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Subject: Marine Special Ops
ZachM    11/30/2004 5:09:22 PM
I often hear a lot about the Navy SEALs and how elite they are as a Special Force. Aren't the Marines a Special Force as well? Don't they operate with Special Force units? Because, the Marines and the SEAls have a lot in common. They both operate land, air and sea, they both work directly for the President of the United States, the Marines, however, are always the first ones called in when our country is under attack. The Marines are nick-named both the nation's 9-1-1 force and the tip of the spear of America. I never hear anyone ever refer to the Navy SEALs with those kind of terms or names. The best name I'ver hear the Navy SEALs with is "The Elite." Certain things make me think that in a lot of cases, the Marines are just as elite of a force as the Navy SEALs. The SEALs also downgrade the Marines by claiming they're the ones who operate all three land, air and sea, and supposedly have "The most intensive military training known to man." The Marines might not be a real Special Force (except for the Recons), but they're certainly the most elite among the Air Force, Army, and Navy.
 
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Bejean    RE:Bejeen   1/2/2005 9:08:05 AM
Hey! I was in Hawaii around 96/97 period. Or so i thought. Nvm on that, that's something i can't get used to is bunking on board the carriers. Ha. But i missed the chow. Very good navy chow.
 
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Bluewings    RE:Bejeen   1/11/2005 9:39:39 AM
I am Ex Spec Ops . I have few questions about the Marine Force Recon : 1)what is their task exactly ? 2)What is the Regiment size ? 3)Are they fully Operational Paratroopers ? 4)Can they carry S&R missions ? 5)What are theirs weapons of choice ? Cheers .
 
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timon_phocas    RE:Bluewings - Marine Recon   2/28/2005 12:11:51 AM
I am ex-recon, more than a bit out of date, however 1) what is their task exactly? answer: whatever the Marine Expeditionary Force commander wants them to do 2)What is the Regiment size ? answer: it's more like one company per Marine Expeditionary Force 3)Are they fully Operational Paratroopers ? answer: The Corps is stingy about airborne qualification, but I think that every "operator" in Force Recon is both airborne and SCUBA qualified 4)Can they carry S&R missions ? answer: they are not primarily trained for this 5)What are their weapons of choice ? answers: 1) if reconnaissance is the mission then your weapon is stealth. failing that it is your your radio, or satellite link, or whatever. failing that, I always preferred a B-52 2) The Marines' Alaska Recon unit trained with AK-47's. They believed that their expected opponents would be Russian, and that an AK going off in the Russian rear areas would sound a lot more normal than anything else. Everybody else in the Recon establishments back then used standard issue weapons 3) The Corps has become a lot more liberal for its Special Ops detachment(s) since my ancient activities. I think they use H&K, I'm not sure. I don't know if this extends to the Force Recon and Battalion Recon nowadays
 
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Bluewings    RE:Bluewings - Marine Recon   3/23/2005 7:42:17 PM
Quote : "failing that, I always preferred a B-52" lol !.. Thx timon_phocas ;-) Cheers .
 
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bryman       9/23/2009 5:42:04 PM
the presidents own is the marine corps band, but it is called that because we do work directly for the president. we are the only service that can be sent without the approval of congress. the marines are the only ones that can send units that are not under special operations command. all the others can only send in their regular forces after congress makes a declaration thats why marines were the first in Iraq during the late unpleasantness. that is also why marines are the 911 force they are already deployed around the globe on carriers and gator freighters as well as having bases or detachments on naval bases and in every u.s. embassy. they can be at any one point on the planet in less than 24 hours and don't have to have any word from congress to deploy. FAST teams are the marine corps official special forces. recon and force recon are battalions within the expiditionary units and divisions. every platoon has a recon squad and every bataliion has a force recon platoon. the Recon marines train with the SEALs for about two weeks. after that they can choose to be on a seal team or in recon. seals can chose to be recon but have to go through recon training first.
 
