Posted on Aug 5, 2021
What entailed getting assigned to a Long-range Recon Patrol during Vietnam?
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Basically, I question a veteran I am related to in regard to his service in Vietnam. Yes, they served in Vietnam. Was drafted. Was Infantry. Did an extra tour to get out early. Was in the 4th ID. Was there in 1967-68. There is an LRRP tab on his Vietnam tiger fatigues. Did they really have their own tab?
But I question his being assigned to an LRRP. From what I can find about LRRP's of that era they are quasi SF, but not really SF in terms of the selection process and coordinated training.
So, were Vietnam LRRP's simply hand selected Infantry soldiers compiled into a team to go out and Recon the jungle. In which case I cannot dispute the vet's claims. Or was there more to it than that. I can't tell either way.
But I question his being assigned to an LRRP. From what I can find about LRRP's of that era they are quasi SF, but not really SF in terms of the selection process and coordinated training.
So, were Vietnam LRRP's simply hand selected Infantry soldiers compiled into a team to go out and Recon the jungle. In which case I cannot dispute the vet's claims. Or was there more to it than that. I can't tell either way.
Posted in these groups: 
Vietnam War
Vietnam War
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
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You might be able to contact someone over at LRR Association as these guys might be able to connect the dots with this individuals service. Email addresses are listed at the bottom.
https://lrra2015.org/history
https://lrra2015.org/history
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MACV had a school for them and the final exam was actual missions, and there were casualties among students and instructors. They had what rangers today call a long tab. The LRRP with my 199th Inf Bde was M company/3rd Batt/75th Infantry.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recondo
https://coffeeordie.com/macv-recondo-school/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recondo
https://coffeeordie.com/macv-recondo-school/
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Nam 1971. We grunts were occasionally asked if we would like to volunteer to be a door gunner or a LRRP. As I remember, all you had to do was to was pass some PT Tests to be LRRP. To us, being a LRRP meant you only spent 5 days in the bush instead of 15. And the door gunner choice wasn’t a very good one. My buddy found out.
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Don't fret, you didn't do anything wrong. It appears that the page you are looking for does not exist or has been moved elsewhere.
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I WAS ASKED TO EXTEND 6 MOS. I REFUSED...ANOTHER GUY IN MY BATTERY ACCEPTED THE OFFER...I HOPE HE MADE IT...
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Hubby was in Nam in '69-'70 (25th ID, 2/12 Bravo, Iron Triangle). Since he had gone to helicopter training prior to shipping to Nam, he held a high security clearance. He ended up being the RTO and had an encoder, so he could listen to all radio traffic. He was approached on one occasion to be an RTO for a colonel and he was approached on three occasions to be an RTO (replacement) for one of the LRRP groups attached to the 25th ID. According to him, by early '69 the LRRPs were all under one division and were part of the 75th ID, Rangers. Didn't have to go through Ranger training in order to be chosen but could be "chosen" by officers. He said there were several LRRPs that worked out of FSBs Pershing and Stuart that he interacted with so he was familiar with the different ones, including their RTOs.
BTW, he would have made Sgt. if he had gone to the colonel or to the LRRP. He politely declined as he said he was needed more by his guys in Bravo.
This has a short history of the LRRP, just scroll down to United States.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_reconnaissance_patrol
BTW, he would have made Sgt. if he had gone to the colonel or to the LRRP. He politely declined as he said he was needed more by his guys in Bravo.
This has a short history of the LRRP, just scroll down to United States.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_reconnaissance_patrol
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Posted a roster below, don't know how complete. But to answer your question, yes, they were hand picked soldiers out of the line companies. Each Division was authorized a company sized element for LRP. My understanding is that the divisions set up individual training programs for the LRP units. Most of these units were briefly consolidated into the 75th Rangers, but then de-activated it during the Vietnamization period. The roster below shows the patches for LRP, LRRP, Ranger Co and the 4th ID.
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My uncle was in a LRRP unit in 1969/1970…4ID, when they changed from LRRP to Ranger Companies affiliated to 75th Ranger Regiment but assigned to Brigades and Divisions.
Prior to early 1970, they were numbered infantry companies and detachments designated as Long range recon. Similar to LRSD/LRSC after the war.
The scroll was unofficial, likely locally produced.
He may have the Recondo badge, in country 2 week course. My Uncle said the “graduation” patrol was live. LRRP and Ranger Co personnel were routed directly to it.
Prior to early 1970, they were numbered infantry companies and detachments designated as Long range recon. Similar to LRSD/LRSC after the war.
The scroll was unofficial, likely locally produced.
He may have the Recondo badge, in country 2 week course. My Uncle said the “graduation” patrol was live. LRRP and Ranger Co personnel were routed directly to it.
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LTC Jason Mackay
My Uncle was selected at replacement det because he was Airborne Qualified. They were trained in-house by the guys who were there the longest and knew the most. Druggies and other malingerers were unceremoniously ejected. A guy in his unit pelted local kids with c-rats, trying to injure them. They kicked the crap out of him. PSG threw him on the next bird out, never to be seen again. Back to a line unit
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