The Marine Reconnaissance (Recon) community is a specialized element of the Marine Corps, tasked with conducting amphibious and ground reconnaissance to gather intelligence for commanders. Earning the designation of Reconnaissance Marine (MOS 0321) requires successfully navigating a long and highly selective training pipeline. This multi-phased path tests the physical and mental limits of candidates, ensuring only those with high proficiency and determination qualify for the role. The total time investment extends into a series of advanced, mandatory specialization schools.
Understanding the Prerequisites
Before attending the official screening process, candidates must meet a demanding set of physical and administrative standards. Applicants must possess a General Technical (GT) score of 105 or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Physical conditioning requires a first-class score of 225 or higher on the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test (PFT) and a first-class swimmer qualification.
A high degree of aquatic competency is necessary, specifically requiring the Water Survival Intermediate (WSI) qualification. The candidate’s service record must be clean, with no non-judicial punishments (NJPs) within the last year, and they must be eligible to obtain a Secret security clearance. These prerequisites establish the baseline of mental acuity, physical stamina, and personal integrity necessary to apply for the pipeline.
Initial Screening and Preparation
The first formal assessment is the Reconnaissance Training and Assessment Program (RTAP), which typically runs for five weeks. This phase acts as the primary filter, pushing candidates to their physical and mental limits to determine suitability for the Basic Reconnaissance Course (BRC). RTAP incorporates continuous high-intensity physical training, including calisthenics, lengthy runs, and water confidence evolutions.
The assessment includes a Reconnaissance Selection Aptitude Test on the first day, featuring a timed three-mile run, a 500-meter swim, and a 30-minute water tread. Candidates are also evaluated on land navigation and knot tying proficiency. Many candidates fail to meet the standards or choose to Drop on Request (DOR) during this screening period.
The Basic Reconnaissance Course
The core of the pipeline is the Basic Reconnaissance Course (BRC), a 12-week program designed to train Marines in the tactics, techniques, and procedures of land and amphibious reconnaissance. BRC is divided into three phases, each building on the foundational skills of the last.
Phase I focuses on individual skills, physical conditioning, and special skills, including communications, supporting arms, and water survival. Phase II concentrates on individual and team open-ocean amphibious skills, introducing students to operations using Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC) and advanced nautical navigation. Phase III culminates in extended patrolling and reconnaissance operations, emphasizing team-level communication and mission planning.
The course is demanding, often involving 15-hour training days and high-mileage rucks. Upon graduation, Marines earn the MOS 0321, Reconnaissance Marine. However, they must still complete a series of specialized schools to gain the full spectrum of insertion and extraction capabilities required for operational deployments.
Specialized Skills Training
Qualification as a Reconnaissance Marine requires successful completion of three mandatory advanced schools, which add significant time to the training pipeline. These courses provide specialized skills necessary for deep reconnaissance operations, often involving stealth insertion by sea or air. The combined length of these courses adds approximately three to four months of continuous training.
Marine Combatant Diver Course (MCDC)
The Marine Combatant Diver Course (MCDC) is an eight-week program conducted at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, Florida. This course qualifies Marines in both open and closed-circuit diving techniques for clandestine maritime infiltration. Training involves open-water navigation, diving physics, medical aid, and operating specialized equipment under high-stress conditions.
Basic Airborne Course (BAC)
The Basic Airborne Course (BAC), or Jump School, is a three-week program held at Fort Moore, Georgia. Training is divided into three phases—Ground Week, Tower Week, and Jump Week—to teach static-line parachuting techniques. Successful completion requires a minimum of five qualifying jumps from a military aircraft, granting the Recon Marine the ability to infiltrate an operational area by parachute.
Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) School
Reconnaissance Marines must attend Level C SERE School, an intensive three-week course preparing personnel for isolation and potential enemy capture. Due to their deep-reconnaissance mission profile, Recon Marines are considered high-risk for capture, making this training a requirement. The course covers survival, evasion, and techniques for resisting exploitation while in enemy hands.
Total Pipeline Timeline and Variable Factors
The minimum continuous training time for a Marine to complete the Reconnaissance pipeline, from RTAP through all mandatory advanced schools, totals approximately 23 to 26 weeks, or about six months. This calculation includes the five-week RTAP, the 12-week BRC, the eight-week MCDC, and the three-week BAC. The three-week SERE course brings the total classroom time to just over six months.
The most significant factor influencing the actual time is the variable wait period between courses, known as “pipeline delays” or “MARS (Marines Awaiting Reconnaissance Training) Platoon” time. Since specialized schools like Dive and Jump are often run by other services and have limited class seats, a Marine may wait weeks or months for a slot. While instructional time is roughly six months, the total time to become a qualified Reconnaissance Marine can realistically span from nine months to over 18 months, depending on training quotas and scheduling logistics.