Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Intelligence Group
Encyclopedia
Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Intelligence Groups (SRIG) were intelligence
units of the United States Marine Corps
from 1988 to 1997. The SRIG command structure combined units of Radio Battalion
, ANGLICO, Force Reconnaissance
, remotely piloted aircraft
, counterintelligence, and other intelligence elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force
.
.
The first SRIG to be activated was the 2nd SRIG, in October 1988, under the command of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force
at Camp Lejeune
. 1st SRIG was activated in October 1989 at Camp Pendleton, and 3rd SRIG in October 1990 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
.
SRIG's first combat missions came during Operation Desert Storm. Members of 1st SRIG took the first Iraqi prisoners
of the war, and later helped coordinate naval artillery
and air strikes in the Battle of Khafji
.
1st SRIG's activities in Somalia included Operation Restore Hope from 1992 to 1993 and Operation United Shield
in 1995.
In October 1997, the SRIGs were dissolved and individual units were placed under the direct command of their respective MEFs.
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
units of the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
from 1988 to 1997. The SRIG command structure combined units of Radio Battalion
Radio Battalion
Radio Battalions are tactical electronic warfare units of the United States Marine Corps. There are currently three operational Radio Battalions in the Marine Corps organization: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd...
, ANGLICO, Force Reconnaissance
United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance
The Force Reconnaissance Companies , are one of the United States Marine Corps's special operations "capable" forces that provide essential elements of military intelligence to the command element of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force ; supporting the landing or joint task force commanders, and...
, remotely piloted aircraft
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
, counterintelligence, and other intelligence elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force
Marine Air-Ground Task Force
The Marine Air-Ground Task Force is a term used by the United States Marine Corps to describe the principal organization for all missions across the range of military operations. MAGTFs are a balanced air-ground, combined arms task organization of Marine Corps forces under a single commander that...
.
Mission
According to the SRIG doctrinal manual, SRIG's mission was "to provide surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence, counterintelligence, electronic warfare, air and naval gunfire liaison, tactical deception, maritime direct action and secure communications to MAGTFs.History
The concept of the SRIG grew out of the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center (SRC), created in 1969 to coordinate III Marine Amphibious Force's operations in the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
The first SRIG to be activated was the 2nd SRIG, in October 1988, under the command of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force
2nd Marine Expeditionary Force
The II Marine Expeditionary Force is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force consisting of ground, air and logistics forces capable of projecting offensive combat power ashore while sustaining itself in combat without external assistance for a period of 60 days. The II Marine Expeditionary Force is...
at Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is a United States military training facility in North Carolina. The base's of beaches make it a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports allows for fast deployments.The main base is supplemented by five satellite...
. 1st SRIG was activated in October 1989 at Camp Pendleton, and 3rd SRIG in October 1990 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma or MCAS Futenma is a United States Marine Corps base located in Ginowan, northeast of Naha, on the island of Okinawa. It is home to approximately 4,000 Marines of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and has been a U.S. military airbase since the island was occupied...
.
SRIG's first combat missions came during Operation Desert Storm. Members of 1st SRIG took the first Iraqi prisoners
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
of the war, and later helped coordinate naval artillery
Naval artillery
Naval artillery, or naval riflery, is artillery mounted on a warship for use in naval warfare. Naval artillery has historically been used to engage either other ships, or targets on land; in the latter role it is currently termed naval gunfire fire support...
and air strikes in the Battle of Khafji
Battle of Khafji
The Battle of Khafji was the first major ground engagement of the Gulf War. It took place in and around the Saudi Arabian city of Khafji, from 29 January to 1 February 1991 and marked the culmination of the Coalition's air campaign over Kuwait and Iraq, which had begun on 17 January 1991.Iraqi...
.
1st SRIG's activities in Somalia included Operation Restore Hope from 1992 to 1993 and Operation United Shield
Operation United Shield
Operation United Shield was the name given to a multinational military operation that was conducted from 9 January 1992 to 3 March 1995. The purpose of Operation United Shield was the safe evacuation of all United Nations peacekeeping troops from Somalia...
in 1995.
In October 1997, the SRIGs were dissolved and individual units were placed under the direct command of their respective MEFs.