Enlistment

[immaproshooter]

i am getting ready to enlist, but i am wanting to know something first.....well i want to try and go Recon, but i was wandering if am still able to try and go Recon even if i enlist and go in as an MP?....is that possible?....or do i have to enlist as infantry to try that route?......

[Super Dave]

Nope...you need to be a grunt...

[immaproshooter]

alright thnx....thats all i needed to know......and of coarse i have no rpoblem with that......i was undecided cause i wanna do either infantry or mp.....but that would be my deciding factor....so this makes itmuch easier.....the only reason i asked is becasue i thought i read on a document that u could go to recon if u were in an mos that ouwld easily allowu to i think either transfer or drop i forget the exact word they used........ but again thank u...

[jdfairman]

I was under the impression that Recon would let you attempt the indoc from any MOS. Infantry guys are of course a step ahead, but recon needs communicators and other jobs as well. I could be wrong, but do a little more research. There's more than enough information out there.

[Super Dave]

Yes, they do need comm guys...i should have known that since that is what i did..hump that damn radio all over the place..grunts do have a leg up. Many will get a chance to test at SOI school.

[Lake0300]

Is it suggested that a Grunt try for Recon at SOI? I know quite a few people have been trying for Recon at SOI and most of them fail. Maybe its a better idea to wait a year or two? Get settled in with the fleet, build up your PT and rifle scores, then hit the INDOC. What do u guys suggest? -Lake

[RoboRobinson17]

immaproshooter,

Send Cpl. dawsonrecon a PM, I think he'll be the best one to help you out on this one. I believe he is a Reservist Recon. Don't matter if he's reserve, just the fact that he's Recon, better to get the info straight from the horses mouth.

Good Luck

[immaproshooter]

thnx all of u...i really appreciate ya'lls help.....

[Omega]

http://www.specialoperations.com/

there's a section dedicated to Recon... But tread lightly in those forums and DO A SEARCH I can't tell you how many times people go there and get flamed for not searching for the answer before asking. and remember always be polite and respectful.

From what I hear it's better to wait. especially since you'll have more experience and probably better pt scores.

[cmbell]

I use to be a 5-ton driver. I drove for Recon a few times taking Marines from all MOS's to were they did the Recon indoc. This was Recon Battalion 1st Marine Division. There were Marines from COMM, Motor T, Grunts and more. I also used to drive for the scout sniper school on Camp Pendleton.

[leroy8541]

Grunts definately have a leg up especially to div. recon. Force recon is a different story, they will announce indoc in the base paper Marines from all walks of life show up. This one is a bit stiffer than the one at SOI. I was in 1st recon bn. up in tallega went down for the force indoc and did not pack the gear to get thru the indoc. It had to many phases first was the pft If you don't finish with a 300 your done,the 3 mile cool down run fall behind your done straight to the pool for a little swim fail tis your done, then go back to your barracks switch over to Alphas meet back at force recon company office for a board if anyone is left. We had 6 men left they took 1 of us. Five of us were all from recon, 1 from tanks All had jump wings some of were dual Qual.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

That speaks volumes. Men from Recon Bn. that couldn't impress the Force guys enough says something. It is a close knit fraternity, and they guard their ranks very closely.

[immaproshooter]

from my understanding of looking things up im actually able to enlist with the MOS of 0321, is this true or did i read something incorectly?

[dep_baumy]

Maybe its a better idea to wait a year or two? Get settled in with the fleet, build up your PT and rifle scores, then hit the INDOC. What do u guys suggest? -Lake


Yeah Lake thats a great idea, thats what I was told when I brought up Recon to my recruiter. He just said wait until the Marine Corps gets you into the shape they want you in then you have a better work attitude and idea of what the Indoc is like.

[immaproshooter]

ya ur probably right, i think im just going to go infantry and try to build my self upto it, and if i dont get in, i could always switch my MOS over for MP which is what some people have suggested i do neways......

[Sixguns]

You may not be able to go in as an MP anyway.

1. You must meet Ht/Wt. requirement for the option
2. You must meet age requirement.
3. There are few slots for MPs. It's one of the smaller MOS and harder to get options.

I would strongly consider going into the Security Force program where you get both infantry and some security type training. You can always volunteer for recon later. If you do go in on the recon guarantee and do not pass the requirements, you lose the guarantee. Give this some serious thought.

Sixguns

[immaproshooter]

ok thnx.....ill look into this security force program beefore i ask what it is.....if i cant figure it out then i will ask......

[immaproshooter]

just curious but does that have anything to do with (FAST)?

[tacoman]

when ifirst got to the fleet i wanted to go recon but after asking around i found out its better just being a regular infantrymen

[immaproshooter]

why is it beter tacoman?

