thedrifter
05-16-06, 04:26 AM
May 15, 2006
2nd Force Recon stands down
Platoons head to spec ops unit
By Christian Lowe
Times staff writer
It’s sunrise for one unit and sunset for another. After months of anticipation and planning since the Corps officially stood up its new special operations command, the service has established its first cadre of door-kickers that will contribute to U.S. Special Operations Command counterterrorism missions.
The Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based Marine Forces Special Operations Command formally created its first company made up of some of the Corps’ most elite operators today. The unit will train to standards that meet or exceed those used to certify Navy SEAL units and Army Special Forces teams for deployment, officials said.
Establishment of the new unit — Fox Company, 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion — did not come without cost, however. Manpower pressures forced the Corps to pull some of its most seasoned operators from 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company to provide the foundation for the battalion’s direct-action teams — a move that has meant the end of 2nd Force.
“There is a strong lineage and a strong sense of history within this organization. In that respect ... it is a little sad,” said Lt. Col. Paul Montanus, former 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company commander who now heads 2nd MSOB.
“But it’s exciting, too,” he added. “If [SOCom] has the lead on the global war on terrorism, then why should we deprive SOCom of a whole pool of talent to be able to fight that?”
About five platoons and the headquarters section from the now-defunct 2nd Force will head into the new spec ops battalion, while two of the former 2nd Force platoons will be shifted to 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion.
These two former force recon platoons — which will form Delta Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion — will bring a forcelike capability for Marine expeditionary force commanders who need to execute “direct-action and special reconnaissance” missions above and beyond those normally executed by battalion-level recon Marines, according to May 2 Marine Corps documents outlining the reorganization.
For more information on the Corps’ spec ops plans, check out the full story in Marine Corps Times.
2nd Force Recon stands down
Platoons head to spec ops unit
By Christian Lowe
Times staff writer
It’s sunrise for one unit and sunset for another. After months of anticipation and planning since the Corps officially stood up its new special operations command, the service has established its first cadre of door-kickers that will contribute to U.S. Special Operations Command counterterrorism missions.
The Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based Marine Forces Special Operations Command formally created its first company made up of some of the Corps’ most elite operators today. The unit will train to standards that meet or exceed those used to certify Navy SEAL units and Army Special Forces teams for deployment, officials said.
Establishment of the new unit — Fox Company, 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion — did not come without cost, however. Manpower pressures forced the Corps to pull some of its most seasoned operators from 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company to provide the foundation for the battalion’s direct-action teams — a move that has meant the end of 2nd Force.
“There is a strong lineage and a strong sense of history within this organization. In that respect ... it is a little sad,” said Lt. Col. Paul Montanus, former 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company commander who now heads 2nd MSOB.
“But it’s exciting, too,” he added. “If [SOCom] has the lead on the global war on terrorism, then why should we deprive SOCom of a whole pool of talent to be able to fight that?”
About five platoons and the headquarters section from the now-defunct 2nd Force will head into the new spec ops battalion, while two of the former 2nd Force platoons will be shifted to 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion.
These two former force recon platoons — which will form Delta Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion — will bring a forcelike capability for Marine expeditionary force commanders who need to execute “direct-action and special reconnaissance” missions above and beyond those normally executed by battalion-level recon Marines, according to May 2 Marine Corps documents outlining the reorganization.
For more information on the Corps’ spec ops plans, check out the full story in Marine Corps Times.