Force Recon Battalion

he 1st Reconnaissance Unit, the Recon Company was officially

activated on 19 August 1972, several months after the activation
of the 1st and 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Teams (MBLTs) of then
the Philippine Marine Brigade. Its first Commander was ENSIGN
EDGARDO V ESPINOSA PN(M) who later became the Commandant of the
Philippine Marine Corps.

The Recon unit saw intense combat actions alongside with the MBLTs
during the Secessionist Movement of the MNLF in Southern Mindanao in
the early 1070's. Thus the four (4) - man team earned its fame.

From 1975 to 1985 the unit experienced a series of combined combat

and administrative operations ranging from recon missions to
augmentation of the first activated Inshore Boat Company in the early
1980's.

On 15 Sept 1985, the 1st Recon Company was re-designated as the 61st
Marine (Recon) Company. The 61st Recon Company had most of its field
assignments in Mindanao, particularly in the Zamboanga peninsula where
they were pitted against several dissident terrorists (DTs) and the
Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) lost command.

In 1986, the 61st Marine (Recon) Company was stationed at Marine

Barracks Fort Bonifacio (MBFB). In June 1987, the unit together with a
large contingent of Combat Service Support Brigade (CSSBde) units and
other MBLTs, were sent to Jolo relieving the 1st Infantry Division of
the Philippine Army. From there, the unit was sent to various combat
missions against several lawless elements in Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and
Palawan. In 1988, the company returned to MBFB.

While at the MBFB, Recon Company was eventually deployed and utilized
against the renegade soldiers in Metro Manila and successfully
apprehended several of these during different raids in their hideouts.

In 1989, the unit practically covered the entire archipelago. A Recon

platoon was deployed in Central Mindanao, specifically in Davao and
Cotabato under operational control of the 3rd Mbde. Another platoon was
deployed in Palawan under 2nd MBde, while another platoon operated in
Bulacan under the 1st Mbde. The company's operating headquarters was
under the GHQ Task Force Vulcan.
 On 15 May 1989 the 62nd and 63rd Marine (Recon) Companies were both
activated although their actual fill up came up later in 1994 when
there were three (3) independent Recon Companies.

In 1992 the 61st Marine (Recon) Company together with a weapons

section from the 8th Marine Company, MBLT-8, led the assault against
the main Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA)
Headquarters in Sagada, Mt Province. The success of the operation was a
strategic victory for the AFP against the CPP/NPA not only in Luzon but
all over the country.

In Sept 1992, the units maintained the same profile of deployment. It

was intensely engaged against several kidnap-for-ransom (KFRC) gangs in
Central Mindanao. One of the most celebrated accomplishments of the
unit during this period was the rescue of Father BLANCO and Anthony
BIEL from the Abu Sayyaf. The encounters by the unit which preceded
this rescue, together with other Marine units operating in Basilan were
the first ever series of encounters by the AFP against the ASG. The
successful operation and rescue in Camp Almadina, Basilan earned for
the unit not only national prestige but the second Medal of Valor for
the Marine Corps in the person of 1LT CUSTODIO PARCON PN(M), who led
the assault. This operation soon led to several intense but nonetheless
successful combat operations against the ASG and the MNLF Lost Command
in Basilan and Jolo, which unfortunately escalated to alarming heights
with the arrival of the Philippine Army in the area.

From 1993 to 1994, the Company was designated under the Marine Rapid
Deployment Force and was sent to Cotabato to face more combat
operations.

On 18 April 1995, the Headquarters Service and Training Company were

activated to form the Force Recon Battalion (FRBn) with the three (3)
Recon Companies, with its two (2) Companies deployed in Cotabato and
Zamboanga City, and one (1) company aboard MBFB.

In October 1998 the entire battalion, the Headquarters and the three
(3) Companies were all deployed in Southern Mindanao under the defunct
Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) - Mindanao. Here,
the FRBn took on various special operations ranging from direct actions
against the ASG and KFRG's, to ship assault and raids on built up areas
against big time smugglers.

In March 1999 the battalion was confronted with the war in Central
Mindanao against the MILF. Again, the headquarters went into action
together with its three (3) Companies where three (3) of its men
earning for the Battalion their three (3) Medals of Valor.

On August 2001, the FRBn was once again deployed in Basilan to rescue
the Dos Palmas hostages and to neutralize the ASG, while one (1) Force
Recon Company was committed for the Force Recon Course Class 07-01
which was operating under Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) AOR. In the
same year, and in accordance to Marine Corps Table of Organization
(TOE) 01-00 the 61st, 62nd, and 63rd Marine (Recon) Companies were re-
designated as the 61st, 62nd, and 63rd Force Recon Companies,
respectively.
THE SCOUT RAIDER THE FORERUNNER
The forerunner of the Recon was the Scout Raider Platoon which was
part of then the Weapons Company of the Philippine Marine Battalion in
the 1950's.

It was in 1954 that due to the formation of the Scout Raider Platoon
the Philippine Marine Battalion then first received formal instruction
and training in combat parachuting. Thus, it officially became the
first airborne unit of the Philippine Navy in general.

On training, its first personnel received formal training at the PA

Special Forces while conducting cross training with the USMC Recon and
other special operations units. Nonetheless, the Scout Raider Platoon
was specialized in amphibious raids and not on ground reconnaissance.

Officially, while the platoon was peculiar in itself but its

activation was controversial, since it was the Weapons Company of then
the Philippine Marine Battalion which was activated and the Scout
Raider was only one of its platoons. In addition, the former Scout
Raider had entirely different mission from that of the first Recon unit
and its bigger successors, particularly, the Force Recon Battalion.

Nonetheless, it was crucial though that when the first Recon Company
was activated the Scout Raider personnel were the first to fill up the
unit. Thus, there was indeed a feeling of consanguinity and
relationship between two different units.

Likewise, the same feeling and confusion experienced among those

recon personnel who filled-up the first Inshore Boat Company, and
various unsupported claims arose that the Recon at one time was
deactivated which officially did not occur, however, accidentally
unfilled. Thus, the activation of the first Recon Company in 1972 was
entirely unique and unrelated to other claims of ascendancy or roots.

So far, since its inception the Recon unit garnered three (3) Medals
of Valor and in two (2) counts it won for itself the AFP Outstanding
Personnel of the Year in 1985 and 2001 respectively.

Not only in combat that the Force Recon proved its prowess, equally
the unit has answered the call in countless disaster rescue and relief
operations. Noteworthy, the Reconnaissance personnel and units wherever
they go undoubtedly leaves a mark of respect among its civilian
masters, and fear on their adversaries - a trademark common only to
units of the Philippine Marine Corps.