Physical Fitness Requirements from the U.S. Marines Recon

U.S.M.C - Recon Screening Board

Image by Curioso Photography on Adobe Stock

At the 200th anniversary of the US Marine Corps, this specialized Unit Called Marine Reconnaissance was born. They practice U.W. Unconventional Welfare and D.A. Direct Action.

Motto (Unit) "Celer, Silens, Mortalis"
Translation: Swift, Silent, Deadly

Established in: "1975"

The Physical Screening Test is the test that a Marine can take to go to Reconnaissance selection training. They call it also Screening Board. This Screening board lasts 48 hours and can be retaken by any aspirant without limitation. Some candidates try out 3x to make it into selection.

To qualify for this unit, one must be a U.S. Citizen and be able to obtain Security Clearance. Of course one must be a Marine.

Chart Standards Recon Selection

#	Exercises	Pass	Good	Great	Gold
1	Underwater Swim	Pass or Fail. The distance that needs to be covered = 25 meter
2	Deep Water Rife Retrieval	Pass or Fail.
3	7.5 Meter Tower jump	Pass or Fail.
4	Tread Water	Pass or Fail. The time is in between 30 to 40 minutes
5	Flotation	Pass or Fail.
6	500 Meter Swim	Pass or Fail. The distance has to be covered within 20 minutes
7	Pullups	+ 8 reps	+ 14 reps	+ 20 reps	+ 23 reps
8	Crunches	+ 85 reps	+ 100 reps	+ 108 reps	+ 115 reps
9	3 Mile Run	-26:00 min	-21:10 min	-19:40 min	-18:00 min

Pre-Selection Force Recon

This test involves 8 different exercises that have to be completed in the listed order. It starts in the swimming pool and follows with the regular BMT, where the candidates have to perform well. Furthermore, some extra drills might be included in initial tests such as 30-yard distance diving. They have to come out fully lucid, to pass to the next event. Usually, candidates are allowed a retry if they blackout, while trying to swim to the other side of the pool. If you can't make it, you are out. Candidates have to hand a weight plate to the next candidate while treading water. They also need to show proficiency in treading water without using hands or without using legs. They will also go through psychological tests and interviews. It is to note that the selection test has been eliminated as entry requirements a while ago.

Physical Requirements and Information from other units

For Other U.S. Units, click below
Marines	Navy Seals	MARSOC
Green Berets	Delta Force	AirForce PJs
Rescue Swimmers	Navy	DevGru
For Other International Units, click below
Royal Marines	JW Formoza	Commando Marine
K.S.K.	GRUMEC	Para SF
JakDo	JTF2	Kampfschwimmer
Frogman Corps	Bordo Bereliler	Gru Spetsnaz
JW Grom	NORSOF	Alpha Group Spetsnaz
For General Fitness information and MsigWarrior Blog, click here
All other available units, click here

Selection Force Recon

The selection Phase for Recon Marines is intense. They go through various testings, such as the 2000 yard challenge, where they have to swim 500 yards out into the ocean, swim around a buoy for another 500 yards, and around another buoy, and then swim back to the beach. They then have to run back 500 yards to the starting point. They have to do this 5x in 90 minutes to not get punished with extra calisthenics or extra challenges. They also have to Team Zodiac challenge where they have to paddle in the zodiac as a team, and flip the zodiac, paddle back and then run for a mile, carrying the zodiac. They will perform 2-10 mile ruck runs with 50 to 90 lbs, go through SERE school, perform deep reconnaissance, while being sleep deprived. They will be cold and miserable. The final gut check is a 24-hour test, where the candidates have to perform a close to the real mission, attacked for 10 hours, where they then will have to perform various challenges, such as the evacuation of an injured comrade while being sprayed with strong tear gas. The Rite of Passage.

U.S.M.C - Recon Pre-Selection Video

The Recon Creed

Realizing it is my choice and my choice alone to be a Reconnaissance Marine, I accept all challenges involved with this profession. Forever shall I strive to maintain the tremendous reputation of those who went before me.

Exceeding beyond the limitations set down by others shall be my goal. Sacrificing personal comforts and dedicating myself to the completion of the reconnaissance mission shall be my life. Physical fitness, mental attitude, and high ethics -- The title of Recon Marine is my honor.

Conquering all obstacles, both large and small, I shall never quit. To quit, to surrender, to give up is to fail. To be a Recon Marine is to surpass failure; To overcome, to adapt, and to do whatever it takes to complete the mission.

On the battlefield, as in all areas of life, I shall stand tall above the competition. Through professional pride, integrity, and teamwork, I shall be the example for all Marines to emulate.

Never shall I forget the principles I accepted to become a Recon Marine. Honor, Perseverance, Spirit, and Heart. A Recon Marine can speak without saying a word and achieve what others can only imagine.

My Personal Experience with the Recon Screening

Facts Force Recon

Marine recons (at least the old-school ones), run 5 miles in the morning and run 5 miles in the evening.

Former Recon Marines prided themselves in always maxing out on the PT test. They used to run 3 miles in 18 minutes, perform 20 pullups, and 80 situps in 2 minutes. It was also not uncommon to run a 20 miler on the weekend.

A woman recently made it through the Selection Phase.

The whole process from beginning to end, to be considered a full-blown Recon Marine, takes about 2 years. Candidates usually have to take various courses during the year, that opens during various times. Some of them are in different military units. They will go through a Combatant Diver Course in Panama and also go through Basic Airborne School.