{"id":27454,"date":"2018-10-08T21:30:54","date_gmt":"2018-10-08T21:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:36:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:36:00","slug":"recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Recon shortage: Why these elite Marines are facing a manpower crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2018\/09\/28\/the-corps-rapid-push-to-modernize-drives-first-extensive-rank-structure-review-in-20-years\/\" target=_blank>Marine reconnaissance community<\/a> has a storied history dating back the Corps\u2019 first operational small boat units in World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its lore has captivated the ambitions of many young Marines wishing to earn the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/pay-benefits\/military-benefits\/2016\/08\/26\/marines-to-rename-some-courses-as-man-is-dropped-from-job-titles\/\" target=_blank>0321-occupation specialty<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recon Marines are tasked with land and amphibious reconnaissance, intelligence collection, surveillance and small unit raids, and straddle the line between special operations forces and conventional forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI did infantry for my first four years, then I got bored with it,\u201d said Marine Shawn Talbert, \u00adtraining cell chief with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/2017\/10\/08\/a-hectic-pace-in-the-pacific-iii-mef-marines-face-far-flung-missions-as-asia-threats-grow\/\" target=\"_blank\">3rd Reconnaissance Battalion<\/a> in Okinawa, Japan. \u201cIt kind of felt like it was almost a dead end. And so I went to recon where there are no dead ends. It\u2019s all rabbit holes in every different field.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2018\/07\/02\/the-corps-is-dishing-out-big-bonuses-for-grunts-and-other-jobs-heres-whats-in-it-for-you\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"166\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/infantry.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">The Corps is dishing out big bonuses for grunts and other jobs. Here\u2019s what\u2019s in it for you.<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Want to be a Marine special operator? The Corps will dish out nearly $90,000 in bonus money if you can hack it.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But there may be some a dead ends in sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These elite Marines are on track for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2018\/07\/17\/squad-leader-shortage-why-the-corps-is-handing-out-big-bucks-for-infantry-ncos\/\" target=\"_blank\">a manpower \u00adcrisis;<\/a> one that questions the Corps\u2019 ability to sustain its reconnaissance force into the future at a time of rapid modernization across the force and as recon questions its mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recent data is the truest teller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cManpower and Reserve Affairs identified the 0321 MOS [Military Occupational Specialty] as having the most inverted grade pyramid, specifically in the E-3 to E-4 ranks, which is having a significant effect on \u00adpromotion timing,\u201d Marine Corps Combat Development Command told Marine Corps Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That issue is compounded by high attrition rates at the recon community\u2019s 12-week rigorous Basic \u00adReconnaissance Course, or BRC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Attrition rates have been as high as 54 percent (in fiscal year 2014) are coupled with attendance rates that appear to be declining, according to data \u00adobtained by Marine Corps Times through a Freedom of \u00adInformation Act request spanning the past five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over those five years, BRC\u2019s attendance rate saw a high of 526 Marines in 2013 and a low of 280 \u00adMarines in 2016 \u2014 a nearly 45 percent drop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former and current reconnaissance Marines who spoke to Marine Corps Times on condition of \u00adanonymity said the low numbers were disappointing and raised alarms about the community\u2019s sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>WHERE\u2019S THE WARRIOR SPIRIT? <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But manpower concerns are not the only issues \u00adfacing the Corps\u2019 elite and storied recon units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many former and current recon Marines have long complained about gear, morale and an overall feeling that their skillsets have been underutilized, especially over the course of America\u2019s counterinsurgency wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What truly is recon\u2019s mission in the post-9\/11 era and in the age of Marine Special Operations Command?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"446\" height=\"556\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/BRC_MAR_101518.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-56998\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/BRC_MAR_101518.jpg.jpg 446w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/BRC_MAR_101518.jpg.jpg?resize=241,300 241w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 446px) 100vw, 446px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A common comparison told to Marine Corps Times by several members of the community, to describe recon\u2019s search for an identity in the new era, is the HBO miniseries \u201cGeneration Kill,\u201d which details the exploits of 1st Marine Reconnaissance Battalion as it barrels through Iraq during the opening of the U.S. invasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe point, lance corporal, we\u2019re supposed to be a recon unit of pure warrior spirit,\u201d Sgt. Brad Colbert, played by Alexander Skarsg\u00e5rd, says in the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re out here, 40 klicks in enemy lines, and this man of God here, he\u2019s a f*ckin\u2019 POG. In fact, he\u2019s an officer POG. That\u2019s one more layer of bureaucracy and unnecessary logistics, one more a**hole we need to supply MREs and baby wipes for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The scene depicts the frustrations of a community that often sees itself misused and misunderstood by the Corps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Driving in armored trucks and carrying out missions generally the purview of infantry units is not what recon is trained to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe \u2018recon\u2019 part is always just fairy dusted,\u201d a former member of the recon and sniper community said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRecon isn\u2019t the grunts; recon is special. The things in our T&amp;R manual [training and readiness] are \u00adspecial operations missions. Yet, we basically have to use the same gear as the infantry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since the creation of MARSOC, there also has been \u201csomewhat of a competition of manpower,\u201d between the two pools of prospects, a former reconnaissance company platoon commander told Marine Corps Times in 2017. \u201cMarines have to make a choice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both communities tend to draw the same type of Marine: \u201cYou get smarter, stronger, more of the Alpha-male type figures,\u201d Talbert said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, as far as changing and learning new skills goes: \u201cReconnaissance has stayed pretty much the same for the past 20 years or more,\u201d the former \u00adcompany platoon commander said, where MARSOC has \u00addeveloped several new skillsets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3840\" height=\"5760\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-cover-option-2-1015.