RTMC Reconnaissance Battalion

The Reconnaissance Battalion or RECON (กองพันลาดตระเวน กองพลนาวิกโยธิน) is a reconnaissance battalion in the Royal Thai Marine Corps. It falls under the command of the Royal Thai Marine Division. Considered to be the most powerful combat unit of the Royal Thai Marine in 3D combat contain of land, water, air as a Marines special Force.

History
On February 24, 1942, the Navy established "Department of the Marine" is directly at the Sattahip Naval Station. The rate of organization consists of a division which consists of an artillery company, 2 infantry battalions, 1 and 2 marines with 2 battalions, 1 small artillery and a heavy machine gun. In addition, there is another support force. The company used reconnaissance horses. The Engineer Company Squadron was commissioned by the military commander, Kham Hiran (rank at that time) as the commander in 1955. After the Indochina-France dispute was completed, the Navy improved and organized the Marine Corps. There is an affiliation unit The 2 infantry battalions are the 1st Marine Battalion and the 2nd Marine Battalion. There are 2 battalions of artillery, 1 heavy machine battalion, 1 artillery battalion, which is the 4th Marine Battalion with 1 artillery regiment. (Using mountain artillery) and 2 75 mm artillery battalion 40 calibers (Bofors like the army) are also available 1 combat vehicle squadron (equivalent to the battalion) divided into 4 companies using 20 mm and 37 mm anti-tank guns and 50 mm grenade launchers and 3 more units equivalent to the company Is the mechanic division, communication division and patrol division which is a direct unit to Marines Since 1975, Thai Marines have been assigned to Narathiwat as Force Reconnaissance Battalion. In 1977, they captured the communist camp at Krung-Ching in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, and remaining there until 1981. In December 1978, recon teams were sent to the Mekong River during skirmishes with the Pathet Lao, a communist political movement and organisation in Laos.

On February 13, 2013, the Battle of Bacho occurred when 50 RKK members attacked a 2nd Rifle Company, 32nd Task Force Narathiwat of the royal thai marine base. The royal thai marine base had already prepared due to receiving clues about the plans to attack the stronghold 2-3 days before. The marine commander has put in a defensive strategy with additional of the 11 members of Recon and 11 Thai Navy SEALs. After clashing resulted in 17 deaths from attacker side with non fatality for both Recon and Navy SEALs member.

Mission and training
The mission of Reconnaissance Battalion is to provide task organized forces in order to conduct amphibious reconnaissance, ground reconnaissance, battlespace shaping operations, raids, and specialized insertion and extraction.

Training
Despite being heavily opposed by the cruel enemies, the weather and the weather can be very bad. Then causing the unit to panic until they change their intentions in any way because we are always adhering to the mission above all else even life.

This is a vow that special combat course students fields of amphibious reconnaissance and attacking marines or Recons that have to be memorized to the heart. Because it is a pledge to encourage morale to all students.

Recon is a special combat course that is reputed to be one of the top of the Thai military and has the nickname as a 3D warrior, because it can operate on sea, ground and air. "Seal has a Hell Week while Recon has a Hell Every Week."

By the qualifications of students of the Recon course, they have to serve in the military, age must under the age of 35, most of which are affiliated with the Navy, but there are quotas for other armed force and the police as well.

Before becoming a student, they must go through the selection process. And test the body If any candidate fails to meet the specified criteria, they will immediately lose the right to be a student. Therefore, soldiers who will become special fighters must have physical and mental performance at all times. Therefore there is no room for the weak. "On the Recon Special Combat Training Course application form, it is clearly written that In the event of injury, disability or death due to training or testing, any rights from the government cannot be claimed. Other than the government considering."

This course is set to be uncounted no more than 5% because each year there will be students injured and died from training. Therefore there is a limit of not more than 5% if more than this. The trainer must be set up the fact examination committee. Then carry out military procedures as determined, so the trainer must assess the situation at all times except for force major. The duration of Recon special combat course, is set to be trained for 13 weeks or more than 3 months. Divided into 5 weeks for base mission, 4 weeks of maritime mission, such as paddling resistant rubber 15 nautical miles or 27 kilometers, carrying resistant rubber boats for about 10 kilometers without breaks and swim 5 nautical miles or 9.6 kilometers and the last 4 weeks in jungle and mountain region.

In practice each day the trainer will have problems revolving all the time. For each student to have the opportunity to be a scout leader. Create a small military unit leader If the mission fails, the leader must be responsible.

There is also a "Prisoner of War" issue in which students must prepare themselves to deal with this problem. Because it is a mental state test, will students be able to keep secrets. If the situation is actually captured by the enemy. The final mission is a 72-hour problem that Recon special combat students must perform without rest for 3 days and 3 nights. The special combat course is to train the warriors to be superhuman, to be able to complete risky and difficult missions.

Engagements

 * Cold War
 * Communist insurgency in Thailand
 * Vietnamese border raids in Thailand
 * Communist insurgency in Malaysia
 * Southern Insurgency
 * Battle of Bacho (2013)