thedrifter
12-20-08, 05:32 AM
Force Recon Company activated
Comments | Recommend
December 19, 2008 - 6:14 PM
JENNIFER HLAD
DAILY NEWS STAFF
The commander of Force Reconnaissance Company unfurled the unit's colors Friday morning, marking the reactivation of the unit - 50 years after II Marine Expeditionary Force first activated a force reconnaissance company.
"Capt. Mercado, take command of Force Reconnaissance Company and prepare them for worldwide deployment," Lt. Col. Lawrence Landon, commanding officer of 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion ordered Capt. Anthony Mercado.
"Aye, aye, sir," Mercado replied.
Force Reconnaissance Company was deactivated in 2006 when Marine Special Operations Command was activated, taking many of the force recon Marines into its folds. Friday, former force recon Marines gathered in the morning fog at Courthouse Bay to watch their unit stand up again.
"It's an emotional day," said Michael Miszko, who served with 1st and 2nd Force Reconnaissance companies in the mid-1960s. "It's good to see them back on board."
Force Reconnaissance Company is designed to provide reconnaissance for II MEF; the other companies in 2nd Recon Battalion provide reconnaissance for 2nd Marine Division. Force Recon has a number of capabilities for entering a location undetected, including SCUBA diving, static line parachute and freefall parachute.
It also is the only Marine Corps unit capable of high glide missions, Mercado said. High glide involves jumping from high altitude with a special parachute and allows the Marines to travel farther, landing in a dark, unmarked landing zone far from the drop point.
The Force Recon Company Marines have been doing a variety of training exercises for the past six months to get ready for the activation, including dive training in Curacao.
"They didn't have a lot of weekends or holidays in the last six months," Mercado said.
But the Marines enjoy the training, said Sgt. Nathan Bleu.
"That stuff really does prepare you," he said.
Miszko said Force Recon Marines are prepared for any mission they may be called to undertake.
"At (Recruit Depot) Parris Island, they teach you how to deal with the pain level. In Force Recon, they teach you to deal with the passing out level," he said. "When a job has to be done, Force Recon Marines will continue to do the job at all costs."
Mercado said he was proud to take command of the newly reactivated company.
"I'm ecstatic to be a part of the history," he said.
Though the unit has been deactivated in the past, Mercado said he thinks the unit's importance will be proven in combat.
"They saw a need to bring us back," he said. "I think we're here to stay."
Contact interactive content editor and military reporter Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8467.
Ellie
Comments | Recommend
December 19, 2008 - 6:14 PM
JENNIFER HLAD
DAILY NEWS STAFF
The commander of Force Reconnaissance Company unfurled the unit's colors Friday morning, marking the reactivation of the unit - 50 years after II Marine Expeditionary Force first activated a force reconnaissance company.
"Capt. Mercado, take command of Force Reconnaissance Company and prepare them for worldwide deployment," Lt. Col. Lawrence Landon, commanding officer of 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion ordered Capt. Anthony Mercado.
"Aye, aye, sir," Mercado replied.
Force Reconnaissance Company was deactivated in 2006 when Marine Special Operations Command was activated, taking many of the force recon Marines into its folds. Friday, former force recon Marines gathered in the morning fog at Courthouse Bay to watch their unit stand up again.
"It's an emotional day," said Michael Miszko, who served with 1st and 2nd Force Reconnaissance companies in the mid-1960s. "It's good to see them back on board."
Force Reconnaissance Company is designed to provide reconnaissance for II MEF; the other companies in 2nd Recon Battalion provide reconnaissance for 2nd Marine Division. Force Recon has a number of capabilities for entering a location undetected, including SCUBA diving, static line parachute and freefall parachute.
It also is the only Marine Corps unit capable of high glide missions, Mercado said. High glide involves jumping from high altitude with a special parachute and allows the Marines to travel farther, landing in a dark, unmarked landing zone far from the drop point.
The Force Recon Company Marines have been doing a variety of training exercises for the past six months to get ready for the activation, including dive training in Curacao.
"They didn't have a lot of weekends or holidays in the last six months," Mercado said.
But the Marines enjoy the training, said Sgt. Nathan Bleu.
"That stuff really does prepare you," he said.
Miszko said Force Recon Marines are prepared for any mission they may be called to undertake.
"At (Recruit Depot) Parris Island, they teach you how to deal with the pain level. In Force Recon, they teach you to deal with the passing out level," he said. "When a job has to be done, Force Recon Marines will continue to do the job at all costs."
Mercado said he was proud to take command of the newly reactivated company.
"I'm ecstatic to be a part of the history," he said.
Though the unit has been deactivated in the past, Mercado said he thinks the unit's importance will be proven in combat.
"They saw a need to bring us back," he said. "I think we're here to stay."
Contact interactive content editor and military reporter Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8467.
Ellie