1st Reconnaissance Battalion

1st Reconnaissance Battalion
1st Reconnaissance Battalion insignia
ActiveMarch 1, 1937 – present
Country United States of America
Branch United States Marine Corps
Type Marine Division Recon
RoleDirect support of Marine Air-Ground Task Force

Joint Task Force

Part of
Garrison/HQ MCB Camp Pendleton, California
Nickname(s)Black Diamonds
Patron LtCol William "Wild Bill" Whaling
Motto(s)"Celer, Silens, Mortalis", "Swift, Silent, Deadly"
ColorsBlack and Gold
Engagements
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
War on Terror
Decorations
Commanders
Commanding Officer LtCol D. J. Davis
Sergeant Major SgtMaj R. B. Johnson
Notable
commanders
William C. Chip

The 1st Reconnaissance Battalion (abbreviated as 1st Recon Bn) is a reconnaissance battalion in the United States Marine Corps. It is a stand-alone battalion with no parent regiment. Instead, it falls directly under the command of the 1st Marine Division. 1st Recon Bn is located at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California.

The unit was founded in 1937 as the 1st Tank Company of the 1st Marine Brigade and went through several name changes before it became the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion in 1958. The battalion was deactivated on June 12, 1992, before being restored as the Reconnaissance Company of the 1st Marine Division's Headquarters and Service Battalion on October 1, 1993.[1] The 1st Recon Battalion was reactivated on July 5, 2000, as part of Marine Corps Commandant General James L. Jones' mission to revitalize Marine Corps reconnaissance.

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