Want to Become a Recon Marine? The Corps Is Actively Looking for Volunteers Right Now.

The Marine Corps just published a formal call for volunteers to lateral move into the 0321 Reconnaissance MOS.

This applies to both active and reserve Marines.

And the demand for qualified candidates is described as high for the foreseeable future.

This is worth reading if you've ever considered it.

Reference: MARADMIN 221/26, signed 13 May 2026. Underlying references include the MOS Manual (NAVMC 1200.1L) and the Recon Training & Assessment Program (RTAP) / Basic Reconnaissance Course (BRC) Command Screening Checklist.

The old problem

The 0321 community has a persistent manning gap.

Reconnaissance Battalions and Force Recon Companies require a very specific kind of Marine, and there simply aren't enough of them coming straight from the pipeline.

The lateral move program is one of the main tools the Corps is using to fill that gap. But many qualified Marines don't know it's open to them, or don't know what the path actually looks like.

This MARADMIN is designed to fix that.

The new rule (in one line)

The Corps is formally soliciting volunteers across the total force, including reserve Marines, to lateral move into the 0321 PMOS during FY2026 and FY2027.

Who is actually eligible

You need to clear a fairly specific bar. Here's what the policy requires:

Personal and legal:

✦ U.S. citizen, volunteer only ✦ No derogatory Page 11 entries in the last 12 months ✦ No NJP in the last 12 months, and no more than one NJP on your current contract ✦ No courts-martial convictions

Rank and time in grade:

✦ E5 and below in any MOS: eligible with no more than two years time in grade ✦ E6 in a 03XX MOS: eligible with no more than one year time in grade ✦ Outside those windows: case-by-case consideration, not automatic denial

Scores and clearance:

✦ GT score of 105 or higher, OR clerical score of 105 or higher ✦ Interim Secret clearance based on a national agency check, law enforcement check, and credit check

Medical:

✦ Must be medically qualified for both parachute and combatant dive operations ✦ Requires a completed Naval Special Warfare / Special Operations physical before reporting to training ✦ That physical includes DD Form 2807-1 and DD Form 2808, both reviewed and countersigned by an Undersea Medical Officer

(Yes, the medical bar is high. That's the nature of the MOS.)

What the training path looks like

Once approved, here's the sequence:

If you are not currently in a 03XX MOS, you attend Infantry Common Core (ICC) and the Infantry Rifleman's Course (IRC) at School of Infantry East or West first.
Then you proceed to Ground Reconnaissance Course (GRC).
Then Amphibious Reconnaissance Course (ARC).
Orders are executed as Temporary Additional Duty to Reconnaissance Training Company, School of Infantry-West, Camp Pendleton, California.

After that, the training pipeline can include combat diving, parachuting, advanced marksmanship, sniper qualification, Ranger school, explosive breaching, JTAC, and SERE. It depends on your path and billet.

The money (this part matters)

For reserve Marines:

The SMCR Retention and Affiliation Bonus (RAB) is available to approved LATMOVE candidates. If you are going this route, you can only take the 24-month or 36-month option:

✦ 24 months: $10,000 ✦ 36 months: $20,000

You will also sign a mandatory Statement of Understanding (SOU) that lays out your obligation.

For active-duty Marines:

A Selective Retention Bonus (SRB) may be available on top of the standard LATMOVE kicker. The MARADMIN gives a specific example: a Zone A E5 reenlisting in conjunction with a LATMOVE could qualify for up to $116,500 in combined bonuses once they earn the 0321 PMOS.

(Numbers are FY2026-2027 figures. Verify current rates with your Career Counselor.)

Why this is a big deal

The 0321 community is one of the most demanding and selective in the Marine Corps.

It has historically been hard to access from the reserve side. This MARADMIN makes clear that the path is real, funded, and open right now.

The reserve component is explicitly named. The bonus program is explicitly named. The training pipeline is documented.

If you've been waiting for a sign that this is actually attainable as a reservist, this is it.

A smaller note for active-duty Marines

You're eligible under the same criteria, and the SRB numbers for active-duty can be substantially higher than the reserve RAB. Contact the Reconnaissance Enlisted Assignments Monitor directly at the numbers below. Your Career Counselor can initiate the paperwork.

The bottom line

The Marine Corps needs Recon Marines. The door is open. There is money attached. The reserve component is included by name. And the people who can move your package exist and have phone numbers.

What to do with this

If you're a reserve Marine interested in applying:

Contact a Recon Recruiter first to get a straight answer on fit:
- School of Infantry-East: 910-449-2071 / justin.sheard@usmc.mil
- School of Infantry-West: 760-763-9117 / stephen.m.odonnell@usmc.mil
Talk to your Career Counselor or Prior Service Recruiter to start the package.
Complete the RTAP/BRC Command Screening Checklist (Reference B in the MARADMIN).
Get your NSW/SO physical scheduled early. That countersigned Undersea Medical Officer review takes time.
Review the reserve LATMOVE program details in MARADMIN 400/25 for the full reserve-specific methodology and SOU requirements. (Direct URL to that MARADMIN not confirmed. Locate it through your S-1 or the HQMC MARADMIN archive.)

If you're a commander or senior enlisted leader:

Push this to your Marines. The MARADMIN specifically asks you to. If you have an E5 or below sitting in a non-infantry MOS who has the physical profile and the drive, this is a real path worth having the conversation.

If you're a career counselor or unit S-1:

The HQMC POCs for this program are:

✦ MGySgt Scott Young, Recon Enlisted Assignments Monitor: 703-784-9247 / scott.young@usmc.mil ✦ LtCol Jason Hibler, Recon Occupational Field Manager: 703-692-4494 / jason.hibler@usmc.mil ✦ MGySgt Mickey Eaton, Recon MOS Specialist: 703-692-4305 / mickey.eaton@usmc.mil

Additional program details are also posted on the Manpower Division's official LATMOVE page under the 0321 tab.

This is written by a reservist, for reservists. It is not an official publication of HQMC or MARFORRES. Always verify guidance with your command or unit S-1 before acting on any article or summary.

Need a shorter version of this for a unit brief or a longer breakdown of the training pipeline and bonus math? Ask and it can be done.

SOLICITATION FOR QUALIFIED MARINES TO LATERAL MOVE (LATMOVE) INTO THE RECONNAISSANCE PRIMARY MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY (PMOS) 0321