1st Reconnaissance Battalion

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 1st Reconnaissance Battalion


caption=
1st Reconnaissance Battalion insignia

dates= *March 1, 1937 - present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=USMC
type=
role= Reconnaissance
size=
command_structure= 1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
current_commander= LtCol M.J. Mooney
garrison= Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= "Celer, Silens, Mortalis"
"Swift, Silent, Deadly"
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=World War II
* Battle of Guadalcanal
8 Battle of okinawa
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
* 2003 invasion of Iraq
* Operation Vigilant Resolve
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

1st Reconnaissance Battalion (1st Recon Bn) is a reconnaissance battalion in the United States Marine Corps. It falls under the command of the 1st Marine Division and the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF). 1st Recon Battalion was recently reactivated, on July 5, 2000 as part of Marine Corps Commandant General James L. Jones’ mission to revitalize Marine Corps reconnaissance. Their scope of missions is broad and currently changing due to Force Reconnaissance units making the move to Marine Corps Special Operations Command. 1st Reconnaissance Battalion currently consists of three Reconnaissance companies: Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie, with a supporting Headquarters Company. Delta company which used to fall under 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, now falls under the direct command of the I MEF commander.

Mission

* Plan, coordinate, and conduct amphibious reconnaissance, ground reconnaissance and surveillance to observe, identify, and report enemy activity, and collect other information of military significance.
* Conduct specialized terrain reconnaissance to include: hydrography, beaches, roads, bridges, routes, urban areas, helicopter landing zones, airborne drop zones, aircraft forward operating sites, and mounted reconnaissance missions.

* When properly task organized with other forces, equipment or personnel, assist in specialized engineer, radio, mobile, and other unique reconnaissance missions.

* Infiltrate mission areas by necessary means to include: surface, subsurface and airborne operations.

* Conduct counter reconnaissance.

* Conduct Initial Terminal Guidance (ITG) for helicopters, landing craft, parachutists, air-delivery, and re-supply.

* Designate and engage selected targets with organic weapons and force fires to support battlespace shaping. This includes designation and terminal guidance of precision-guided munitions.

* Conduct post-strike reconnaissance to determine and report battle damage on a specified target or area.

* Conduct limited scale raids and ambushes.

Training

Potential Reconnaissance Marines in the past were screened by the receiving reconnaissance battalion and were subsequently assigned to a pre-basic reconnaissance course (Pre-BRC) program which were known as "Recon Indoc Platoon" or "Recon Training Platoon". However, due to changes made recently, Marines who wish to join the reconnaissance community must first complete the School of Infantry's Rifleman (0311) course prior to being assigned to the "MART" (Marines Awaiting Recon Training) platoon. The Marines then continue to the Basic Reconnaissance Course at the Reconnaissance Center of Excellence at School of Infantry, West aboard Camp Pendleton California.

While at this school prospective reconnaissance Marines, called "ropers" for the distinguishing sling ropes they are required to wear, receive training on mission planning, advanced patrolling, advanced radio communications, advanced land navigation, reconnaissance and surveillance techniques, calling for artillery and close air support, small boat operations, and clandestine operations.

Upon successful completion of the BRC the Marines receive the MOS designator "0321" or Reconnaissance man. They then attend S.E.R.E School, United States Army Airborne School, and Combatant Diver school.

In addition to these core courses Recon Marines will have the opportunity to attend Sniper School, Military Free Fall school, Ranger school, and H.R.S.T. master school, and Pathfinder school as slots become available.

History

Early years and World War II

The battalion was originally activated on March 1, 1937 at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia as the 1st Tank Company and was assigned to the 1st Marine Brigade. They were first deployed to the Caribbean from January to March 1940 on board the USS Wyoming. They were relocated back to MCB Quantico in March 1940 and later that year in November were sent to garrison the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba.

