Brigade Patrol Troop
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The Brigade Patrol Troop is a Royal Marines force element within the Support Squadron of the UK Landing Force Command Support Group, 3 Commando Brigade.
The role of the Troop is reconnaissance, contributing to the UKLFCSGs role, providing information superiority in the battlespace for the Brigade. The four man patrols would be deployed in advance of the main force collecting intelligence and communicating it back the Brigade Headquarters. The Troop comprises six patrols of specially trained personnel.
[edit] History
The Troop was formed in the late 1990s using personnel from the Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre, and attached to Headquarters 3 Commando as a Brigade asset. Subsequently they have been employed on all Brigade deployments including the Operation TELIC, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and in Afghanistan
[edit] Selection and Training
Candidates for the troop are already Commando qualified and continue their training to qualify as Recce Leaders, the Troop only accept candidates from the Royal Marines. In addition to the cold weather warfare training which all members of the Brigade conduct personnel are trained in first aid to a high level of competence, voice and data communications, reconnaissance patrolling and intelligence collection. Personnel undertake sniper training using the L96A1 rifle and parachute training at RAF Brize Norton.
After qualification the Recce leader undergoes a period of probation.
Training as a Recce leader is seen as sound preparation for future selection as a Swimmer Canoeist in the Special Boat Service due to its arduous nature.
Members of the Brigade Patrol Troop use the M4 assault rifle in preference to the British Armed Forces standard SA80A2.
