Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Intelligence Groups (SRIG) were Marine Corps Intelligence, reconnaissance, and communications units of the United States Marine Corps from 1988 to 1997. The SRIG command structure combined units of Radio Battalion, ANGLICO, Force Reconnaissance, remotely piloted aircraft, counterintelligence, and other intelligence elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. [1] [2] [3]
According to the SRIG doctrinal manual, SRIG's mission was "to provide surveillance, reconnaissance, Marine Corps Intelligence, counterintelligence, electronic warfare, air and naval gunfire liaison, tactical deception, maritime direct action and secure communications to MAGTFs. [4]
The concept of the SRIG grew out of the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center (SARC), created in 1969 to coordinate III Marine Amphibious Force's operations in the Vietnam War [3] and by the desire within USMC to have the MEF HQ operate in a joint warfight similar an Army Corps with a supporting MI Brigade. [5]
The first SRIG to be activated was the 2nd SRIG, in October 1988, under the command of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune. 1st SRIG was activated in October 1989 at Camp Pendleton, and 3rd SRIG in October 1990 at Camp Hansen, Okinawa. [1]
SRIG's first combat missions came during Operation Desert Storm. Members of 1st SRIG took the first Iraqi prisoners of the war, [6] and later helped coordinate naval artillery and air strikes in the Battle of Khafji. [2]
1st SRIG's activities in Somalia included Operation Restore Hope from 1992 to 1993 and Operation United Shield in 1995.
In October 1997, the SRIGs were dissolved and individual units were placed under the direct command of their respective MEFs in a MEF Headquarters Group (MHG). [3] During the initial year of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) the MHG was based in Camp Commando, Kuwait. [7] During subsequent years of Operation Iraqi Freedom, including during the battle for Fallujah, the MHG was based in the former Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK) compound known as Camp Fallujah. [8]
The MEF Headquarters Groups (MHG) were redesignated MEF Information Groups in 2017. [9]
The motto for USMC MIG’s is “Collect. Protect. Project.” MIG’s coordinate, integrate and employ capabilities for information environment operations in order to ensure the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Commander’s ability to facilitate friendly forces maneuver and deny the enemy freedom of action in the information environment. MIG’s also provide communications, intelligence, and supporting arms liaison in support of MAGTF operations. [10]
Organizational information on the MIG's and their subordinate units is available in MCRP 1-10.1, “Organization of the United States Marine Corps,” (As Amended Through 23 July 2020). [11]
Force Reconnaissance (FORECON) is a United States Marine Corps deep reconnaissance unit 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.
III Marine Expeditionary Force is a formation of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps. It is forward-deployed and able to rapidly conduct operations across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) to amphibious assault and high-intensity combat.
The I Marine Expeditionary Force is a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) of the United States Marine Corps primarily composed of the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and 1st Marine Logistics Group. It is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion is a fast and mobilized armored terrestrial reconnaissance battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Their primary weapon system is the 8-wheeled LAV-25 and they fall under the command of the 2nd Marine Division and II Marine Expeditionary Force. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The current mission statement of the battalion is: To perform combined arms reconnaissance and security missions in support of the Ground Combat Element (GCE) of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). Its mission is to conduct reconnaissance, security and economy of force operations, and, within its capabilities, limited offensive or defensive operations that exploit the unit's mobility and firepower.
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.
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:
Combat Logistics Battalion 7(CLB 7) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California and falls under the command of the 1st Marine Logistics Group and I Marine Expeditionary Force.
The Marine Corps Intelligence is the intelligence arm of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and an element of the United States Intelligence Community. The Director of Intelligence supervises the Intelligence Department of HQMC and is responsible for policy, plans, programming, budgets, and staff supervision of Intelligence and supporting activities within the U.S. Marine Corps as well as supervising the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity (MCIA). The department supports the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) in his role as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), represents the service in Joint and Intelligence Community matters, and exercises supervision over the MCIA.
The 2d Intelligence Battalion is a Marine Corps Intelligence military intelligence and counterintelligence unit based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. They provide the II Marine Expeditionary Force with intelligence products and analysis.
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.
A Marine expeditionary force (MEF), formerly known as a Marine amphibious force, is the largest type of a Marine air-ground task force. A MEF is the largest building block of United States Marine Corps combat power.
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.
In the United States Marine Corps, the ground combat element (GCE) is the land force of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). It provides power projection and force for the MAGTF.
In the United States Marine Corps, the command element (CE) is the command and control force of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). It provides C3I for the MAGTF.
The reconnaissance mission within the United States Marine Corps is divided into two distinct but complementary aspects; Marine Division Recon and Force Reconnaissance.
1st Force Reconnaissance Company conducted 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 on 26 October 2006 and the majority of the personnel were used to establish the 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion.
8th Communication Battalion is a communications battalion in the United States Marine Corps. It is part of the II Marine Expeditionary Force and is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
The 3rd Intelligence Battalion is a Marine Corps Intelligence military intelligence and counterintelligence unit based at Marine Corps Base Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. It provides the III Marine Expeditionary Force with intelligence products and analysis.
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.
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