Radio Reconnaissance Platoon History

Radio Reconnaissance Platoon originated from a requirement that emerged from Beirut in 1984 for a force of Marines capable of conducting Signals Intelligence in austere environments against targets for which the use of conventional Radio Battalion assets was not feasible. Lieutenant General Alfred M. Gray, Jr., wanted to test this idea so he directed Lt. Col. Keller, Commanding Officer 2nd Radio Battalion USMC, to integrate Radio Battalion cryptologists, with a team from 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company.

Following an initial failure, the proof of concept finally broke ground in 1985 under the leadership and guidance of Lieutenant Colonel Chuck Gallina, Commanding Officer, 2nd Radio Battalion, USMC and Captain Ernie Gillespie, who was returning from a tour as the J2 Signals Intelligence Operations Officer with the Joint Special Operations Command. Captain Gillespie contended that rather than integrating specially trained cryptologists with a Force Recon team, it would be more effective to establish a six-main Radio Battalion team specially trained in selected airborne and seaborne insertion/extraction techniques, ground reconnaissance, and survival skills. With the stroke of a pen from General Gray, the first Radio Reconnaissance Team was established with the mission to: “conduct limited communications intelligence and specified electronic warfare operations in support of Force Reconnaissance operations during advance force or special operations missions.”

Captain Gillespie was directed to immediately commence screening of 2nd Radio Battalion personnel. However, most Radio Battalion Marines did not share the officers' enthusiasm for the project. There was also resistance by Company Commanders, who did not want to allow their best Marines to be assigned to the task. Except for the Senior non-commissioned officers and Sergeants, most of the Marines provided to form the initial RRT's were "malcontents" waiting to be discharged. At this time, Major Carrick insisted that all the RRT candidates must go through the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company Indoctrination Process (Indoc). Carrick later admitted that the only reason that he insisted on this issue was that he felt that all or most of the Radio Battalion Marines would either quit or fail the Indoc and the project would be put to rest once and for all. However, all of the RRT candidates passed the Indoc. Captain Gillespie later talked to the Indoc instructors, who indicated that they had done everything that they could think of to make the RRT Marines quit, but they persevered.

In 1987, 1st Radio Battalion at MCB Hawaii officially created a Radio Reconnaissance Platoon. 1st RRP Marines trained with Alpha Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion in the initial stages and attended various multi-service schools to perfect their skills. During its first two years, 1st Radio Battalion's RRIP (Radio Reconnaissance Indoctrination Process) consisted of 4–6 months of training, formal schools, and exercises prior to a Marine achieving certification and being assigned to a team. 

Between 1986 and 1989, RRT's were deployed as an element of the Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) Radio Battalion Detachment assigned to each of the rotating east coast and west coast  MEU(SOC) deployments. 

Captain Gillespie was assigned as the officer in charge of the 2nd Radio Battalion Detachment, 24th MEU(SOC) in 1986, which was the first Radio Battalion detachment to conduct real-world operations during Operation Earnest Will (a Kuwaiti oil tanker escort operation). The 24th MEU(SOC) RRT reinforced by members of 1st RRP with specific linguist skills, was involved in significant cryptologic operations in the Persian Gulf and provided intelligence support for several combat actions against Iranian forces, including the seizure of the Iranian mine-laying vessel, Iran Ajr and the incident at Middle Shoals Light. Other RRT personnel were involved in actions in Panama leading to and during Operation Just Cause, the invasion of Panama.

In the Pacific Theater, the first certified RRT to participate in real-world operations deployed in 1988–89 as part of the 13th MEU(SOC) Radio Battalion Detachment commanded by First Lieutenant Kirk Kicklighter. Sergeant Daniel Stinson served as team leader during collection missions in support of Australian forces intervening in the civil war in Papua New Guinea, as well as intelligence operations against rebel forces seeking to overthrow the newly installed government of President Corazon Aquino in the Republic of the Philippines.

Since its inception, the Radio Reconnaissance Platoon has served as the origin for the pioneers of Advanced Force and Special Operations Signals Intelligence within the Marine Corps. Throughout the Global War on Terror, Marines originating from Radio Reconnaissance Platoons assisted in the establishment Detachment One and Marine Special Operations Command. The signals intelligence Marines serving in these organizations have worked tirelessly to provide early warning for threats, clarity towards enemy intentions, and electronic warfare options for commanders to leverage, providing a decisive advantage on the ground and protecting the men and women of the United States military. It is for these Marines that the Radio Reconnaissance Project was founded. Forever shall we strive to maintain the tremendous reputation of those who came before us and to give back, in any way we can, to those who have given so much.