USMC 3rd Recon Bn Patch — Embroidered Patch Forward Deployed Reconnaissance — The Pacific's Eyes 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion operates from the Western Pacific as the forward-deployed reconnaissance element of the 3rd Marine Division, providing the eyes and ears that III MEF needs to maintain situational awareness across the Indo-Pacific theater. Based on Okinawa, Japan, 3rd Recon Battalion is the only permanently forward-deployed division reconnaissance battalion in the Marine Corps. The battalion's Marines conduct amphibious and ground reconnaissance throughout the Pacific, training with allied forces and maintaining readiness for any contingency in the world's most dynamic security environment. In Vietnam, 3rd Recon Marines conducted some of the most dangerous long-range patrols of the war, operating in small teams deep in enemy-controlled territory. The battalion has continued to deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan while maintaining its Pacific focus, and today plays a critical role in the Marine Corps' force design modernization for distributed maritime operations. Perfect For: 3rd Recon Marines past and present, Okinawa-based Marines, 3rd MARDIV personnel, III MEF reconnaissance community, Vietnam-era recon veterans, and Indo-Pacific security professionals. Forward deployed, always watching — 3rd Recon Battalion.
