What a Marine Recon Team Looks Like

Dirty, tired, camouflage-painted, trousers ripped, armed to the teeth, and overloaded.

Okay, so that’s what the guys on the Recon team look like most of the time. The team itself has evolved a bit due to operational requirements, equipment limitations, and force protection requirements established by higher. Over the years since Vietnam, the Recon team has ranged from four-man Force Recon Stingray teams to entire Recon platoons going out as one.

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Peter Nealen

Peter Nealen is a former Reconnaissance Marine and veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. He deployed to Iraq in 2005-2006, and again in 2007, with 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Recon Bn. After two years of schools and workups, including Scout/Sniper Basic and Team Leader's Courses, he deployed to Afghanistan with 4th Platoon, Force Reconnaissance Company, I MEF. Since he got out, he's been writing, authoring many articles and 24 books, mostly Action/Adventure and Military Thrillers, with some excursions into Paranormal Fantasy and Science Fiction.

One thought on “What a Marine Recon Team Looks Like”

Frank Nelson
April 4, 2013 at 6:01 pm
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After the point man I suppose the rest of the team carries 120 lbs? Regardless of branch is seems to me as if all recon units are (barely) mobile observation posts? I know it’s institutional, but it seems to me that if anyone really wanted serious recon they’d lighten you up, reduce your firepower, and concentrate on stealth.
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