On February 1, 1941 the 1st Marine Brigade was redesignated as the 1st Marine Division (United States)
1st Marine Division and a month later on March 1, 1941 1st Tank Company was redesignated the 1st Scout Company, Division Special Troops. Relocated during April 1941 to Quantico, Virginia Relocated during September 1942 to New River, North Carolina Reassigned during August 1942 to the 1st Tank Battalion Redesignated 1 April 1943 as Company E (Scout), 1st Tank Battalion Redesignated 10 April 1943 as Company D (Scout), 1st Tank Battalion Redesignated 9 May 1944 as Reconnaissance Company, Headquarters Battalion Participated in the Following World War II Campaigns Guadalcanal New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago Western Caroline Islands Okinawa Redeployed during September - October 1945 to Tientsin, China Relocated during June - July 1947 to Camp Pendleton, California Redesignated 15 June 1948 as Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion Redesignated 22 March 1949 as Reconnaissance Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion

Korean War

Deployed during August 1950 to Tokyo, Japan Participated in the Korean War, Operating From Pusan Perimeter Inchon-Seoul Chosin Reservoir East Central Front Western Front Participated in the Defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone, July 1953 - March 1955 Relocated during March 1955 to Camp Pendleton, California Deactivated 30 April 1958

Cuban Crisis

1st Reconnaissance Battalion (Forward) deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Haiti in October-November 1962 to await the invasion of Cuba. Upon the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the battalion returned to MCB Camp Pendleton.

Vietnam War

Reactivated 1 May 1958 At Camp Pendleton, California as the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion and Assigned to the 1st Marine Division Participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis, November - December 1962 1965 - 1981

Deployed during August - September 1965 to Camp Schwab, Okinawa Redeployed during March 1966 to Chu Lai, Republic of South Vietnam Participated in the war in Vietnam, March 1966 - March 1971, operating From Chu Lai, Da Nang Relocated during March - April 1971 to Camp Pendleton, California

Persian Gulf War & the 1990s

In 1990-1991, the battalion participated in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. 1st Reconnaissance Battalion was redesignated as 1st Reconnaissance Battalion (Light Armored) with all assets turned over in June 1992. Recon Marines with less than 2 years left in service formed the 5th Marine Regiment/5th Marines Recon Co. 1st Recon Company, which was then overstaffed and redesignated 1st Recon Battalion again in 2000, with only 50 unfilled billets on its first day.

Global War on Terror

1st Recon Battalion deployed to Kuwait and participated in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

1st Recon Battalion re-deployed to Al Anbar province in Iraq February 2004, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

1st Recon Battalion re-deployed to Al Anbar province in Iraq September 2005, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In January 2006, the battalion was in the national news for leading Operation Green Trident, which discovered over ten metric tons of insurgent munitions, hidden in caches throughout a large area south of Fallujah in the Euphrates River Valley.

1st Recon Battalion re-deployed to Al Anbar province in Iraq March 2007, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Marines of 1st Recon have told military reporters that about 90% of their time in Operation Iraqi Freedom has been spent in mounted patrols, using their Humvees.

Unit awards

A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. The 1st Reconnaissance Battalion has been presented with the following awards:

Medal of Honor recipients

*SSgt Jimmie E. Howard, Vietnam War.
*PFC Ralph H. Johnson, Vietnam War.

Navy Cross recipients

*Capt Brent Morel, Killed in Action April 7, 2004. Al Anbar IZ. Operation Iraqi Freedom
*Sgt Willie Copeland, Operation Iraqi Freedom [ Hettena, Seth. [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600128399,00.html "Utah Marine receives Navy Cross for heroism"] , "Associated Press", April 25, 2005. (URL accessed May 10, 2006) ]

ee also

* "Generation Kill" (TV series)
* List of United States Marine Corps battalions
* Organization of the United States Marine Corps

Notes

References

:Marine Corps

;Web
* [http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/msc/1mardiv/1reconbn/index.html 1st Recon Bn website]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usmc/1recon.htm 1st Reconnaissance Battalion] , "GlobalSecurity.org". (URL accessed April 15, 2006)
* Redding, Daniel J. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2005/05/mil-050512-usmc04.htm "1st Recon Battalion retraces techniques before returning to Iraq"] ,"Marine Corps News", April 22, 2005.
* Redding, Daniel J. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2005/06/mil-050602-usmc01.htm "All about amphib"] , "Marine Corps News", June 2, 2005.
* [http://www.1strecon.org/ 1st Recon Battalion Association]

Further reading

* Generation Kill (book) by Evan Wright
* by Nathaniel Fick.