The United States Marine Corps made history this month after a female recruit earned a military occupational specialty in reconnaissance.
Lance Cpl. Alexa Barth will soon head to 1st Recon Battalion at Camp Pendleton after passing a 12-week course for the 0321 reconnaissance Marine MOS.
“The Reconnaissance Marine is an Infantry Marine skilled in amphibious reconnaissance and ground reconnaissance,” the branch’s official website says of the job.
Infantry skills are honed in addition to mastering “scout swimming, small boat operations and refined observation, scouting, patrolling and long-range communications skills. Reconnaissance Marines receive advanced training as Static Line and Military Freefall Parachutists and Jumpmasters, as well as Combatant Divers and Diving Supervisors.”
The Marine has a few supplementary training courses to complete, although the major obstacle was completed Nov. 7, a spokesman told Marine Corps Times Thursday.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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