3rd Force Reconnaissance Company

Last updated

3rd Force Reconnaissance Company
3rd FORECON.png
3rd Force Reconnaissance Company insignia
Active1 July 1960 – present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States of America
BranchFlag of the United States Marine Corps.svg United States Marine Corps
Type Force Reconnaissance
RoleThe company specializes in deep reconnaissance and amphibious reconnaissance for the Marine Air-Ground Task Force
Part of 4th Marine Division
Garrison/HQ Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Engagements Vietnam War
Operation Desert Shield
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom
Decorations Streamer VUA Army.PNG
Valorous Unit Award
Streamer NDS.PNG
National Defense Service Medal
Streamer VS.PNG
Vietnam Service Medal
Streamer SAS.PNG
Southwest Asia Service Medal
VGCP Streamer.jpg
Vietnam Gallantry Cross
Streamer RVMUCCA.PNG
Vietnam Civil Actions Medal
Navy Unit Commendation streamer.svg
Navy Unit Commendation
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Navy-Marine) Streamer.jpg
Meritorious Unit Commendation

3rd Force Reconnaissance Company (3rd Force Recon) is a force reconnaissance unit of the United States Marine Corps Reserve. The company is located in Mobile, Alabama.

Contents

Mission

3rd FORECON are operationally committed in supporting the subordinate elements Marine Forces Command (MarForCom) or the II Marine Expeditionary Force for direct support of operations and personnel tempo relief.

The company augmented active-duty forces or were mobilized to conduct pre-assault and deep post-assault reconnaissance and surveillance in support of II Marine Expeditionary Force and its subordinate elements: 22nd, 24th and 26th Marine Expeditionary Units, and the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

Unit mission as of 2013

3rd Force Reconnaissance Company: To conduct pre-assault and distant post-assault reconnaissance in support of a landing force. In addition, the company possesses the capability to perform the following tasks: Foreign internal defense, Limited scale raids, Capture selected targets, Conduct initial terminal guidance operations, Conduct specialized terrain reconnaissance, Conduct special missions requiring the use of entry capabilities.

Organization

Chronology

2004 3rd Force Recon deployed several platoons to Operation Iraqi Freedom. 2007 Last Force Recon detachment returns from OIF. 3rd Force Recon suffered Sgt. Foster Harrington KIA during combat operations in Al Anbar Province. 2009 Det Echo mobilized for Operation Enduring Freedom. 2010 Detachment Echo returns from OEF deployment.

History

Vietnam, 1967–1971

3rd Force Reconnaissance Company was activated, trained, fought and deactivated during the Vietnam War. Activated in September 1965 as one of the first group of add on units to meet demands of operations in South Vietnam, 3rd FORECON formed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. and satellite on 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company that was under strength due to the demands for trained Force Recon Marines assigned to 1st Force Reconnaissance Company in country. Facilities, cadre and equipment for training were provided by 2nd FORECON.

Volunteers were solicited from throughout the Marine Corps and the first four months were devoted to bringing 3rd FORECON up to strength in personnel. Beginning in January 1966 all operational personnel departed Camp Lejeune to train in the Caribbean and Panama.

Returning to North Carolina in March, final preparations were carried out to meet the projected deployment date in May 1966. The expected deployment of the entire 3rd FORECON did not occur, but a two-platoon detachment embarked on the USS Boxer, transited through the Suez Canal, and arrived in country in time to be introduced to combat in Operation Hastings as part of the Special Landing Force Alpha in early July 1966.

3rd FORECON (-) dropped to a not-combat-ready readiness status. Headquarters Marine Corps transferred several commissioned officers and numerous enlisted ([staff] non-commissioned officers) immediately after the Detachment departed.

In mid-June, 3rd FORECON (-) was alerted to deploy immediately. Due to the reduced personnel readiness status, HQMC changed the deployment plan and ordered that a Platoon be assigned to deploy with 1st Battalion, 26th Marines (1/26) that had been activated at Camp Pendleton. The remainder of 3rd FORECON was ordered to move to Camp Pendleton to refit.

At the conclusion of Hastings the Detachment was attached to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion that had just arrived at Phu Bai Combat Base from Da Nang, having been replaced by the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion that had just begun arriving with the 1st Marine Division. Shortly, they were joined by the Platoon that had come in country with 1/26.

They patrolled in Thừa Thiên Province, until early January, 1967, when a task-organized "Special Purpose group" carried out a prisoner rescue attempt. The remainder were sent to Khe Sanh Combat Base where they developed the intelligence of a large enemy buildup, that was the prelude to The Hill Fights that occurred in April 1967.

