3rd Recon

The Marine Recon we know today dates back to the W.W.II. Before 1944 the MR were 
primarily scout/sniper units. In April 1944 a two company amphibious reconnaissance battalion were formed. They started operating with UDT (Underwater Demolition Team), to conduct beach reconnaissance and hydrographic survey.  The MR along with UDT reconned for the landings at Iwo Jima in 1945.

During the war in Korea the MR and UDT did a series of raids on Korea's east coast, destroying railroad tunnels and bridges. At a time the MR operated 200 miles behind enemy lines. In 1951 the MR made the first helicopter assault in the Marine Corps history.

When the marines landed in Vietnam in 1965, the MR were there to support their respective Units. In Vietnam the MR conducted deep and distant reconnaissance patrols. They mostly operated in seven-man teams performing the so called 'Stingray' operations. The last marines left Vietnam in 1971.

During the 1970s and 1980s the MR went through some changes. 23-man deep reconnaissance platoons were created to compensate for the seducement of the MR after the Vietnam War. The basic Recon teams were still the four-man teams. When the hostage recovery program was started in 1976 with federal law enforcement agencies and the Army Special Forces, some of the MR units were assigned to Direct Action missions. In 1977, snipers were again a part of the marine units.

In October 1983 the MR took part in the invasion of Grenada, and in 1989 they went into Panama in Operation 'Just Cause'. In 1990 MR was deployed in the Gulf. Here they scouted the front lines of the Iraqi forces. They found ways through enemy lines for the marine invasion. Prior to the ground war the MR took 238 prisoners.

NOTE: The Marine Recon is not a part of SOCOM (Special Operation Command).

Stationed:
Active Duty:
Division Recon Company-1st Marine Division Camp Pendleton California 1st Force Recon Company, 1st SRIG, Camp Pendleton, California 2nd Recon Battalion-Camp Lejuene North Carolina(2nd Force Recon Company is now part of this unit) Division Recon Company-3rd Marine Division, Camp Butler, Okinawa Japan 5th Force Recon Company, Camp Butler, Okinawa Japan
Reserve:
3rd Force Recon Company, Mobile Alabama 4th Force Recon Company, Reno Nevada and Oahu Hawaii 4th Reconnaissance Battalion-San Antonio Texas, Billings Montana, Albuquerque New Mexico, and Anchorage Alaska.
Weapons: M16A2, M203, M249 SAW, M9 Beretta Handgun, H&K MP5, M40 sniper rifle, Barret .50 caliber Heavy sniper rifle.

LINEAGE
OF
3RD RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION
3RD MARINE DIVISION
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

1942 - 1945

 

ACTIVATED 16 SEPTEMBER 1942 AT CAMP PENDLETON, CA , AS COMPANY E SCOUTS,
3RD TANK BATTALION, AND ASSIGNED TO THE 3RD MARINE DIVISION

DEPLOYED JANUARY- FEBRUARY 1943 TO AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

REDESIGNATED 20 APRIL 1943 AS 3RD SCOUT COMPANY, HEADQUARTERS BATTALION,
3RD MARINE DIVISION

REDESIGNATED 15 MAY 1943 AS COMPANY E (SCOUT), 3RD TANK BATTALION

REDESIGNATED 1 JULY 1943 AS COMPANY D (SCOUT) 3RD TANK BATTALION

REDESIGNATED 1 APRIL 1944 AS AMPHIBIOUS RECONNAISSANCE COMPANY,
HEADQUARTERS BATTALION, 3RD MARINE DIVISION

PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WWII CAMPAIGNS
BOUGAINVILLE
SOLOMON ISLANDS
GUAM
IWO JIMA

RELOCATED DECEMBER 1945 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CA

DEACTIVATED 31 DECEMBER 1945

1952 - 1964

REACTIVATED 1 MARCH 1952 AT CAMP PENDLETON, CA AS RECONNAISSANCE COMPANY,
HEADQUARTERS BATTALION AND ASSIGNED TO THE 3RD MARINE DIVISION
FLEET MARINE FORCE

DEPLOYED AUGUST 1953 TO CAMP GIFU, JAPAN

DEPLOYED APRIL 1956 TO CAMP HAUGE, OKINAWA

DEACTIVATED 14 APRIL 1958

REACTIVATED 15 APRIL 1958 AT CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, AS THE
3RD RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION AND ASSIGNED TO THE
3RD MARINE DIVISION, FLEET MARINE FORCE

1965 - 1992

DEPLOYED MAY 1965 TO CHU LAI, REPUBLIC OF VIET-NAM

PARTICIPATED IN WAR IN VIET-NAM, MAY 1965 - NOVEMBER 1969, OPERATING FROM
DA NANG
HUE/PHU BAI
QUANG TRI

REDEPLOYED DURING DECEMBER 1969 TO CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA

DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN PACIFIC AREAS UNTIL IT'S STAND DOWN AND DEACTIVATION DURING 1992

(1) MCO 5401.5 dated 24 August 1992, USMC Force Structure Implementation Plan. This plan laid out the framework for the Corps of the future. In shrinking to 159,000 by Fiscal Year 1997, the reconnaissance battalions were the first to be eliminated.

(2) In consonance with the stand down each infantry regiment was to get a reconnaissance company comprised of 5 Officers and 87 Enlisted.

(3) On 25 November 1992 Charlie Company stood down. The men were transferred to Bravo and Delta Companies.

(4) On 29 January 1993 Bravo Company was transferred to the Ninth Marines and Delta Company to the 4th Marines.

(5) On 2 April 1993 Alpha Company was transferred to the Third Marines.

(6) Headquarters and Service Company stood down and furled the Battalion Colors.

3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Today

On 2 June 2000 the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion was reactivated. A little history is in order to explain the deactivation which occurred in 1992.


The Battalion was reactivated under the Command of Lt. Col. Douglas M. King at Camp Schwab. At the time of the reactivation 5th Force Company and 3rd Recon Company were combined to form the present battalion.

It is with great pride to all of us that the unit so many of us served is once again whole.

This page will be utilized to keep all updated, as best we can, on todays battalion. We are honored to support them.

 

Welcome to the Marine Reconnaissance Operational Advisory Group (ROAG) website. From here you can review past, present, and future information about ROAG related initiatives and developments. The information is divided by date of conference. The Commanding General, 3rd Marine Division is assigned executive oversight of the ROAG. For questions and comments, contact 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion.