Do officers in Recon units lead their Marines on missions in the field?
Normally, the Recon Platoon Commander works in the Landing Force Operations Center (LFOC) or Combat Operations Center (COC). Here he receives reports from his teams, transmits direction to them & coordinates any support they need in the field. Recon Team Leaders are normally Sergeants or Staff Sergeants (some Force Recon Teams). The Team Leader is the senior man to go to the field on missions. Some missions require the full platoon to act as a unit, and in that case the Platoon Commander may also go to the field. Marine Units in general seem to be led by at least one rank lower than the equivalent type of unit in other services….. a source of pride for Marines. To see another point of view, the Corps gets equal work from someone they pay significantly less….. Then again, money isn’t everything.
