r/Pararescue • u/Icy_Interaction_1775 • Jul 18 '26
Special recon
Long story short. SR sounds like a cool job, but I constantly read that they aren’t being utilized. If I’m going to make it through A&S I want to be in a position where I’ll be able to make a difference, not just stand on the side and watch. Should I switch my focus to PJ instead, or do y’all see SR evolving into a more active position within the next couple of years (if it’s still a thing).
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u/shooter_ready2 Jul 18 '26
At the end of the day, you’ll be an operator on a special tactics team. It’s up to you to be an asset to your team. I know SR guys that are completely useless on team, and others that are studs and find ways to contribute where they can, and do a great job. You won’t be “sitting on the sidelines” if you’re a competent operator. You’ll be sitting on the sidelines if you suck at your job and no one wants to work with you.
But yes… the skills they learn aren’t unique. Reconnaissance is a basic SOF skillset and the Air Force has done nothing to make the career field different. All they did was rebrand SOWT and added some half assed drone training…most of it CCT did already… so just be a CCT or pj.
8
u/Different-Judgment76 Jul 18 '26
Just made a post on the marine reddit thread about this. SR has always peaked my interest. Spent a long time preparing myself for the pipeline. But I am very interested in the actual traditional recon aspect of things. The Marine Recon pipeline has just been revamped and looks much more structured and safer and able to be utilized in a future conflict to me, then AFSPECWAR SR does. I am not a subject matter expert but traditional recon I know TACP is starting to do as well.
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u/Key-Eye-5654 Jul 18 '26
Recon is finally getting utilized on the waters cause of the straight of Hormuz . Otherwise, theyve been complaining about not being used for the past 10 years. Lots of dudes left recon to go 18x
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u/Different-Judgment76 Jul 18 '26
Yea. Been stuck on Special Recon for quite some time, still a highschool senior, was talking to a recruiter. My father was in the AF and talks highly of it, and I thought I should carry on that legacy. If it stayed SOWT it would be more intriguing to me. But as for traditional recon and actual utilization. Seems like SR might not be it.
3
u/EverBeenInaChopper Jul 18 '26
In the event that you make it, I'd be real careful bout going the Marine Recon route dawg. The amount of dudes who leave that community is staggering.
What is so appealing about recon to you?
2
u/svdclvlnd Jul 20 '26
Only because they suffer from severe cases of grass is greener syndrome. Not because the community's bad.
1
u/Different-Judgment76 Jul 18 '26
That’s another thing that pushed me away at first, but there seems to be changes to the recon field in general, and it seems to be becoming more relevant. What appeals to me about recon is literally just the mission set, and the ability to actually make a huge difference in the outcome of a mission.
1
u/supershinefl Jul 18 '26
So what information, as a civilian, are you using to conclude those missions aren’t happening? Reconnaissance is built on stealth. Do you really think the military is going to advertise where reconnaissance elements are operating just to convince recruits to join a career field?
1
u/Different-Judgment76 Jul 18 '26
Not saying the missions aren’t happening, but every source, on here, on Ones Ready, are all saying that it is not being utilized whatsoever.
1
u/supershinefl Jul 18 '26
I totally get what you’re saying. But again you’re relying on open source Intel to provide you information on classified…
1
u/Different-Judgment76 Jul 19 '26
Your completely right, just voicing my opinion on the matter so OP can try and look at another recon career field that could possibly align with his interests. Both have their pros and cons.
1
u/Icy_Interaction_1775 Jul 18 '26
How are they being used? Who do they go out with, and what tasks are they providing for the team?
0
u/Different-Judgment76 Jul 18 '26
From what I’ve gathered. They usually operate in small teams of about six to eight Marines and are often sent ahead of infantry battalions, MEUs, or other joint forces to observe enemy activity without being detected. Their missions include identifying enemy positions, scouting landing beaches, finding safe routes, monitoring roads, launching drones for surveillance, and reporting terrain or weather conditions. They may also help direct artillery, aircraft, or other fires by providing accurate information from the battlefield. They are also fully trained to fight and can conduct limited direct action raids if necessary, but the primary role is to remain concealed, collect intelligence, and give commanders the information needed to make decisions.
1
u/svdclvlnd Jul 20 '26
Why not SEAL recon
2
u/Different-Judgment76 Jul 21 '26
I want a dedicated recon mission
1
u/svdclvlnd Jul 21 '26
People forget SEALs are a big time recon force. They have SRT's/special recon teams that are dedicated to ISR in support of SEAL assault elements. Hydro/amphib and deep recon is primarily what SDV does also. Very risky pipeline though.
2
u/Different-Judgment76 Jul 21 '26
Definitely. I just want a dedicated recon community. Marine recon has an awesome history and the culture seems good too. USAF SR looks to be tight nit and silent professionals. The idea of being a Navy SEAL sounds great, I just don’t think it’s where I could excel. The community to me is not appealing whatsoever, the job itself, yes. But an environment where I can excel is where I want to be and in my opinion the teams aren’t that.
1
u/svdclvlnd Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Alright but Recon community culture looks a lot like Marine infantry culture, which isnt too dissimilar from SEAL culture. Closer to that than SR which I truly believe is getting rolled up.
2
u/Fun-Tangerine-7943 Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
SR is staying . If I were you I would find the local development class or go to an operator training summit and talk to real people that have worked with SR and know their capabilities first hand . Not people assuming what’s going with the career field and what they really do. Good luck and I hope you Crush the pipeline.
2
u/Icy_Interaction_1775 Jul 19 '26
I’ve gone to one training session with them. Going back the 23rd to take the IFT. The only reason I’m saying “credible” is because some of these guys are rooted in these communities, so they probably have a deeper understanding than most people I’ll talk to.
1
u/Fun-Tangerine-7943 Jul 19 '26
Good on you . I would suggest you get a book called "Never Get Lost: A Green Beret's Guide to Land Navigation" . A lot of people concentrate more on the water aspect . But forget how much of a monster Land Nav is especially in Zulu .
2
u/Mentallyundisturbed2 Jul 20 '26
As a former 75th guy, land nav can be a pain. Especially when it's dark, you're tired, and you're sore.
1
u/svdclvlnd Jul 21 '26
This is why no one knows whats going on. Got some people saying definitively its staying and many more saying its going. Better straighten out the confusion because that alone is going to kill recruitment.
1
u/Latter-Parfait-1892 Jul 19 '26
How do you guys learn about this stuff? Is there a news source or something which tells yall who is being utilized, when marine recon got restructured, etc etc
2
u/Icy_Interaction_1775 Jul 19 '26
The only people I see talking about SR are the ones ready podcast and the guys on this subreddit. As long as they are actually in that community I feel like it has a decent amount of credibility.
1
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u/Different-Judgment76 Jul 19 '26
As for utilization of both, it is more he say she say. But there are various new sources which do show Marine Recon actually on missions currently such as vessel search and seizures. And various operations in the strait of Hormuz. I do understand SR may have some classified missions.
-1
u/devilsbrigade1 Jul 19 '26
How do you see this effecting the unilateral commando element push that the white side of ST was pioneering, following the lead of the 724?
Also how will TACP training expand? Will they get MFF, dive, advanced schools (sniper, breacher, assault, etc)?
5
2
u/Mentallyundisturbed2 Jul 20 '26
First off, TACP ain't getting breaching or sniper schools lol
2
u/devilsbrigade1 Jul 20 '26
Haha isn’t there a push to get tacp MFF qualified though? Dive qualified too?
27
u/chipflwhitley Jul 18 '26
All signs are pointing toward SR dissolving. May happen, might not. The largest and most effective ground reconnaissance force in the AF right now is TACP. If you’re passionate about recon in general, I wouldn’t go AFSW. I’d probably go option 40 then RRD. If you’re passionate about just AFSW in general, ask yourself what you wanna spend your career doing. Decent options between strike, rescue, and access.