How does USMC Force Recon differ from Navy SEALs and Army Special Forces?

Question

Is Force Recon like a more direct action Navy SEAL? What do their missions differ from Army SF?

Quote on Counter Terrorism:

"Examples include: The British Special Air Service, United States Marine Corps Anti-Terrorism Battalion and Force Recon, etc. However, it is rare that military units such as the Israeli Sayeret Matkal, German KSK,(JaKdo) Austrian Jagdkommando, the U.S. Navy's DEVGRU or the U.S. Army's Delta Force, actually engage in counter-terrorism operations, as they are largely prevented by either jurisdiction or laws like the Posse Comitatus Act from operating in their own country."

Anyone elaborate?

Answer 1

Marine Force Recon is a tier below the SEALs and Army SF. They are a landing recon force whose primary mission is to scout out unknown territory in small groups and identify possible threats. They are highly trained and capable units who excel in evasion, survival and small force conflict. They are not a direct assault or attack force.

MFR is not yet part of SOCOM. In 2010 to DOD is supposed to determine the necessity of MFR and decide if they will fall into SOCOM with the Army SF, Navy SEALs and Delta Force.

What this means is that MFR, although highly qualified, is not under the direct control of the DoD (like SOCOM units) or Pentagon and rather falls under the USMC and Navy command. Their missions are not of special importance to the US, but more specific to the needs of the Navy and USMC.

MFR would be analogous to Army Rangers except more focused in the infiltration business instead of the direct conflict missions.

Training wise, MFR members have Marine Basic, Infantry school, SERE, Army Airborne, and possibly Army Ranger school. Nearly the same repitoire as an Army Ranger except they have Army Basic.

Army SF for example, have Army Basic, AIT, Airborne, Air Assault, Pathfinder, SERE, SFAS, thier SF Specialy school (25-64 weeks) and a year of language school. So in all, they have about 1.5 years more training and a MFR member.

Here is a simply breakdown of the roles of the US Military's special and elite units (also in order of prestige/selectiveness). This serves to list the PRIMARY role of each force, although each does many different types of missoins.

Delta Force: Counter-terrorism and hostage rescue
Navy SEALs: Infiltration, Espianoge and recon
Army SF: Imbed with foreign Armies, train and fight with them
AF PJs: Rescue of downed pilots
Army Rangers: Airborne operations, first unit in, direct force on force combat, tip of the spear
MFR: shore recon, first unit in, small unit conflict, tip of the spear

Answer 2

Force Recon Vs Navy Seals

Answer 3

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RE:
How does USMC Force Recon differ from Navy SEALs and Army Special Forces?
Is Force Recon like a more direct action Navy SEAL? What do their missions differ from Army SF?

Quote on Counter Terrorism:

"Examples include: The British Special Air Service, United States Marine Corps Anti-Terrorism Battalion and Force Recon, etc. However, it is rare that military...

Answer 4

They all have their own taskings in SOCOM (Special Operations Command). Marine Force Recon, as their name suggests, is primarily a surveillance and reconnaissance force. Although they sometimes participate in other actions. Navy SEALs are a more direct action force. Army Special Forces is where the big misconception lies. Green Berets aren't a direct action force. They are designed to move into enemy territory and train local forces, such as in Afghanistan.

And there are the other SOCOM units to look at. USAF Pararescue, Army Rangers, etc. In my opinion they are all awesome in their own ways. None of them could jump into another's shoes and be able to do it properly.

Answer 5

I think the Recon is Best, cause We rescue SEAls When they Cant complete the Missions. The only reason SEAL are more commercialized is because We don't get any medals or recodnition for our efforts. We were also never a part of Socom, until 2007. But I fought personally SEALs, SAS, Greenberets. We kick their ***.

A basic Marine Training is almost 6 months, 3 months basic, 3 month infantry. An army soldier training is 2 months basic, 1 month infantry. A army ranger is 3 month basic, 3 month infantry.

So in my opinion, a basic Marine Can fight a Ranger, if they maintain they fightness.

A navy seal goes through Hell well, BUD a MArine IS always in HELL week. That's why they call us Devil Dogs. From World War 2 fighting the elite German Soldiers.

Answer 6

Posse Comitatus bars the US military from actions within the United States. However, should a national disaster or crisis develop they are a tool of the President to remedy the crisis; read: the Katrina disaster. However, once civilian authorities can handle the situation, the military must withdraw. There are two components exempted by this: the Army and Air National Guard because they are state run militia available for federal call-up (Iraq / Afghanistan; for the simpletons reading this).
Force Recon is just that, reconnaisance. Their training is developed around the surveillance of enemy combatant elements. ALL MARINE infantry battalions are designated Special Forces Capable. SEALS are highly trained members of the Navy for short duration special operations that line elements of the other services cannot perform. Special Forces are capable of deploying in austere environments for long durations.
The difference to all of the above is staying power according to the missions of the services: Navy=get in, get out fast, Army= get in and sit on them until they quit, Marines= get in, secure beach head, move forward to next objective. USAF= get in, set up air field hand off to conventionals.
Not rocket science.

Answer 7

If I'm not mistaken, I believe they all have similar missions. The seals, recon, and delta are all hyper aggressive units that can surveil targets for tactical info or take the fight to the enemy in a lethal and efficient way. My thinking is, a small unit specially trained is gonna be the way of conflict for the near future and all of these forces typify that.

Answer 8

Marine Corps Force Recon - in my time - was the cream of the Corps. It was our example that Navy Seals were created in the first place, although the Seals kind of evolved from the old Navy frogman. Make no mistake, Navy Seals - which includes Marines in its ranks - are some badass dudes.

Army Rangers come in a distant 3rd, although that is not meant to demean the training regimen a doggie must endure to enter its ranks.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

This is an interesting question, and one that has made me curious for quite a while.