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57002\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-cover-option-2-1015.jpg.jpg 3840w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-cover-option-2-1015.jpg.jpg?resize=200,300 200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-cover-option-2-1015.jpg.jpg?resize=768,1152 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-cover-option-2-1015.jpg.jpg?resize=683,1024 683w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-cover-option-2-1015.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,1536 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-cover-option-2-1015.jpg.jpg?resize=1365,2048 1365w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3840px) 100vw, 3840px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many former and current recon Marines have long complained about gear, morale and an overall feeling that their skillsets have been underutilized, especially over the course of America\u2019s counterinsurgency wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Lance Cpl. Luke Kuennen\/Marine Corps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And there are other signs of stresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take for instance that this year the Marine Corps deployed reserve members of 3rd and 4th Force \u00adReconnaissance Companies to augment 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion in Okinawa, Japan, as part of a Unit Deployment Program, or UDP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Units who participate in a UDP usually conduct training on Okinawa, Japan, or with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s not entirely uncommon for reserve units to be called up to conduct a UDP, but sometimes it\u2019s to pick up slack for active-duty units that are otherwise busy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reserve Marines with 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment are deploying on a UDP to Okinawa in October, taking the place of Camp Pendleton, Marines with 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 5th Marine Regiment was simply retasked with evaluating and testing the Corps\u2019 new Joint Light \u00adTactical Vehicle, which is set to replace the Marine Corps\u2019 aging fleet of Humvees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs the Marine Corps strives to make the most of its modernization plans, every opportunity will be taken to improve the capability and readiness of our forces at the same time,\u201d Lt. Col. Ted Wong, a Marine \u00adspokesman, told Marine Corps Times about 2nd \u00adBattalion, 23rd Marine Regiment\u2019s UDP in June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s the first time in several years a reserve unit has been called up to take on a UDP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, while the reserve force recon companies are \u00adaugmenting the UDP, their deployment is a little \u00addifferent than the battalion level UDPs, according to Maj. Roger Hollenbeck, spokesman for Marine Forces Reserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reserve force recon Marines in Okinawa eventually will be relieved by another reserve platoon of recon Marines \u201cin order to provide continuous support to the active duty battalion on Okinawa,\u201d Hollenbeck said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>FINDING A SOLUTION <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the Corps is working hard to find a solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the end of September, the Marine Corps kicked off its first extensive rank structure review in nearly 20 years to look at manpower issues as a result of the Corps\u2019 push to modernize, known as the Marine Force 2025 concept, according to a forcewide message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A review by Manpower and Reserve Affairs identified 42 job fields that range from recon, intelligence, aviation and logistics that are suffering from an \u00adinverted grade pyramid, MCCDC said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inverted grade pyramids can stymie and logjam \u00adpromotions and result in a diminished pool of lower rank-and-file Marines in a various job. It can also create future manning challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Corps has highlighted the recon field as a priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"670\" height=\"716\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/BRC2_MAR_101518.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57010\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/BRC2_MAR_101518.jpg.jpg 670w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/BRC2_MAR_101518.jpg.jpg?resize=281,300 281w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Specifically, Manpower and Reserve Affairs found that the E-4 population was higher than the E-3s in the 0321 community. This means there are more \u00adcorporals or noncommissioned officers in the recon field than junior enlisted folks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which could be a big problem in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plus, recon\u2019s \u201cindependent operator, independent thinker\u201d model puts \u201ca lot of responsibility on even the youngest lance corporal or corporal,\u201d said Talbert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe information that they need to know and the mindset that they need to have is probably equivalent to a sergeant in the infantry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marine officials say they are not sure what has caused the inverted grade structure in the 0321 \u00adcommunity but are currently reviewing the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But not all is doom and gloom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MCCDC told Marine Corps Times that the recon community met its fiscal year 2018 \u00adrecruiting goal and 99 percent of its retention goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of that may be the result of big bucks the Corps dished out as part of its Selective Retention Bonuses for fiscal years 2018 and 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A sergeant moving into the recon field could net a $50,000 bonus on top of a 72-month lateral kicker of $40,000, netting a future recon Marine $90,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And gunnys and above with 10-14 years of active service rate nearly $30,000 for reenlisting as an 0321.