[tacoman]

cause i was told recon is nothing but snoop and poop they rarely engage enemy targets while as a grunt your trained to engage

[leroy8541]

I don't think you can enlist as an 0321, it is a secondary MOS you'll get a chance to "try out" for it after completion of ITS.

Recon is a "snoop and poop" organization Hence the name Reconnassaince. Since you travel in smaller units, the less feet on the ground, the less likely you are to be detected. engaging the enemy is not a good idea. Recon teams travel light and fast with one of the most powerful weapons on the battle field, the radio, and a direct link to the grunts who travel in large groups at a slower pace loaded to the gills and ready to fight, but without recon they will not have eyes on, and ears to know what they are walking into. Infantry Battallions also have thier own Intelligence gathering teams called the STA Plt. which is where the snipers live. I wouldn't want to say Recon teams do not know how to fight. You wouldn't want to be the ones to comprimise a Recon team while they are on a mission, although thier tactics may differ from those of the grunts they are very effective.

[yellowwing]

Just in case you missed this news story earlier, Rolling Stone Reporter Embedded with Marine Recon (http://rollingstone.com/features/nationalaffairs/featuregen.asp?pid=1696)

"Gen. Mattis, who had other armored-reconnaissance units available to him -- ones trained and equipped to fight through enemy ambushes in specialized, armored vehicles -- says he choose First Recon for one of the most dangerous roles of the campaign because "what I look for in the people I want on the battlefield are not specific job titles but courage and initiative."

[leroy8541]

Yeah I really didn't like the way they used recon forces in Iraq. It was more like they were used for bait fishing for ambushes than any intel gathering.

[immaproshooter]

ya but some one has to do it obviously.......

[Force Recon123]

I personally was not aware that there was a Force Recon AND Recon. I thought when people said Recon, they were referring to Force Recon instead of a different MOS altogether. Whats the difference? Is it that Recon reports intel while Force Recon does engagements?

[HardJedi]

Originally posted by immaproshooter
ok thnx.....ill look into this security force program beefore i ask what it is.....if i cant figure it out then i will ask......

If you go security forces, be prepared for MAJOR boredom. I spent my first two years doing that. ( NavMag, Guam, and Kings Bay Sub Base) 4 on, 4 off, 4 React. Gotta keep your nose pretty darn clean too, or you get your clearance yanked. Mostly it is just standinhg there, watching a fence. BUT, it can open up some good jobs in the civy sector, cause of the clearances you get.


I say, just go 0300, heart and soul of the Corps anyway. :)

[MillRatUSMC]

Recon main mission is to gather intell on the enemy.
If they spot a large enough target, they can call arty or air on that target.
That's why in Vietnam, the enemy feared Recon units, that fear led to deaths of Recon Marines making up Recon team "Little Gull"
http://www.geocities.com/millrat_99/littlegull.html
I did a little up-keep on that story/poem by By THOMAS E. SHAINLINE.
Charlie Company 3rd Recon 68-69

It take a special kind of man to volunteer for Recon.
It takes a great deal of self-motivation and endurance.
There's books on 1st and 3rd Recon in Vietnam.
One story deals with a Recon team that went out thinking, it was going to be a short insertation and extraction.
This was days before Tet of 1968.
While in place, they observe a great deal of movement by the VC/NVA.
They couldn't move because they were in the middle of all this movement.
Many had left their rain gear behind, well it started raining.
They had to endure being soak by all that rain and they weren't able to move because of where they were.
Like I said "It take a special kind of man to volunteer for Recon".

Semper Fidelis
Ricardo

PS
A member of 1st and 3rd Recon, battalion Recon before Vietnam.
While a member of 1st Recon, we took a little cruise down towards Cuba in 1962 during the "Missles of October"...

[MillRatUSMC]

Here's "Little Gull" from the 3rd Recon harborsite;

LITTLE GULL

by Tom Shaline

When I arrived in country, you were in the bush.
I was assigned to your team, call sign "LITTLE GULL".
You were on patrol; I was in your tent.
I did not know you.

I saw your pictures, your Mother and Father,
your wife, your children, your sweetheart, your friends, Miss January.
People you knew and loved, people who knew and loved you.
I saw your Bible, your prayer book, your cross and beads.
I picked up your mail, and laid it on your bunk.
I picked up a care package from home, it smelled so good.
It must be filled with lots of goodies, packed by loving hands.
I thought, when you get back I’ll have some of this good stuff.
I did not know you.

For two days I went to the comm center and followed your progress on the map.
Little colored pins were placed when you reported your position
as you made your way through the mountains.
I looked at the contour lines, and thought how terribly steep they were
and far in you were.
How difficult that climb must be for you.
But I did not know you.

