Tier System

[mikec62001]

Anyone tell me what is this "Tier System" all about...and what is the point of it. People have stated that Units such as Delta and Dev Group are in the Tier one category. I just wanna know the reason/need for the tier system???

Any comments and thought would be most appreciated.

[t*BoNe]

Generally speaking and not solely exclusive to the military, a tier system delineates the range of skill, capability, and resources of personnel or units. There are usually three tiers with Tier 1 occupying the highest rung in the hierarchy.

In other words, Tier 1 personnel and units will have received more specialized training, have more expertise, and generally be more experienced in a variety of mission tasks than Tier 2 and Tier 3 personnel and units.

As an example and speaking practically, the tier system can prove useful in personnel decision for assignment in which personnel can be deployed commensurate with mission tasking, mission priority, and unfortunately at times political effect.

[mikec62001]

Thanks very much for your help :D

[Beowulf]

High value targets are also placed in a tiering system, it's really not that cool it's just am organizational system, about as exciting as those new hanging file folders: the XHF-28 oh man I gotta get me a ten pack of those babies!
-b

[S-*]

Tier 1 - Delta, DEVGROUP

Tier 2 - SEALs, SF(Green Berets)

Tier 3 - Force Recon, Rangers

[Mortimer]

lol in aussie land the tier system is the level of disombfort out field and pay level is adjusted accordingly....

tier 1 - hard rats, no portaloo etc...
tier 2 - hot food, nice sleeping conditions etc...

[mikec62001]

Other forum members said:

Generally speaking and not solely exclusive to the military, a tier system delineates the range of skill, capability, and resources of personnel or units. There are usually three tiers with Tier 1 occupying the highest rung in the hierarchy.

Tier 1 - Delta, DEVGROUP

Tier 2 - SEALs, SF(Green Berets)

Tier 3 - Force Recon, Rangers

I don't understand the difference between Tier Level 2 and 3. I noticed Marine Recon was categorised in Tier 3 and the SEALs in Tier 2. Does this mean SEALs have a greater amount of skill, resources etc than Marine Recon.

[mikec62001]

I didn't know Marine Recon and Force Recon were two different units....(You learn something knew everyday!!!!)

Could you tell me the difference...roles and responsibilities etc.

Cheers

[Helly]

I didn't know Marine Recon and Force Recon were two different units....(You learn something knew everyday!!!!)

Could you tell me the difference...roles and responsibilities etc.

From this excellent book I just bought last week (Marine Force Recon by Fred Pushies, Motorbooks) which I reckon is up-to-date as the date of publication is June 2003:

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"<snip>

Now that we have examined the MAGTF (Marine Air Ground Task Force) concept, let's focus on where Force Reconnaissance (FORECON) fit into this warfighting model. There is one organic Force Reconnaissance Company ADCON/OPCON (Administrative Command/Operational Control) to each MEF (Marine Expeditionary Force): 1st Force Recon Company is assigned to I MEF, MARFORPAC, Camp Pendleton, California; 2nd Force Recon Co is with II MEF, MARFORLANT, Camp Lejeune, N. Carolina; and 3rd Recon is with 3rd MarDiv, III MEF, Camp S.D. Butler, Okinawa, japan (where a Force Recon detachment who works for the MEF commander is attached rather than a whole company). Additionally, there exist two reserve units, 3rd and 4th Force Reconnaissance,which fall under Marine Forces Reserve (MarForRes); 3rd Force is in Mobile, Alabama and 4th Force is in Hawaii with a Det in Reno, NV.

Force Recon and Battalion Recon

Worth noting is that within the MAGTF there are two recon units; one of these is Force Recon Company, while the other is the Battalion Recon (though sometimes referred to as Division Recon) Platoon,which is under the commander of the Combat Element. The Force Recon Company works directly for the MEF Commanding General,normally a three-star, or directly for the MEU(SOC) commander, providing tactical and strategic recon and limited scale raids such as GOPLAT (gas and oil platform), VBSS (visit, board, search, and seizure), and demolition raids, in the deep battle space.Force Recon covers the commander's area of interest: the edge of the artillery fan and beyond. The Battalion Recon covers the commander's area of influence: within the artillery fan, approx. 30 kilometers from the forward line of tropps. The Force Recon Co. will conduct operational-level recon in the deep battle areas. Conversely, Battalion Recon Marines are trained to operate just forward of the frontlines or direcly in front of or alongside of the conventional Marine units.

Not all Battalion Recon marines are Airborne and/or SCUBA qualified. While the training paths are similar for the Recon Marines, those assigned to Force Recon Companies will receive more advanced skills and training, which will more than match those of the Special Operations Forces of SOCOM. This skill set will allow the Force Recon Marines to excel in the area of Deep Recon and Direct Action (DA) missions, well beyond the range of the Battalion Recon assets."

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It's also worth noting that Force Recon now offers a career path. A Force Recon Marine can now stay with Force Recon for as long as he likes, unlike before where the he's usually rotated out to a conventional Marine unit after 5-7 years. The Force Recon members oughta be happy with that decision. ;-)

Also from the book: "The Force Recon Marines are more than capable of filling this niche within the SOF community. Whether in Green Side or Black Side ops, they will augment or compliment any current special operations team regardless of service. So exact are they in their tasks, Tier One assets aboard the USS Kitty Hawk during Operation Enduring Freedom reportedly requested Marine Force Recon teams to conduct their pre-assualt reconnaissance."

A welcome breath of fresh air especially with all the focus on DEVGRU, Delta, SAS, SBS, etc. :-)

~Helly

p.s. Don't mind the spelling and punctuation errors, I'm kinda sleepy. :-)