Maritime Special Purpose Force - Force Recon
U.S. DoD photo by: SGT. Robert A. Sturkie
A Force Recon Marine (left) transitions to his sidearm while training at a range with other Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's (Special Operations Capable)'s Maritime Special Purpose Force (MSPF), 2005.
The assault element of a MSFP was the Force Recon Direct Action Platoon (DAP).
Before the creation of Marine Special Operations Companies (MSOCs) in 2006,
the Maritime Special Purpose Force was the MEU's in-house "special operations capable" force.
These days, a deployed MEU may have a MSOC detachment with them on the float as well as their own organic small-scale special mission capability in the form of the Maritime Raid Force (MRF).