Reunited, what was left of the three platoons, returned to Phu Bai to await the arrival of the 3rd FORECON (-). Having been brought up to strength and operational readiness, 3rd FORECON was reunited on 27 May 1966, just in time for the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) offensive to seize Quang Tri Province. The logistics element arrive at the "Ramp" at Đông Hà Combat Base just in time for the opening salvos of the PAVN artillery attacks that would continue daily until late Autumn.

The operational element experienced a mortar attack in Phu Bai at the same time resulting in several shrapnel wounds, only one of which, required evacuation. The new arrivals were integrated with combat veterans and the entire eighteen teams conducted a zone reconnaissance in the CoBi-Than Tan valley northwest of Huế before displacing to Đông Hà.

Upon arrival at Đông Hà in early May the Commanding Officer assumed command of 3rd Recon Battalion (Forward), which had reconnaissance responsibility for all of Quang Tri Province except the Khe Sanh Tactical Area of Operations (TAOR). 3rd FORECON patrolled the area north of Highway 9 to the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), while a recon company from 3rd Recon Battalion was targeted south of Highway 9 to the Thừa Thiên provincial border. Occasional circumstances caused deviation from that concept, but, for the most part, those deviations were rare. 3rd FORECON continued that operational commitment until the 3rd Marine Division left the country in November 1969.

3rd FORECON was placed under command of the III Marine Amphibious Force (III MAF) and operated in general support of III MAF until deactivated in July 1970. [1]

1990s

In January 1998, 4th Force Reconnaissance Company was placed under the command of 4th Marine Division. [2]

Training

Notable former members

Notes

  1. Cosmas, Graham (1986). US Marines in Vietnam Vietnamization and Redeployment 1970-1971. History and Museums Division Headquarters United States Marine Corps. p. 307. ISBN   9781494287498.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  2. 4th Marine Division Historical Detachment (2000). History of the 4th Marine Division (PDF) (2nd ed.). United States Marine Corps. pp. 120, 151. PCN 19000306300. Retrieved 12 May 2022.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance</span> USMC special operations unit

Force Reconnaissance (FORECON) is a United States Marine Corps special operations forces which supplies military intelligence to the command element of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). Force Reconnaissance companies unlike USMC division reconnaissance report to the Marine expeditionary force (MEF) and provide direct action and deep reconnaissance during large-scale operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long-range reconnaissance patrol</span> Military unit that patrols in enemy-held territory

A long-range reconnaissance patrol, or LRRP, is a small, well-armed reconnaissance team that patrols deep in enemy-held territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Marine Logistics Group</span> Military unit

The 3rd Marine Logistics Group is the Logistics Combat Element (LCE) for III Marine Expeditionary Force currently headquartered on Camp Kinser, Marine Corps Base Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan. 3rd MLG provides combat service support (CSS) to III MEF units above the organic capability. CSS is the essential capabilities, functions, activities, and tasks necessary to sustain all elements of operating forces in theater at all levels of war. Combat service support includes, but is not limited, to supply, maintenance, transportation, general engineering, health services, and other services required by aviation and ground combat forces to permit those units to accomplish their missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Battalion, 1st Marines</span> Military unit

2nd Battalion, 1st Marines (2/1) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based in Camp Horno on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. Nicknamed "The Professionals," the battalion consists of approximately 1,200 Marines and Sailors. Normally they fall under the command of the 1st Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radio Reconnaissance Platoon</span>

The Radio Reconnaissance Platoon is a specially trained Marine Corps Intelligence element of a United States Marine Corps Radio Battalion. A Radio Reconnaissance Team (RRT) was assigned as the tactical signals intelligence collection element for the Marine Corps Special Operations Command, Detachment One. Regular RRTs also participate in SOC operations during Marine Expeditionary Unit, or MEU(SOC), deployments.

Radio Battalions are tactical signals intelligence units of Marine Corps Intelligence. There are currently three operational Radio Battalions in the Marine Corps organization: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. In fleet operations, teams from Radio Battalions are most often attached to the command element of Marine Expeditionary Units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Battalion, 5th Marines</span> Military unit

1st Battalion, 5th Marines (1/5) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California consisting of approximately 800 Marines and sailors. Nicknamed Geronimo, it falls under the command of the 5th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division. The battalion was formed in 1914 and has served in every major conflict that the United States has been involved in since then.

