Marine Reconnaissance Battalions in the U.S. Marine Corps, often called "Recon Marines", exist to provide information about the enemy to higher command. The members of Recon Battalions are trained as infantrymen, but they have additional skills in parachuting, stealth, cover and concealment. They have an important function in air-ground operations, but they are not considered an "elite" force.
There are two separate but equally important recon elements in the Marines:
Force reconnaissance or "force recon": a specialized force whose mission is to reconnoiter areas greater than ten miles out from a marine unit.
Long range reconnaissance platoons or "LRRPS": a less-specialized element that reconnoiters areas within ten miles of a marine unit.
Elements of Battalion Landing Team 2/9 (2nd Battalion, 9th Marines) with 15th MEU were among the first troops of the United Nations effort to land in Somalia in December, 1992, while Marines of 3rd Battalion 1st Marines participated in the final withdrawal of United Nations troops from Somalia in 1995.
Marines are regularly admonished from the time that they are recruits in boot camp that their conduct, even while on liberty, leave, or after they are discharged, can and will reflect upon the Corps.
Marines are less generous with awards and unit identification; the rationale behind this being that as a member of an elite force, it is enough to be identified simply as a Marine.
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