Task Force Recon

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

12.30.2016

Story by Lance Cpl. Joseph Prado 

1st Marine Division

Task Force Recon is an emerging and innovative concept unit conceived through multiple Marine Expeditionary Force and division level exercises conducted throughout 2016 as part of the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ Future Force 2025 initiative. Future Force 2025 is a focal point for Marine Corps innovation as the service prepares to combat the near-peer threats of tomorrow.
The Marine Corps looks to optimize its forces for future confrontations with threats and adversaries that have the same or similar capabilities, said Lt. Col. Philip Laing, the battalion commander of 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion.
“There has been a lot of simulation and testing,” says Laing. “What’s been identified is that the MAGTF’s (Marine Air-Ground Task Force) ability to effectively conduct reconnaissance operations within their security area has some gaps.”
Task Force Recon, itself, consists of a number of different units organized around the employment of Light Armored Reconnaissance and its unique capabilities: including Ground Sensors, Low Altitude Air Defense, Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar, and employment of the 120mm Expeditionary Fire Support System.
“To truly test it and work it for synchronization cohesion, we got to get out in the desert, we got to do it in the dirt,” said Laing. “In simulation everything is perfect, the weather is perfect, comms work perfectly, vehicles don’t break down - and it’s that normal friction you’re going to experience on the battlefield.”
Task Force Recon is a derivative of this testing to fill operational gaps and best support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force on the high end of conflict, said Laing.
“This is nothing new; this is doing what we have been doing but doing it better,” says Laing. “Task Force Recon, as we’re seeing out here at Steel Knight, is a fundamental design as we start getting new emerging capabilities in information warfare and electronic warfare.”
The goal is to achieve a synchronization of elements brought beneath one command to develop a far reaching, employable capability that can not only be used on the battlefield today, but also lay the foundation for the battles of tomorrow, said Laing.
“The direction our I MEF commanding general is looking at it, is to be able to fight with the equipment that you have, look at the threat and understand what peer-adversary is, understand what a hybrid threat is and for us, fight [those threats] in the security area” said Laing. “This is exactly what we are doing.”
As enemies evolve, the Marine Corps must also evolve in order to answer these threats in the time of calling.
“There’s a lot more to be done. It’s not perfect but, it’s a step in the right direction,” said Laing.

• Date Taken: 12.30.2016
• Date Posted: 01.12.2017 12:13
• Story ID: 219138
• Location: CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US