Force Recon Marines VS Recon Marines - What's the difference?

KG Spradley joins the show, and as the first Force Recon guy we've ever had on, he gets into the difference between Force Recon Marines and Recon Marines.
Watch the full episode up now - • Force Recon Marine & c...
#usmc #specops #specialoperations

[@michaelross1943]

Guys, I like the show. BUT you guys need to talk less and let the guest talk.

[@Fadedbrade69]

Facts a lot of these military podcasts don’t allow things to go with the guest’s narrative.

[@Giedriukas3]

@@Fadedbrade69is there a reason behind this? Like to control the content?

[@Fadedbrade69]

@@Giedriukas3 no just this channel specifically “Shawn Ryan” does it perfectly allowing the guests to fully explain things.

[@talkfan]

100%

[@rickytecon5726]

Having served in a Marine Recon Bn. The main difference was the range of the missions. Force was supposed to be long range beyond supporting arms. They also received more advanced schools than most guys at Battalion. That being said. Certain Recon Battalions had Deep Recon Platoons that did the Force Recon mission set. Battalion Recon also had direct missions that were called Stingray missions. A lot has changed over the years. ARS aka BRC is where they all go to become a Reconnaissance Marine. Doesn't matter if it's Force or Battalion. In the mid 80's 2nd Force was getting Hostage recuse training from the LASO SEB guy's. There was a rivalry between them and the SEALS. They were growing their hair out and getting cool gear. I was jealous. The Ranger vs Ranger school grad analogy isn't a good analogy to make, and I did go to Ranger school as a Recon Marine. oh yeah and I couldn't wear the tab.

[@XtrmTJ97]

I was in 1st RECON BN DRP in the early 80's.

[@user-bi9bz2cy8l]

For fuck's sake, it would be GREAT if Ian would let the other two FINISH THEIR SENTENCES and not try to guess what they were going to say. Let the guys TALK FFS please.

[@talkfan]

OMG I was literally thinking the same thing. Shut up and and let the guy talk.

[@taldozer]

Battalion Reconnaissance, the name says it all. They are a BN level asset that has a special operations capability but is not classified as a SOF. Force Reconnaissance, is a Fleet Marine Force (basically MEU to Corp level… Marines you can correct me) asset that is highly trained as a special operations unit. But is also not classified as a SOF under USSOCOM. MARSOC/Raiders is a SOF under USSOCOM. Being part of USSOCOM is not here as a “level” elitness, but comes down to operational control and funding. A very similar parallel was in the US Army before 2019 with Long-Range Surveillance (LRS) Units (LRSU). There was the Division level asset with LRS Detachments (LRSD), similar to BN Recon. And LRS Company (LRSC) which was a Corp asset similar to Force Recon. LRSD and LRSC were also special operations “capable” units that were not a SOF. 75th RRD/RRC is a SOF under USSOCOM. This is in no way to say any unit is better or more elite. It is just to list how diluted military hierarchy can be to the uninitiated. LoL. Good video by the way!

[@user-de6sv3pk1v]

As a Radio Recon Marine who trained with Force Recon, and Marine Snipers… I was a Recon Marine, not Force or a Sniper… I was on training missions with them and I actually went through part of the Force Recon Indoctrination Program (it was more gentlemanly than the Recon Indoc, at least in the pool). The way the guy describes Force Recon in the video could have been the description of Radio Recon just as well, including demolition and all of it, except Radio obviously adds signals intel. The main difference, according to the highly coordinated joint training I was involved in was Recon Marines get closer to the objective initially, close enough to list targets and assets, weapons, etc and take photos, while listening in on the targets and surrounding noise. Force Recon and Snipers staged near but off target until we collected enough intel for command to determine how to follow up. If the intel target was high value or if a particular target needed sniped, Force or Snipers could be called in to capture the intel or prisoners or to snipe who needed sniping. Radio Recon was a small very clandestine team of 6 or fewer operators. Force had many more men and way more firepower than Radio Recon, possibly including a big automatic gun or two on vehicles. Once Recon collected intel, Force may be sent in to capture material intel and/or prisoners. At that time Radio Recon would be part of the security perimeter or called in to assist Force. Keep in mind, this was only the training missions I was on and all missions could demand each unit perform various tasks with considerable overlap. My actual missions in Iraq and other Middle Eastern nations never operated in conjunction with Force or any other special operations units since we were all spread thin. We didn't even have 6 men sometimes. All these units should be highly respected.