Then I heard on the radio, "Contact! Contact! Contact! Little Gull, Contact!"
The company commander said (don’t worry) it happens all the time, they will be all right.
We could hear the gunfire when you keyed the handset.
We could hear the explosion of hand grenades.
We heard your last choking words that sounded like, "GAS!"
I heard your voice; I did not know you.

Silence.
The radio operator called you again and again, "Little Gull, Little Gull, sitrep."
"Little Gull do you hear me? Little Gull go to secondary frequency."
No answer,
only silence.
A reaction team was put together, I made sure I was on it.
We flew out as darkness set in and landed several miles from your position.
There was no moon.
In the darkness we stumbled up one mountain and down another.
It was too dangerous; we set in for the night.
I wondered how you were? What happened to you?
I did not know you.

At first light we set out climbing up one mountain,
sliding and falling down another.
We were fourteen, carrying weapons and ammo,
you were just six carrying three times as much,
how difficult that must have been for you.
We found your position.
I was not prepared for what we saw.
All your equipment,
your weapons, your radios were gone.
You were strewn about, hacked apart,
tears filled my eyes, rage filled my heart,
I gagged and chucked.
I saw you, but I did not know you.

We called for an airdrop of body bags.
Six bags for six men.
Six bags for six boys who became men,
so far from the people in the pictures.
So far from the people in the letters,
so far from those who knew you.
But I did not know you.

I picked you up carefully and placed you in the bag,
piece by piece, trying to put the same person in the same bag.
We moved out, back to the LZ, I carried you, the smallest.
I carried you, I felt you, I smelled you,
I did not know you.

I tried so hard not to drop you;
I tried to keep you from hitting the ground, as we went up and down the mountains.
I could not, please forgive me.
The bag ripped, blood and body fluids seeped out and over me.
I can still feel it.
I placed you in the chopper and flew back with you to the base.
I placed you on a litter as if you were still alive and watched them roll you away,
I never saw you again,
I did not know you.

All these years you have been a part of me.
You have lived with me every hour of every day of every year.
A secret to be kept, a memory to grow,
pain to be nurtured until the secret was too great,
the memory overwhelming, the pain unbearable.
I must let you out; I must let you go, I must tell the secret.
I will always remember you; I will always honor you.
I never knew you.

I copy it as is, this the reason I did some up keep on something that unbearable but it must NEVER be FORGOTTEN of what Marines did in Vietnam...
May the team members of "Little Gull" Rest In Peace...we'll never forget you till we have closurer to our war...

Semper Fidelis
Ricardo

[MillRatUSMC]

The reason I placed "Little Gull" here is because geocities.com is saying my page has used more data than is allowed...whatever that means...

Semper Fidelis
Ricardo

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

Wow, a wannabe that calls himself Force Recon and not a word was said... this must be a "kinder and gentler" leatherneck.com.

Anyway Force, the anser is NO! Recon and/or Force Recon exist for... YOU GUESSED IT----> RECON! Look at the definition listed below:

re·con·nais·sance also re·con·nois·sance n.
An inspection or exploration of an area, especially one made to gather military information.

Recon isn't intended to be involved in "direct action." Look at what Leroy8541 posted. (And maybe find out why 8541 is significant) and then rethink. If a recon guy is shooting, it is usually a sign that something went VERY wrong.

While it is not current, I would suggest getting a copy of a book called "Force Recon Diary 1969" (also one for 1970) written by Bruce Norton. He was a corpsman with Force in Vietnam (and later a Marine Major) and it will tell you, in detail, what they were (and for the most part, are) all about.

[Force Recon123]

Thank you for the information Echo. As far as my name is concerned, if it offends anyone that I am not, in fact, a Force Recon Marine, then it will be changed. I'm not trying to be disrepectful to anyone, but if thats what i am doing then i will gladly change it.



SEMPER FI

[Pel]

ok heres another thing Im wondering should someone whos not a Marine say Semper Fi ? I really want to know the answer to that so share what you think

[mucho]

I say "Semper Fi" instead of "see you later" when I'm talking to Marines.

I'm not a Marine yet, but I will be soon. I dont see any problem with a poole or a dep'er saying "Semper Fi" but what do I know?

[Phantom Blooper]

“Semper-Fi Heart”


Some may wear the uniform
And even look the part
But to truly be a real Marine
You must have a “Semper-Fi Heart”
This “Heart” is not earned in “Boot Camp”
But is “Developed Along the Way”
And it “Grows” because of “Dedication”
Through “Service” each and every day
“Semper” is Latin for “Always”
“Fidelis” means “Faithful” and “True”
“Faithful” when things don’t go your way
And “Faithful” when they do
You may not understand the rationale
Nor even know the reason why
But the “Mission” will be accomplished
When your “Heart” is “Semper-Fi”

:marine:

[Sender]

Good Luck, God Speed and remain Semper Fidelis! A line we used often as Drill Instructors.