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The murky interior of the Lockheed KC-130 was crowded with snoozing Marines and an orderly mountain of parachutes and heavy rucksacks lashed to the steel deck. Snowcovered mountains and blue water drifted by two miles below.
The jumpmaster, Staff Sergeant Todd Caron, had the Marines on their feet. In pairs, they helped each other into their 'chutes and rucks, each methodically checking the other's webbing and equipment-and checking again.
The pilot descended to 1,500 feet and throttled back to 130 knots. The huge clamshell hatch opened heavy jaws to the clear, cold air. Caron shouted the countdown over the muted thunder of the turboprops. "Ten min-utes!" The encumbered Marines reached up and snapped onto the static line, a half-inch steel cable running the length of the aircraft.
"Check static lines. Sound off for equipment check."
The chorus echoed his commands all the way down to the one-minute mark, then, "Go!" At one-second intervals, the jumpers stepped off the ramp into space. They were commuters of the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion going to work after a 3,000-mile journey from Texas to Alaska.
Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel J. Collin Andrus, USMCR, the 4th Recon Bn, Fourth Marine Division (Rein), USMCR, is the only recon training battalion in the Marine Corps. Headquartered in San Antonio, H&S, "Alpha" and "Charlie" Companies share facilities at the W. J. Bordelon Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center at Fort Sam Houston.
Inspector-Instructor LtCol Michael Kachilla, USMC, explained the battalion mission. "We are here to provide trained reconnaissance Marines and units to augment and reinforce our component in time of war, during any national emergency and at any other time when national security demands it. We muster just over 500 Marines to fulfill this mission."
With a major overhaul contemplated for battlefield reconnaissance units, which commanders say are overworked and undermanned, the 4th Recon Bn assumes increasing importance as a reservoir of Marines skilled in gathering critical tactical intelligence forward of friendly linessmall teams operating independently as eyes and ears of commanders.
A Marine who aspires to the 0321 reconnaissance man military occupational specialty (MOS) faces a stiff challenge. Screening is thorough and uncompromising. Strength, endurance, native intelligence and a fierce desire to succeed are needed to complete the course.
There are two...