Do the Marines of a Reconnaissance platoon usually work with the rest of the people in an MEU? What kind of Marine Recon unit is in a MEU?

Alfred Martinez — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 01:27:19 -0500

Hi.
My Doubt is
Do the marines of a reconnaissance platoon usually work with the rest of the people in an MEU?
And what kind of marine recon is in a MEU? Force Recon?

Response by Maj John Bell made Jan 28 at 2020 3:11 AM

Maj John Bell — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 03:11:19 -0500

I've been out 27 years, so the nomenclature may have changed but I'm pretty sure the principles have not.

I'm not quite sure the question is framed correctly. A MEU consist of a Command Element (CE) Ground Combat Element (GCE), Air Combat Element (ACE), and a Force Service Support Element (FSSE). Every MEU is task organized and one MEU may not be exactly the same as the next.

As far as recon assets are concerned. There are two types of Recon.
_Force Recon will most likely be attached to the MEU Command Element, and be tasked to support MEU operations by the MEU S-2. This is a detachment from the Fleet Marine Force (FMF)'s Force Recon Company, and will have two or more elements. One will be more focused on Special Operations Direct Action and another focused on deep renaissance. During Operation it will go out tasked organized and could work with other assets from the task force, including Navy assets, theater assets from US Army, US Air Force, non-military US Assets, or foreign assets.
_Recon Platoon will most likely be attached to the MEU Ground Combat Element, and be tasked to support GCE operations by the Battalion Landing Team (BLT) S-2. This is normally a Platoon from the Divisions Recon Battalion. The Recon platoon's focus will be near and close reconnaissance (as opposed to deep reconnaissance for Force Recon) This platoon may be reinforced by other elements from the Recon Battalion. Just as with the Force Recon Element, the Recon platoon will be tasked organized or any operation and my work with other assets from the task force, including Navy assets, theater assets from US Army, US Air Force, non-military US Assets, or foreign assets.

Additionally
__Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) Platoon. This is an asset organic to the Rifle Battalion, (not truly made up of Recon Marines) and normally tasked through the Battalion Landing Team S-2. In my day it consisted of the Scout Sniper Section and the Ground Surveillance Section (Ground Surveillance Radar and Seismic Intrusion Detection). Once again during operations any element will be tasked organized for the operation. As the S-2 I might maintain control over STA platoon assets, or send detachments to the Rifle Company Commanders to support their operations.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 28 at 2020 7:22 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 07:22:02 -0500

The answer is out of the same pubs and links the community provided you about a week ago on your similar Engineer Platoon question.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2020 12:53 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 12:53:46 -0500

Why do you have two similar posts, and why are you interested? When asked questions, please respond with answers. Your profile lists you as a nurse since 2002, so I doubt that you plan on enlisting, so what is your motivation?