557:
1100:
100:. Each of the specialized schools were followed by individual training back in the Corps's parent organization. This was normally scheduled by the company commander or the battalion commander. Each unit had its own means of training its Marines from the lessons learned from previous organization's last recon entry behind enemy territory. They kept individual and unit training at a high level of proficiency.
182:
229:. Upon approval, by February 1, each of the three rifle companies that were used during the Guadalcanal campaign were tasked in sending one their best field craft Marines to devise the scout-sniper unit with each regiment containing a Scout and Sniper Platoon within the regimental headquarters and service company. This was the birth of division reconnaissance.
233:"Whaling Group" was available to scout and spearhead operations. Initially, they acted as guides in movement of units from one area to another and were able to confirm unit locations in the thick jungle foliage. They later conducted independent patrols into areas of critical interests to the Division.
236:
It wasn't before long many of the regiments requested their scouts to be heavily reinforced with tanks. The mechanized recon scouts proved to be very efficient in reconnaissance in force (RIF). They would ride on top the tanks and rapidly be inserted behind the enemy lines and "look" for the enemy.
232:
Most of these
Marines were skilled marksmen and outdoorsmen. General Vandegrift appointed Lt. Colonel Whaling to start a school where the selected Marines received intense additional training. While some Marines weren't selected and were sent back to their units, others took their place and the
131:. The first class of students were mostly combat experienced recon Marines from each of the division's infantry regiments that fought on Guadalcanal. Although scouting and patrolling, field sketching and land navigation were mostly refresher training; rubber boats and
264:
battalions filled most of the vacancies. The division commander at that time reassembled the separate division assets. This formation consolidated collecting more efficiently under the
Commanding General and his Intelligence (G-2) and Operations (G-3) staffs.
528:
493:
103:
In general, all scout and snipers were trained in scouting and patrolling. This included escape and evasion, land/maritime orientation, knife fighting, close-quarter combat, weapons and demolition, combat swimming, compass swims,
498:
828:
108:, etc. Many of these Marines were exceptional marksman and sharpshooters. Most of these courses and training were conducted within the Marine's own training function. However, some were sent to train with the
891:
503:
153:. They learned in this eight week course in sophisticated ambushes and raids, and more rubber boat work. Bradbeer and Firm were pulled back to Guadalcanal to the Seventh Fleet's Amphibious component—the
51:
deactivated after the end of World War II, its recon assets also deactivated. Only the current Marine
Division Recon Battalions that exist today hold history reference to the Scout and Sniper Companies.
1125:
540:
939:
813:
751:
639:
480:
911:
256:
By 1944, The Marine divisions contained elements of scout/snipers, armored recon teams, and ground and amphib recon platoons within the division. Marines from the recently disbanded
64:
854:
734:
71:, remolding the mission plans for division recon. Although this has taken away their expedient armored reconnaissance roles, it was preserved and improved by the LAR battalions.
485:
761:
906:
818:
901:
645:
689:
535:
432:
989:
756:
523:
714:
573:
278:
237:
Whenever encountered, they would fall back and immediately report to the battalion commander of its new findings
Although, the division commander retained the
849:
808:
694:
1067:
709:
699:
465:
1057:
999:
844:
704:
886:
823:
595:
969:
934:
929:
583:
460:
896:
788:
470:
1062:
634:
984:
959:
803:
793:
425:
214:
at the division-level, which would be conducted above the normal infantry battalion-level in scouting and patrolling. He recommended to
1103:
1026:
944:
719:
455:
311:
222:
207:
154:
142:
124:
90:
86:
48:
36:
32:
949:
612:
475:
196:
55:
Many of their scouts and snipers companies were reinforced with tanks for speed and added firepower. These later developed into the
864:
359:"AARUGHA!: History of Specialized and Force-level Reconnaissance Activities and Units of the United States Marine Corps, 1900-1974"
44:
47:. These companies were used in variety of tasks and, on occasion in severe combat, were used as "spare" rifle companies. When
418:
59:
companies (later battalions) that are presently operating in the Marine
Regiments today; also forging the Marine Corps modern
605:
56:
245:
to its company level and took advantage of its sniper development. Those scout and sniper platoons later formed the Marine
798:
588:
1032:
684:
668:
652:
622:
600:
93:), were still fresh, many of the regimental intelligence sections (G-2) approached reconnaissance differently from the
994:
627:
299:
291:. They operated not only on coasts, but deep in jungles as well. Initially, some Marines became part of the unit.