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe current inventory of recon Marines is sufficient to fill almost 90 percent of the required billets across the USMC,\u201d said spokeswoman Capt. Karoline Foote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And changes are afoot to address its various challenges to include attrition, graduation and attendance rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From fiscal years 2013-2018, the highest attrition rate at BRC was 54 percent, which is high, but doesn\u2019t quite match the scout sniper school attrition rate of nearly 67 percent in 2014, which has since dropped below 50 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Corps\u2019 elite recon and sniper schools are arduous and physically demanding. Relatively high attrition rates are expected as these schools seek to evaluate the best and toughest among a small pool of candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But attendance at BRC also appears to be on the decline and has not peaked above 400 candidates since 2014, according to data obtained by Marine Corps Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To address these challenges, Training and Education Command recently kicked off a Reconnaissance Training Management Team Working Group,\u201d which &#8220;identified gaps\u201d in recon training, Foote said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-cover-option-1-1015.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57015\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-cover-option-1-1015.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-cover-option-1-1015.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-cover-option-1-1015.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-cover-option-1-1015.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Manpower issues are also coupled with high attrition rates and lower attendance rates at the Basic Reconnaissance Course. (Cpl. Jesus Sepulveda Torres\/Marine Corps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a result of the working group, BRC will now have 11 additional days of instruction. The Corps also decided to update its recon prescreening course known as the Basic Reconnaissance Primer Course, or BRPC, which is relatively new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUsing historical data and feedback, the new BRPC continues to provide much needed training in aquatics and physical conditioning. It will now include Land Navigation to allow for increased remediation and written test opportunities to better prepare Marines for the cognitive aspects of memorization and written exams throughout BRC,\u201d Foote explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some former and current recon Marines posit the decline in attendance at BRC may be a result of the primer course weeding out students who otherwise would not have graduated BRC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And Corps officials said since the new screening course and changes to BRC went into effect graduation rates have soared to nearly 80 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe vast majority of attrition from the Basic Reconnaissance training program result from failures to pass initial screening,\u201d Foote explained. \u201cOnce candidates are screened to meet the medical, cognitive, and physical requirements to conduct high risk training, the attrition rate is low.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>But manpower concerns are not the only issues \u00adfacing the Corps\u2019 elite and storied recon units.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":56993,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":70,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[12,70],"tags":[],"coauthors":[8358],"class_list":["post-27454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-your-army"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"VFPXAOY4R5BTPFSYVWOGIUZ4CE","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Recon shortage: Why these elite Marines are facing a manpower crisis - Army Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"But manpower concerns are not the only issues \u00adfacing the Corps\u2019 elite and storied recon units.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Recon shortage: Why these elite Marines are facing a manpower crisis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"But manpower concerns are not the only issues \u00adfacing the Corps\u2019 elite and storied recon units.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Army Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-10-08T21:30:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T20:36:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Shawn Snow and Andrea Scott\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Shawn Snow and Andrea Scott\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/08\\\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/08\\\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"Recon shortage: Why these elite Marines are facing a manpower crisis\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2018-10-08T21:30:54+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T20:36:00+00:00\",\n\t            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/08\\\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"wordCount\": 1778,\n\t            \"commentCount\": 0,\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/08\\\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/MAR-Cover.JPG.jpg\",\n\t            \"articleSection\": [\n\t                \"News\",\n\t                \"Your Army\"\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"CommentAction\",\n\t                    \"name\": \"Comment\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/08\\\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\\\/#respond\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/08\\\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\\\/\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/08\\\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Recon shortage: Why these elite Marines are facing a manpower crisis - Army Times\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#website\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/08\\\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/08\\\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/MAR-Cover.JPG.jpg\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2018-10-08T21:30:54+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T20:36:00+00:00\",\n\t            \"description\": \"But manpower concerns are not the only issues \u00adfacing the Corps\u2019 elite and storied recon units.