[@offspringfan1288]

You can spin it anyway you want. SOCCOM is absolutely more elite than any of other SOF capability unit. That is not up for debate. The level of training, funding, and mission set separates the elite title. FR marines simply do not get the same level of training and operational tempo that MARSOC does.

[@user-de6sv3pk1v]

Honestly the training is very similar among many special operations units. In fact, I am a recon Marine and I went to both Army Airborne and Army Ranger schools. And we had Navy Seals train with us during one of the Recon Indoctrination Course that I planned. And there were Seals at that Ranger school as well. You are correct in that one major difference is funding. That is what hurts Marines spec ops in notoriety… Marines simply do not get any where near the funding that the other branches get. Marines decided not to lend their best to official Special Forces (we are Special Ops none-the-less) in order to not lose their best Marines to other commands, which makes sense.@@offspringfan1288

[@MatthewGaskins-sk7vs]

The operation that Marcus Latrell went on was actually supposed to be a Marine Corps operation, And they were gonna send in scouts snipers. There is a book on audible about. it. I wish I remember the name of the book.

[@stevenmadden121443]

It might be Victory Point by Ed Darack

[@Socialist1919]

“Victory Point” About Whalers Op

[@richardrobin5837]

I was a Recon Marine(battalion). The biggest difference between us and the SOF units is funding. Being part of SOCOM comes with having virtually an unlimited budget for training. I did DA missions in battalion. Not as much as Forecon but we did them....Stingray missions

[@KGSpradleyAuthor]

Thank you gents. Just a reminder, we’re all on the same Team.

[@cwwcww7465]

Only down range... Here, swabbies are swabbies, Army is just dogs, mutts even, Air Force is usually not even in the room unless they are jtac or pj, I will help them.. and the good ol Coasties.... I love these dudes...especially the special ones who hunt cartel scum..... and the Space Men, how can you say that and keep a straight face, no matter how well they are trained......I would have gone with the Colonial Marines for the crazy stuff we will meet on Uranus ( 😂 haaaa ) and the Seals and Army for the moon battles with China and Mars People.... LingMAO 😂😂😂haaaaaaaaaaa Send Jocko or Kennedy for the initial meet and greet to guarantee War.....😂😂 What a mess Obama has made of this country.

[@1775MarineCorps]

My biggest regret was getting out. Semper FI

[@omarab837]

Why does the guy on the left not have a chin?

[@tewkewl]

lines blur now. depends on their skill set. in the case of rudy, he was attached to a ship and was one of the first on the ground in afghanistan with his one recon platoon. the other thing is that he was also a marine scout sniper. as a result, it's not the same exact thing as a regular recon guy. he was working in joint small units as well.

[@Poise111]

I spent 7 years in the Marines, first enlistment on camp margarita stationed with Truck company HQBN, where 1st Recon was based and STILL don’t know what those fuckers did 😂

[@keatonward6403]

Thinking about getting back in the military. Havent decided. Leaning Marine Corps because my time in the army was a pretty bad and im wanting to give another branch a chance. But the military altogether is becoming something even I can't get down with. Leadership on top is REALLY bad right now and id say it has been for years. Shit rolls down hill. Force Recon and MARSOC seem like attractive options as a former grunt. (11B 82nd ABN Div) But as a father... it doesn't pay so well and i have 3 kids i have to provide for. And of course that's assuming I'd even make the cut and get into one of those units. There's probably alot of former service members like me i imagine. It's more dog eat dog in the civilian sector, for sure. But there's way more incentive to stay out of the military right now. Especially with current world affairs the way they are. Not everyone condones the moves our government is making.

[@no8865]

First of all, as a Marine, there is not a direct comparison between being an Army straight leg and a Marine. Marines are more on the level of Rangers. I'm not sure what makes you think you would make it in Recon or MARSOC. You have three kids, why would you want to be in a unit with an operational tempo of deploying every year?

