Joining Marine Corps Force Recon

Force Recon Overview
Operationally, Force Recon Marines often serve as scout swimmers, and act as the Corps' eyes behind enemy lines, conducting operations such as sniping, quick raids, and enemy captures. First and foremost, Force Recon Marines are the "shooters."

These are the men who fight the secret wars that never make the front page. Going far beyond that required even for other Marines, Force Recon brings a very high level of expertise to any operation its members are involved with. And as you might imagine, becoming a member of Force Recon is extremely difficult

Reconnaissance Man - MOS 0321,
The reconnaissance man is responsible for providing the amphibious, long range, small unit, ground reconnaissance and raid skills to support the MAGTF. He is the nucleus of a reconnaissance team in the reconnaissance battalion or the reconnaissance or assault team in the force reconnaissance company.

In addition to basic infantry skills, he is responsible for highly refined scouting and patrolling skills. Also, he must possess advanced proficiency in scout swimming, small boat operations, close combat skills, helicopter and submarine insertion/extraction techniques, assault climbing, demolitions, forward observer procedures for supporting arms, initial terminal guidance operations for heliborne assaults, airborne insertion operations, and various waterborne operations, communications, photography, threat weapons and equipment recognition, and various types of point, area, and related necessary overlap of amphibious reconnaissance operations.

Marines assigned to assault teams possess advanced skills in assault weaponry, breaching demolitions, and close quarter battle skills and raid techniques. Selected reconnaissance men are further trained asstatic line and freefall parachutists and combatant divers.

Noncommissioned officers are assigned as reconnaissance and assault team leaders or their assistants and may be qualified as static line and free fall jumpmasters, dive supervisors, helicopter insertion/extraction masters (HRST), and tandem offset resupply delivery system (TORDS) operators.

Eligibility Requirementsand Prerequisites
To be eligible for Marine Force Recon candidates must:

• Possess a GT score of 105 or higher.
• Possess a 1st class swimmer qualification. 3108 MOS MANUAL 3-32
• Obtain a first class score on the PFT.
• Have 20/200 near visual acuity or visual acuity not to exceed 20/400 with a completed PRK eye surgery candidate consult. Normal color vision is recommended, but not required provided the Marine can complete a vivid red and vivid green recognition test.
  Note: These standards are coordinated with BUMED for interservice school attendance requirements, as required. Changes may occur in between MOS Manual updates as required by interservice advocate agreements and will be outlined in the P117 Medical Manual of the Navy and Army, AR 40-501.
• Complete Marine Rifleman Course, or appropriate MOJT.
• Assigned as a primary MOS to Cpl and below 03XX Marines by CMC (MM) and Reconnaissance OccFld Manager (PP&O Code POE), and approved lateral-move Marines from any other MOS, who graduate from the Basic Reconnaissance Course (BRC). Volunteers from any MOS may be certified for AMOS only by Recon unit commanders after attending the BRC or through MOJT at a BRC endorsed reconnaissance-training program to include a continuous 6-month assignment in a 0321 billet.
• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Be eligible for a secret security clearance.

Force Recon Duties
For a complete listing of duties and tasks, refer to MCO 1510.35, Individual Training Standards. Related DOT Classification/DOT Code. Reconnaissance Crewmember 378.367-030. Related Military Skill (1) Rifleman, 0311. (2) Infantry Unit Leader, 0369.