Marine Force Recon
missions occur during or after an incursion, such as battle
damage assessment. Inmost cases, a green operation is judged
a failure if even a single shot is fired.
On the other hand, black operations are likely to involve gun-
fire. They incorporate direct action against an enemy and often
take place within range of artillery or nearby air support. With
MARSOC taking onmany of the black operations that Force Recon
previously would have done, Force Recon has become somewhat
specialized. Some examples of black operations include seizing
oil platforms, calling in air strikes, and conducting VBSSmissions.
To carry out their operations, Force Recon troops use many
of the same weapons as other Special Forces. The basic weap-
on is the M4A1 carbine. It accommodates a host of accessories.
A
foregrip
increases control over the gun. A sound suppressor
cuts down on noise. A side-mounted rail allows for the attach-
ment of several types of sights for both night and day use.
One is the reflex, or red dot, sight. This “paints” a target with
a red dot. The M203 grenade launcher can be attached under
an M4A1’s barrel. It fires a variety of grenades—
fragmentation
,
concussion, and
incendiary
—though many operators prefer a
stun or flash-bang grenade. These momentarily distract and
disorient the enemy. Often, that is all the time the Marines
need to gain the upper hand.
Other firearms include shotguns for
breaching
doors and
several sniper and marksman rifles. Force Recon personnel can
choose froma variety of handguns. The recently introduced Colt
M45A1 pistol, with its distinctive desert-tan color, has become
increasingly popular. For more firepower, the men call upon the
reliable M249
squad automatic weapon
. Recently, however, the
M27 infantry automatic rifle has been replacing the M249 be-
cause it is lighter and easier to carry.
ZzZ
24
A green operation
requires stealth and
is considered a fail-
ure if just a single
shot was fired.
