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Recon offers immediate action

Marine Corps News

Release Date: 10/7/2003

Story by Cpl. M. Stew Allen

CAMP SAMUEL HILL, Queensland, Australia (Sept. 31, 2003) -- The mission of a reconnaissance Marine is to shape the battlefield by gathering intelligence behind enemy lines, undetected. But in combat, enemy contact may be unavoidable. If they are to prevail and continue with the mission, then they must prepare for any possibility that may arise throughout a patrol.

Ten Marines and Sailors of Deep Reconnaissance Platoon, Company B, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, conducted Immediate Action drills, utilizing 17,000 rounds Sept. 19-20 while participating in exercise Crocodile 2003.

CROC '03 is an Australian-led, United States-supported air, land, maritime and amphibious operations exercise designed to refine and strengthen U.S./Australian capabilities to plan and execute future combined operations.

An IA drill is designed to regain a strong fighting position as quickly as possible after being compromised by the enemy while on patrol.

"In any mission, at any time, something could go wrong and a perfect plan could deteriorate real fast," said Cpl. Matthew P. Martin, point man, DRP.

The IA drills could be in response to chance enemy contact, sniper fire, or an ambush.

"Anything we could encounter during a patrol, we train for," said Sgt. John S. Mosser, team leader, DRP.

Once the patrol has been compromised, the recon Marines will provide an onslaught of cover fire while one Marine strategically places a Claymore Anti Personnel Mine.

"You got to hit them hard, hit them fast, keep their heads low, and get out," Martin explained.

Following the Claymore's detonation, the team splits into two elements. One element will drop back while the other continues to weaken the enemy's confidence with constant barrage of fire. Both elements will take turns between providing supporting fire and falling back until either the entire team can break away from the enemy or until they can set up an ambush.

With small four to six man teams, every man plays a key role to the completion of the mission according to Martin, and if everyman is to survive an attack; these drills have to be second nature to the Marines.

"It's not delayed action drills or lets-think-about-it drills; it's Immediate Action drills," Mosser said.

The success of the team is attributed to hard training and teamwork according to Mosser.

"When you only have six guys and they're self-sustained, team work is extremely important," Mosser said. "Whether retaliating against enemy contact or conducting your general mission, team work is crucial. It's the base of our operating procedures."

Operating far past friendly lines is one more reason to be critical of training.

"We're usually too far for artillery support, so we have to be proficient with our gun fighting to survive in the forward shadow behind enemy lines," Mosser said.