POTD: Natural Predator – U.S. Naval Special Warfare SEALs
One of the goals of TFB’s Photo Of The Day is to share treasures from the world of firearms while giving credits to the photographer. Above you see U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Alex Story with Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), as he patrols through the jungle on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan. This happened at the end of January 2022.
The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of America Expeditionary Ready Group in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Below: A U.S. Marine with Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, left, and a U.S. Naval Special Warfare SEAL work together to send intelligence during a route reconnaissance exercise.
A U.S. Naval Special Warfare SEAL, left, and a U.S. Marine with Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), patrol during a route reconnaissance exercise, Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan. The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of America Expeditionary Ready Group in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Alex Story with Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), patrols through the jungle.
Photo Source: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Manuel Alvarado
Ex-Arctic Ranger. Competitive practical shooter and hunter with a European focus. Always ready to increase my collection of modern semi-automatics, optics, thermals and suppressors. TCCC Certified. Occasionaly seen in a 6x6 Bug Out Vehicle, always with a big smile.
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Navy guy here: I did VBSS with Force Recon and Teams. Back then the Teams and I used MP5N and MP5SD and 870s. FRRs used M4A1. Raiders are every but as tough as green teams or more so. They have a slower op tempo than Delta/CAG and DEVGRU. Also worked with them and a number of allied Commandos.
I have nothing but deep admiration for the Marines and especially Force Recon as they are something else and very far beyond even the Marines themselves. Still, the heading is wrong, these are Force Recon men and NOT SEALS which comprise of only US Navy people and they are the Best of the Best, at least when I was in the late 60's and early 70's. Even the Marines did not wish to go at it with anyone that had the "Budweiser" on their chest. I know this for a fact as some senior Sgt's approached me and asked if I could please get my friend, a real deal SEAL out of their Marine NCO Club on the Marine base in San Diego. He was drunk and taunting any and all Marines to do something about his behavior. Thankfully he really like me and we agreed to go drink with some 'better' company, IE his fellow SEALs. Force Recon deserves their own heading and not under the banner of the SEALs.