Radio to Recon: 3rd Radio Battalion stands up recon capabilities

Photo By Sgt. Tyler Main | A 3rd Radio Battalion Marine provides security as he waits for his team members to assemble their packs for a night patrol March 14 during a portion of the Radio Reconnaissance Instructional Program. The battalion is becoming reconnaissance capable for the first time since being deactivated in 1946.  

WAIMANALO, HI, UNITED STATES

03.14.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Tyler Main 

Marine Corps Base Hawaii

MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS, Hawaii — In the black of night two teams of six Marines sprinted into the ocean in rubber boats. Their mission — paddle 1,500 meters against pounding waves and release two reconnaissance swimmers to scout out a landing point.

After swimming the distance, two Marines low crawled up the beach, and crept between shadows cast by palm trees for concealment.

If you didn’t know any better, you would think these Marines are reconnaissance men by trade. But they’re intelligence Marines.

Marine Corps Base Hawaii’s 3rd Radio Battalion slated the final phase of their Radio Reconnaissance Instructional Program March 14 at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows. Once completed, it will be the first time since the battalion was deactivated in 1946 (reactivated in 2003) to have reconnaissance capabilities.

“The RRIP is designed to test the physical and mental stamina of the teams to prepare them for the III Marine Expeditionary Force, Special Operations Training Group, Reconnaissance and Surveillance Course to prove we have mission capable radio reconnaissance teams able to support III MEF contingency operations in the Pacific area of responsibility,” said 1st Lt. Joseph Check, platoon commander for 3rd Radio Battalions radio reconnaissance platoon.

It’s no easy task for the Marines who volunteered to take on the challenge of becoming recon proficient, Check said.

“The training is difficult but they’ve been holding their own against high levels of uncertainty, friction and fatigue,” Check said. “This evening’s amphibious insert went pretty well.”

For Cpl. Luke Lamana, a volunteer reconnaissance Marine, the challenges are welcomed.

“I like that the training pushed me to my limits,” said the Tuscon, Ariz., native. “Out of all the things I’ve done, I thought this would be the most challenging. As far as what the job involves, it’s given me a better understanding of what’s required of me.”

After all of their training is complete, the Marines should be capable of doing all the normal tasks required by a radio battalion plus be able to supplement what a normal recon team can provide. Specifically, that means conducting intelligence collection operations, various assaults and maritime special purpose operations as assigned.

The battalion is getting close to being able to fulfill that mission but they can’t take all the credit, Check said. Many MCB Hawaii tenant commands contributed resources to help 3rd Radio Battalion to be successful.

“We wouldn’t have been able to do the RRIP if it wasn’t for a lot of outside organizations,” he said. “The Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety and Security team provided our boots, 4th Force Reconnaissance Company provided us guidance, the Navy Waterfront Operations supported all of our open water swims, and Marine Air Group 24 supported our helicopter inserts and created an entire training scenario for us.”

“It’s definitely worth it for what I’ve learned and I’m looking forward to the follow-on training,” Lamana said.

Once the battalion has reached full reconnaissance capabilities, they will join 1st and 2nd Radio Battalions in the ranks of being able to support their own recon intelligence operations.

• Date Taken: 03.14.2011
• Date Posted: 03.21.2011 19:47
• Story ID: 67506
• Location: WAIMANALO, HI, US