\",\n\t            \"breadcrumb\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/08\\\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\\\/#breadcrumb\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ReadAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/08\\\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\\\/\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/08\\\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\\\/#primaryimage\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/MAR-Cover.JPG.jpg\",\n\t            \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/MAR-Cover.JPG.jpg\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/08\\\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\\\/#breadcrumb\",\n\t            \"itemListElement\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 1,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Home\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"home\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 2,\n\t                    \"name\": \"News\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"news\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 3,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Your Army\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/news\\\/your-army\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"your-army\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 4,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Recon shortage: Why these elite Marines are facing a manpower crisis\"\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#website\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Army Times\",\n\t            \"description\": \"Independent News For Soldiers | Army Times\",\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"SearchAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"EntryPoint\",\n\t                        \"urlTemplate\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"\n\t                    },\n\t                    \"query-input\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"PropertyValueSpecification\",\n\t                        \"valueRequired\": true,\n\t                        \"valueName\": \"search_term_string\"\n\t                    }\n\t                }\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#organization\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Army Times\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"logo\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/army-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/army-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"Army Times\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"\n\t            }\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\",\n\t            \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"migration\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/armytimes\\\/author\\\/migration\\\/\"\n\t        }\n\t    ]\n\t}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Recon shortage: Why these elite Marines are facing a manpower crisis - Army Times","description":"But manpower concerns are not the only issues \u00adfacing the Corps\u2019 elite and storied recon units.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Recon shortage: Why these elite Marines are facing a manpower crisis","og_description":"But manpower concerns are not the only issues \u00adfacing the Corps\u2019 elite and storied recon units.","og_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/","og_site_name":"Army Times","article_published_time":"2018-10-08T21:30:54+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-08T20:36:00+00:00","author":"Shawn Snow and Andrea Scott","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Shawn Snow and Andrea Scott","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/"},"author":{"name":"migration","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1"},"headline":"Recon shortage: Why these elite Marines are facing a manpower crisis","datePublished":"2018-10-08T21:30:54+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T20:36:00+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/"},"wordCount":1778,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-Cover.JPG.jpg","articleSection":["News","Your Army"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/","name":"Recon shortage: Why these elite Marines are facing a manpower crisis - Army Times","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-Cover.JPG.jpg","datePublished":"2018-10-08T21:30:54+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T20:36:00+00:00","description":"But manpower concerns are not the only issues \u00adfacing the Corps\u2019 elite and storied recon units.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-Cover.JPG.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-Cover.JPG.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/10\/08\/recon-shortage-why-these-elite-marines-are-facing-a-manpower-crisis\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/","ad_zone":"home"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/","ad_zone":"news"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Your Army","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/","ad_zone":"your-army"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Recon shortage: Why these elite Marines are facing a manpower crisis"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#website","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/","name":"Army Times","description":"Independent News For Soldiers | Army Times","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#organization","name":"Army Times","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/army-logo-white.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/army-logo-white.png","caption":"Army Times"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1","name":"migration","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"migration"},"url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/author\/migration\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Army Times","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes","push-errors":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/MAR-Cover.JPG.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27454"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27454\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27458,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27454\/revisions\/27458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27454"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=27454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}