441:
17:
1004:
964:
724:
578:
295:
238:
166:
132:
954:
274:
97:
215:
1050:
744:
515:
729:
242:
28:
123:, instructed by 1st Lieutenant Holly Whyte. Lt. Whyte gained his recon skills while serving with the
226:
218:
128:
116:
1038:
105:
617:
307:
199:
186:
150:
146:
94:
80:
287:, the Australians had already established a network of deep reconnaissance agents known as the
145:'s regimental intelligence officers, 1st Lieutenants R. B. Firm and John Bradbeer attended the
1009:
210:, 1st Marine Division, visualized and perceived the use for specialized missions encompassing
203:
170:
1015:
859:
158:
1074:
157:. Retained by I Amphibious Corps (I MAC), Bradbeer and Firm was briefed on the pending
1044:
739:
303:
257:
211:
346:
Swift, Silent, and Deadly: Marine
Amphibious Reconnaissance in the Pacific, 1942-1945,
1119:
1079:
974:
288:
162:
112:
in
England, and other specialized schools developed around the areas of the Pacific.
109:
246:
136:
68:
60:
284:
261:
250:
979:
181:
410:
165:
Major
Richard T. Washburn, who was schooling Raiders and division scouts on
120:
169:. Washburn's teams were about to depart on an amphib recon mission of the
40:
1084:
43:
had a scout and sniper platoon. They were assigned to the regimental
404:(U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings: September 1961) 87:9; pgs 72—79.
1021:
180:
67:(LAR) battalions were born from reinforced light tank concept of
414:
27:
companies of the tank battalions were the first among the
191:
overlooking map of
Guadalcanal with accompanying officers
481:
Military
Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps
31:
assets. They existed around the same exact moment when
376:
First Offensive: The Marine Campaign for Guadalcanal,
221:
the need of a special "Scout and Sniper unit" for the
340:
338:
336:
334:
332:
139:
bay was used routinely for rubber boat and training.
1126:
United States Marine Corps Reconnaissance Battalions
283:
Prior to the arrival of Marines in this area of the
920:
877:
837:
781:
772:
677:
661:
564:
514:
448:
63:teams that are existence. Later in the 1980s, the
646:United States Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory
365:(MCB Quantico, HQMC: Historical Division, 1981).
279:Scout and Sniper Company (6th Marine Division)
426:
348:(Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2004).
8:
378:(Darby, PA: DIANE Publishing Company, 1992).
