Delta Force.

 

All in all it is a career soldier that has many years of schooling, training, physical training and is versital in all areas of warfare. 

 

With the SEALS and Marines they take you in at 18 you do your physical training some warfare tactics they become SEALS and Marines and think they're a hero.  It's all rather ridiculous.

 

 

SEALS or Marines? Don't know, don't care. Here is what I do know. At BUD/S one will see Force Recon, PJ's, Rangers and a host of other personel from all branches of service trying to earn the title SEAL but, one will not see a SEAL trying to earn any of those other titles. The same holds true for Army SF. Of course one will see SEALs attending specialty schools from other branches, like Marine Scout Sniper, but not leaving the Teams.

 

Force Recon does not send Marines to BUD/S to become SEALs, neither does the Ranger's or PJ's, you been watching too much GI Jane. You may see people in BUD/S who identify as a former ... but not as a current actv duty "_operator".

If you knew anything about the history between Recon & the SEALs you would know that when they used to deploy together in Naval ARGs the Force Recon DAP (Direct Action Platoon) was the Primary Assault Element in joint missions while the SEALs were used as Secondary or Security/Trailer Element.

Also, Specialized Units in the DOD often send personnel through each others schools. Sometimes its for Liaison purposes sometimes for cross-training. But its not their entry-level courses like BUD/S to become SEALs, it for advanced training like when Recon, SEALs & others send their Medics to the Army's SF-Medics course, or to the Marine's Scout Sniper & Urban Sniper course, or to the AF or Marine's TACP course.