[@billyjacc]

​@@no8865BULL $#!+... Marines are more comparable to Rangers... 😂 STOP it. As a former Soldier who served in LRS Unit as well as a Cav Scout beforehand, and have done a bit of training with an ANGLICO Unit , being Opfor for a Ranger Company and having former Marines including two former Recon Battalion Marines come to the Army . I stand by my words. BS.

[@joem8736]

Wow can listen to these guys

[@robertisham5279]

Since when do marines wear ocp or multicam?

[@MyMothers-Son]

It's a relatively recent years change. The SOCOM commander implemented OCPs because he wanted everyone under his umbrella to be uniformed.

[@steverivera7270]

I was a Scout Sniper and BLT 3rd Recon, If you can make it in BLT Recon, you have a good chance of going Force Recon.

[@shootingbricks8554]

Force Recon Guys are all dive and airborne qualified. In Battalion Recon, not all Recon Marines are airborne or dive qualified. Some are. Also you don't stay in Force Recon for the rest of your career.

[@JBDemi]

How can you enter Force recon after finishing BRC?

[@thestoicjourney3355]

My lord boys let the man talk

[@Cowards_die_twice]

Do not put Taylor Cav in the show. Kicked out of the seals, joined the foreign leg and recently deserted. Can't even make it without getting into trouble.

[@mikesmith7497]

there's nothing wrong with Taylor Cav he's putting out a good message.

[@Cowards_die_twice]

@@mikesmith7497 Lol, he's a deserter. Period. Did a lot of people wrong here in France. You have not a clue..

[@80s_baby]

Really?

[@Cowards_die_twice]

@@80s_baby yes really. I knew him unfortunately, in France. He's a real duet bag and vina artist and pathological liar

[@mikesmith7497]

@@Cowards_die_twiceOk for sure man i didn't know could you please let us know what he did wrong in France please?

[@snowboarder107]

Let the man talk. Wow

[@manuelpelayo7730]

Are Battalion Recon Marines equivalent to U.S Army light infantry battalion scout platoon or Longe Range Surveillance?

[@Michael-en7of]

More LRS

[@josephfolsom2870]

Not even close.

[@Anandroid]

@@josephfolsom2870yeah as in recon is on another level. Not to mention the training pipeline and requirements start to finish

[@billyjacc]

​@@AnandroidWhat makes Recon or even FR different than the US LRSC/D units? I'd like to hear this?

[@tewkewl]

@@billyjacc training is more difficult. Many are jump and dive qualified. There is a massive water component as they have to infil via water as well.

[@josephvega3763]

I wrote a book at meps

[@DeathBlossom867]

You guys gotta work out your tempo/cadence with the interruptions and questions. Dude never gets to respond and you guys are going nonstop.

[@silkplayer9]

Please shut up and let the guest talks.

[@silverstar4289]

One too many people yanking g in this.

[@cwwcww7465]

I like the fact that the world knows more about DevGru and Delta these days than they know about the modern LAR units.... I get the social media thing.... But over the last 20 years or so, operational security has become a thing of the past.... Barack Hussein Obama is to thank for that....Joe was told by Obama... Force today vs Force in the early 90s... can't compare... Even when Det One was created to start the ball rolling, a step was lost....and still, look what they accomplished.... Richard Marcinko had the entire Navy, SOF community to hand pick his little band from..when he created Red Cell, 1 of those dudes was a Force Guy....Old School of course. And then, there was the infamous long hair unit out of 41 area.... If you are going to compare the units, to others. Bn would be a 3 right out of BRC. Force a solid 2, all day once they get out of the traing unit... MARSOC, CSOs, top end of 2 all day, and dont be surprised if they already have a 1 hidden somewhere that actually keep their mouth shut... Unlike some dudes....on youtube.... A set of undated pre signed leave papers is good indicator of how good and valuable a unit is to the dudes in Washinton.... I would say there aren't too many of those in our arsenal..... But this is fun AIN'T IT!!!!!😂