251:Surveillance and Target Acquisition platoons
529:Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee
778:
511:
433:
419:
411:
471:Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
363:Fleet Marine Reference Publication 12-21
635:Marine Corps Combat Development Command
328:
7:
115:An eight-week course was set up at
950:Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps
476:Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
387:Charles D. Melson and Paul Hanon,
14:
490:Marine Corps three-star generals
306:assets more differently from the
85:While the two Marine divisions, (
1099:
1098:
1058:History of Hispanics in the USMC
640:Training & Education Command
574:Organization of the Marine Corps
555:
402:"Coastwatching in World War II,"
45:Headquarters and Service Company
814:Criminal Investigation Division
536:Senate Armed Services Committee
486:Marine Corps four-star generals
606:III Marine Expeditionary Force
524:House Armed Services Committee
466:Commandant of the Marine Corps
1:
589:II Marine Expeditionary Force
39:were created. In 1941, each
1063:History of women in the USMC
1033:Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
824:Chaplain of the Marine Corps
685:Marine Air-Ground Task Force
669:Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary
653:Marine Corps Systems Command
601:I Marine Expeditionary Force
65:Light Armored Reconnaissance
461:Under Secretary of the Navy
300:III Marine Amphibious Corps
200:William "Wild Bill" Whaling
1142:
442:United States Marine Corps
272:
135:was very new. The nearby
78:
18:United States Marine Corps
1093:
1005:Marine Corps War Memorial
855:Officer Candidates School
725:Marine expeditionary unit
579:Headquarters Marine Corps
553:
302:(III MAC) approached its
296:I Marine Amphibious Corps
167:amphibious reconnaissance
133:amphibious reconnaissance
29:division's reconnaissance
955:Eagle, Globe, and Anchor
829:Associated organizations
389:Marine Recon, 1940-1990,
289:Australian Coastwatchers
275:VAC Amphib Recon Company
151:Amphibious Scouts School
98:FMF Amphib Recon Company
819:Judge Advocate Division
391:(London: Osprey, 1998).
745:Marine Raider Regiment
192:
173:and Treasury Islands.
106:hydrographic surveying
907:Vehicles and aircraft
730:Marine Security Guard
613:Marine Forces Reserve
596:Marine Forces Pacific
584:Marine Forces Command
541:Seapower subcommittee
456:Secretary of the Navy
243:ground reconnaissance
184:
995:White House Sentries
990:Silent Drill Platoon
970:Drum and Bugle Corps
912:Individual equipment
865:Martial Arts Program
219:Alexander Vandegrift
117:Mornington Peninsula
223:1st Marine Division
208:5th Marine Regiment
187:"Wild Bill" Whaling
155:3rd Marine Division
143:1st Marine Division
91:2nd Marine Division
49:6th Marine Division
37:2nd Marine Division
1010:Marine Detachments
940:Acronyms and terms
850:School of Infantry
804:Historical Marines
735:Special Operations
618:Fleet Marine Force
308:V Amphibious Corps
197:Lieutenant Colonel
193:
147:United States Navy
81:Scouts and Raiders
23:companies and the
1113:
1112:
873:
872:
809:Marine Astronauts
551:
550:
344:Bruce F. Meyers,
204:executive officer
1133:
1102:
1101:
1039:Rifleman's Creed
860:The Basic School
845:Recruit Training
779:
559:
558:
512:
435:
428:
421:
412:
405:
398:
392:
385:
379:
372:
366:
355:
349:
342:
312:FMF Amphib Recon
159:Treasury Islands
21:Scout and Sniper
1141:
1140:
1136:
1135:
1134:
1132:
1131:
1130:
1116:
1115:
1114:
1109:
1089:
1075:Honorary Marine
1068:Women's Reserve
1027:National Museum
1000:Service Numbers
922:
916:
879:
869:
833:
799:Notable Marines
774:
768:
720:Marine aviation
673:
657:
566:
560:
556:
547:
510:
444:
439:
409:
408:
399:
395:
386:
382:
374:Henry I. Shaw,
373:
369:
357:Ray W. Stubbe,
356:
352:
343:
330:
325:
320:
281:
271:
179:
83:
77:
12:
11:
5:
1139:
1137:
1129:
1128:
1118:
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1111:
1110:
1108:
1107:
1094:
1091:
1090:
1088:
1087:
1082:
1077:
1072:
1071:
1070:
1060:
1055:
1054:
1053:
1045:Semper Fidelis
1041:
1036:
1029:
1024:
1019:
1012:
1007:
1002:
997:
992:
987:
982:
977:
972:
967:
962:
957:
952:
947:
942:
937:
932:
926:
924:
923:and traditions
918:
917:
915:
914:
909:
904:
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894:
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883:
881:
875:
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871:
870:
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832:
831:
826:
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811:
806:
801:
796:
791:
785:
783:
776:
770:
769:
767:
766:
765:
764:
759:
749:
748:
747:
742:
740:Marine Raiders
732:
727:
722:
717:
712:
707:
702:
697:
692:
687:
681:
679:
675:
674:
672:
671:
665:
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659:
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650:
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407:
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393:
380:
367:
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327:
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324:
321:
319:
316:
304:reconnaissance
270:
267:
212:reconnaissance
178:
175:
76:
73:
57:Division recon
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1138:
1127:
1124:
1123:
1121:
1106:
1105:
1096:
1095:
1092:
1086:
1083:
1081:
1080:Toys for Tots
1078:
1076:
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1042:
1040:
1037:
1035:
1034:
1030:
1028:
1025:
1023:
1020:
1017:
1016:Marines' Hymn
1013:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
975:Horse Marines
973:
971:
968:
966:
963:
961:
958:
956:
953:
951:
948:
946:
943:
941:
938:
936:
933:
931:
928:
927:
925:
919:
913:
910:
908:
905:
903:
900:
898:
895:
893:
890:
888:
885:
884:
882:
880:and equipment
876:
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843:
842:
840:
836:
830:
827:
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822:
820:
817:
815:
812:
810:
807:
805:
802:
800:
797:
795:
792:
790:
789:Rank insignia
787:
786:
784:
780:
777:
771:
763:
760:
758:
755:
754:
753:
750:
746:
743:
741:
738:
737:
736:
733:
731:
728:
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569:
563:
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527:
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525:
522:
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519:
517:
513:
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487:
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454:
453:
451:
447:
443:
436:
431:
429:
424:
422:
417:
416:
413:
403:
400:E. A. Feldt,
397:
394:
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377:
371:
368:
364:
360:
354:
351:
347:
341:
339:
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329:
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297:
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286:
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276:
268:
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259:
254:
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220:
217:
213:
209:
205:
201:
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190:
188:
183:
176:
174:
172:
168:
164:
163:Marine Raider
160:
156:
152:
148:
144:
140:
138:
134:
130:
126:
122:
118:
113:
111:
110:Royal Marines
107:
101:
99:
96:
92:
88:
82:
74:
72:
70:
66:
62:
58:
53:
50:
46:
42:
38:
34:
30:
26:
25:Scouts (Tank)
22:
19:
1097:
1043:
1031:
775:and training
504:2010–present
401:
396:
388:
383:
375:
370:
362:
358:
353:
345:
298:(I MAC) and
293:
282:
269:World War II
255:
247:Scout Sniper
235:
231:
194:
189:
185:Lt. Colonel
161:missions by
141:
137:Port Phillip
114:
102:
84:
69:World War II
61:Scout Sniper
54:
24:
20:
15:
985:Color Guard
965:Marine Band
516:US Congress
285:Pacific War
227:Guadalcanal
129:Guadalcanal
125:1st Marines
980:Marine One
695:Battalions
449:Leadership
323:References
273:See also:
262:Paramarine
239:amphibious
79:See also:
782:Personnel
773:Personnel
715:MEF/Corps
710:Divisions
700:Regiments
678:Structure
662:Auxiliary
499:2000–2009
494:1942–1959
314:platoons
310:'s (VAC)
195:In 1941,
171:Shortland
121:Australia
1120:Category
1104:Category
945:Birthday
887:Uniforms
878:Uniforms
838:Training
762:Division
705:Brigades
623:Atlantic
567:commands
260:and the
75:Training
41:regiment
1085:Gung ho
935:Culture
930:History
921:History
902:Weapons
642:(TECOM)
628:Pacific
216:General
177:History
897:Badges
892:Awards
565:Major
258:Raider
202:, the
1051:march
1022:Oorah
757:Force
752:Recon
690:Bases
318:Notes
95:VAC's
960:Flag
294:The
277:and
249:and
241:and
89:and
35:and
16:The
794:MOS
225:on
206:of
149:'s
127:on
119:in
87:1st
33:1st
1122::
361:,
331:^
253:.
1018:"
1014:"
434:e
427:t
420:v
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