In the United States Marine Corps, a Marine air–ground task force is the principal organization for all missions across the range of military operations. MAGTFs are a balanced air–ground, combined arms task organization of Marine Corps forces under a single commander that is structured to accomplish a specific mission. The MAGTF was formalized by the publishing of Marine Corps Order 3120.3 in December 1963 "The Marine Corps in the National Defense, MCDP 1-0". It stated:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Reconnaissance Battalion</span> Military unit

The 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion conducts amphibious and ground reconnaissance in support of the 3rd Marine Division and Marine Forces Pacific (MarForPac), operating in the commander's areas of influence. The Battalion is based out of Camp Schwab, a satellite base of Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler. It is geographically located on the Okinawa Prefecture in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Reconnaissance Battalion</span> Military unit

The 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion is a reconnaissance battalion in the United States Marine Corps. Located at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, the battalion falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Division and the II Marine Expeditionary Force.

VMUT-2 Military unit

Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Training Squadron 2 (VMUT-2) is an unmanned aerial vehicle training squadron in the United States Marine Corps that is transitioning from operating the RQ-21A Blackjack to the MQ-9A Reaper. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, North Carolina and will serve as the MQ-9A Reaper Fleet Replacement Squadron, training UAS officers and enlisted sensor operators. Historically, VMUT-2 provided aerial surveillance, offensive air support, and electronic warfare for the II Marine Expeditionary Force. VMUT-2 falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Organization of the United States Marine Corps</span>

The United States Marine Corps is organized within the Department of the Navy, which is led by the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV). The most senior Marine commissioned officer is the Commandant of the Marine Corps, responsible for organizing, recruiting, training, and equipping the Marine Corps so that it is ready for operation under the command of the unified combatant commanders. The Marine Corps is organized into four principal subdivisions: Headquarters Marine Corps, the Operating Forces, the Supporting Establishment, and the Marine Forces Reserve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3d Combat Engineer Battalion</span> Military unit

3rd Combat Engineer Battalion was a combat engineer battalion of the United States Marine Corps, most recently activated from 7 October 2007 to 5 August 2014. 3rd CEB is having a reunion in Neihart, Montana May 19-22 2023 being hosted by Warrior Reunion Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maritime Special Purpose Force</span> United States Marine Corps specialized sub-unit of a Marine expeditionary unit

A Maritime Special Purpose Force (MSPF) was a United States Marine Corps specialized sub-unit of a Marine expeditionary unit. A MSPF was deployed to give the commanders low profile, two-platoon surgical emplacement in the accessible littoral regions. The MSPF provided the enhanced operational capability and precision skills to complement, enable, and execute selected conventional, maritime special operations. They could also perform operations not resident in traditional amphibious raid companies.

The United States Marine Corps is tasked by Department of Defense directive to "conduct complex expeditionary operations in the urban littorals and other challenging environments" and "conduct amphibious operations, including engagement, crisis response, and power projection operations to assure access." Before 2006, the Marine Corps was the only branch of the Armed Forces that did not have any of its special warfare elements participating in the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), due to confining its special operations capabilities only for the purpose to the Fleet Marine Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Force Reconnaissance Company</span> Unit of the United States Marine Corps

1st Force Reconnaissance Company conducts deep reconnaissance and direct action raids in support of I Marine Expeditionary Force requirements across the range of military operations to include crisis response, expeditionary operations and major combat operations. 1st Force Recon Company was deactivated 26 October 2006 and the majority of the personnel were used to create 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Force Reconnaissance Company</span> Military unit

The Second Force Reconnaissance Company was the deep reconnaissance/direct action that was assigned to the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and its subordinate elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

Ground Intelligence Officer is a primary military occupation code of a U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer. Ground intelligence officers serve as staff officers and commanders in the operating forces and are responsible for analyzing intelligence and planning, deployment and tactical employment of ground surveillance and reconnaissance units. The Ground Intelligence Officer can be a Recon Marine after their training is done.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Brandtner</span> American military personnel

Martin Louis Brandtner was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps lieutenant general. He was one of just two Marines to be awarded two Navy Crosses during the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James D. Beans</span> Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps

James Dale Beans is a retired, highly decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general. He is most noted for his service as the assistant chief of staff for Command, Control, Communications, and Computer, Intelligence and Interoperability Department and as director, Intelligence Division, Headquarters Marine Corps. He is the son of Brigadier General Fred D. Beans.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps .