Their mottoes: Celer, Silens, Mortalis —“Swift, Silent, Deadly”
The United States Marine Corps plays a major role as the first force on the ground in most conflicts. Today, Marines are stationed around the world at all times, ready to deploy quickly whenever and wherever needed. Total service commitment ranges from four to six years. Force RECON is the Special Forces arm of the Marines. Their mission is to
conduct amphibious reconnaissance, deep ground reconnaissance, surveillance, battle space shaping, and limited scale raids in support of the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), other Marine air-ground task forces, or a joint force.
During Javelin Thrust 2011, for example, Marines with the 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company out of Mobile, Ala., will support the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade for training operations during Javelin Thrust while sustaining their skills. One example is providing reconnaissance on a landing zone for a helicopter-borne raid being conducted by Company E, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment during the final exercise.
Marine Reconnaissance teams provide intelligence for active small unit operations on the
battlefield. Those with Marine Sniper quals can also provide accurate demoralizing small arms fire from a distance.
Marine Recon is arguably in the top five of all special operators — capable of harassing an entire enemy battalion for long periods of time; tracking enemy units for larger American forces; or conducting well-orchestrated raids on high-valued targets.
These guys are the gems in the crown of the United States Marine Corps.
And let’s not forget, it was the Marines who raised the flag on Iwo Jima in World War II.
