The United States Marine Corps Reconnaissance Battalions (or commonly called Marine Recon) are the Special Operations Capable reconnaissance assets of Marine Air-Ground Task Force that provide division-level ground and amphibious reconnaissance to the Ground Combat Element within the United States Marine Corps.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Reconnaissance_Battalions
In March of 1951 the force was expanded and named the 1st Amphibious Recon Platoon, and would continue to serve after the end of the war. In 1957 the 1st Company of Force Recon Marines was formed, and 2nd Company Force Recon was formed in June 1958.
http://www.military.com/special-operations/force-recon-missions-and-history.html
The M16A2 rifle is the standard weapon for most of those assigned to the Company. Approximately 39 5/8 long, and weighing almost 9 pounds, the A2 is the standard rifle for those in the Marine Corps whose duties do not require them to be armed with a pistol.
http://www.forcerecon.com/strongmenarmed3.htm
United States Marine Corps Reconnaissance Battalions. The United States Marine Corps Reconnaissance Battalions (or commonly called Marine Division Recon) are the reconnaissance assets of Marine Air-Ground Task Force that provide division-level ground and amphibious reconnaissance to the Ground Combat Element within the United States Marine Corps.
http://military.wikia.com/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Reconnaissance_Battalions
Answer Wiki. Force Recon should not be confused with the newly established (circa. 2007) Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC). Whereas MARSOC is Special Operations Command's (USSOCOM's) newest unit, Force Recon is considered a Special Operations Capable unit that belongs exclusively to the Marine Corps. A good way of explaining this difference is to understand how things worked before 2007, and how they now work.
https://www.quora.com/Where-does-Marine-Force-Recon-fit-in-the-world-of-Special-Operations
Force Recon: Mission and History. Military.com. The mission of Force RECON is to conduct amphibious reconnaissance, deep ground reconnaissance, surveillance, battle space shaping, and limited scale raids in support of the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), other Marine air-ground task forces, or a joint force.
http://www.military.com/special-operations/force-recon-missions-and-history.html
While the standard USMC pistol is the M9, those in the operational platoons use the MEU (SOC) pistol. Based on a modified M1911 pistol, the MEU (SOC) has been in the Marine Corps since the Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) {MEU (SOC)} stoodupin 1985.8.
http://www.forcerecon.com/strongmenarmed3.htm
Deep Reconnaissance Platoons, or DRPs, are units within Recon Battalions that carry out the role of Force Reconnaissance. The first DRPs were formed in March 1975 after the conclusion of American involvement in the Vietnam War, when the Marine Corps was downsized; Force Recon was reduced to a single regular company.
http://military.wikia.com/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Reconnaissance_Battalions
Deep Reconnaissance Platoons. Deep Reconnaissance Platoons, or DRPs, are units within Recon Battalions that carry out the role of Force Reconnaissance. The first DRPs were formed in March 1975 after the conclusion of American involvement in the Vietnam War, when the Marine Corps was downsized; Force Recon was reduced to a single regular company.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Reconnaissance_Battalions
The M4A1 Carbine Close Quarter Battle Weapon (CQBW) is the standard weapon for those in the reconnaissance platoons. The current Marine Corps wisdom is that the M4A1 Carbine is to supplement, rather than replace the M16A2 (just as the MP5N sub-caliber machine gun did) in the Force Reconnaissance Companies.
http://www.forcerecon.com/strongmenarmed3.htm
when was force recon established by the marines
Force Recon was established in 1957 by the marines.