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Carl S       10/10/2009 10:02:19 PM

I am ex-recon, more than a bit out of date, however

1) what is their task exactly?
answer: whatever the Marine Expeditionary Force commander wants them to do
2)What is the Regiment size ?
answer: it's more like one company per Marine Expeditionary Force
3)Are they fully Operational Paratroopers ?
answer: The Corps is stingy about airborne qualification, but I think that every "operator" in Force Recon is both airborne and SCUBA qualified
4)Can they carry S&R missions ?
answer: they are not primarily trained for this
5)What are their weapons of choice ?
answers:
1) if reconnaissance is the mission then your weapon is stealth. failing that it is your your radio, or satellite link, or whatever. failing that, I always preferred a B-52
2) The Marines' Alaska Recon unit trained with AK-47's. They believed that their expected opponents would be Russian, and that an AK going off in the Russian rear areas would sound a lot more normal than anything else. Everybody else in the Recon establishments back then used standard issue weapons
3) The Corps has become a lot more liberal for its Special Ops detachment(s) since my ancient activities. I think they use H&K, I'm not sure. I don't know if this extends to the Force Recon and Battalion Recon nowadays
To clarify this a bit.  The USMC has two different Recon type unit.  What are refered to above are the "Force Recon"  Those are for high level operational or stratigic reconissance missions.  They belong to the MEF (Expeditionary Force) commander and serve missions from that command level (corps or army) and higher.

The other are the Recon Battalions.  Those are light battalions which belong to the division commander and cover reconisance missions from the operational down to the tactical.  Companies or platoons from these recon battalions can be passed down to the brigade or regiment for their local control, tho often those commanders use their own infantry for tactical reconissance.

The individual battalions also have a "Scout/Sniper" platoon, which is used for survelliance, but which is not a reconissance unit in the same sense as the division recon battalion.

 
 
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nancy's-troops    born with raybans on   10/28/2009 12:46:50 PM
yes, old timer....new technology breeds different kinds of conflicts.  I was MEF 1st marines.  I guessed I might have pissed off someone.... or just volunteered too much out of sheer need for an adrenline rush...? I woke up 1 morning to that special phone call  @ 0400 (was married)... flight deck, 30 mins to muster.  full gear..... 2 different transports .... hope up and I shuffled to the door...all I could think...wtf?  I was was a marine, so I just did what i was told...i would always get the info later.  Camp "Madusa"...as I like to call it.  nuff said.  S.E.A.L. team's compared to standard ReCoN units are by far more qualified for 24 hr drop time...globally.  Force Recon compared to S.E.A.L's are closer compared, but will gine the edge to most elite S.E.A.L. Team out there... they actually work hand in hand.  based on demographic local to mission needs.  Most of the time, a planned mission of 7 days or more, a S.E.A.L. team, FORCE ReCoN (if req'd) will hit first, ReCoN will follow and secure. in out easy peasy....right?  Delta ForCE does not exist, it is separate...and recruits from....?  I have either Drank with, trained side-by-side, or teamed with many people who have been in these units.  I am a Marine, will always be a Marine.  Our Terret's syndrome we have for one another in the Rear is one thing.... but laying down cover fire for anyone on the list is another....anytime anyplace. SEMPER Fi!  Everyone joins a Branch of service for a specific reason, sometimes the wrong one.  But, when you find a home, and have the skills or just the "jar Headed-ness" to make something out of nothing!  Your choices define your character, The Marine's will give give you PLENTY of character.  Also in the defense of The U.S. Marine's..... We never ever have to go to basic training again if you should decide to transfer to another branch!  We are ready 24hr, trained hard for that. then after all that then they gave us a career!  No Special ops training needed.  ALL ELITE forces who are NOT MARINE CORPS have to go onto traing that a Regular Jarhead is already trained for! OOH RaH!
 
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Crow757       10/8/2010 11:02:29 PM

Yes, I am familiar with that phrase. The presidnet can send any branch to an over-sea conflict without the approval of congress up to 90 days.


Actually The president can send ANY militarary force he wishes into combat as you previously stated but theres no set limit as to how long they can be there. Congress has no say in it. When it comes down to it the only war power congress has is the ability to Declare war. Congress is the ONLY branch to have the power to declare war. And technically we havent been IN a war since WWII which was the last time congress officially declared war. Now by no means am i saying that none of our battles since havent been wars because they have been im just saying there not officially wars due to the lack that war was never declared.
 
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slice&dice    thenand now   3/8/2013 10:47:26 AM
I served in Veitnam 2nd bn force recon and war tactics have change, compitition and rivalrys will always be, one thing is certain we are all committed to excellance and fight for the same reasons. And we all have fallen comrades we fight for, now and forever 
 
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slice&dice    thenand now   3/8/2013 12:33:20 PM
I served in Veitnam 2nd bn force recon and war tactics have change, compitition and rivalrys will always be, one thing is certain we are all committed to excellance and fight for the same reasons. And we all have fallen comrades we fight for, now and forever 
 
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