Yes and no. When MARSOC was created in 2006, the direct action platoons (i.e. door kickers) from Force Recon were transferred over and changed into the Marine Special Operations Teams, or MSOTs. The first MARSOC operators were from these Force Recon platoons. This allowed Force Recon to shift their focus back to the intelligence gathering and deep recon missions that they were designed for.
MARSOC is basically a reformed Force Recon. It's the same guys doing the same job.
MARSOC was established on Feb 24 2006 and is part of USSOCOM, United States Special Operations Command. MARSOC is 1 of the 5 Special Forces part of SOCOM. AFSOC, ASOC, MARSOC, NAVSPECWARCOM, JSOC MARSOC trains, organizes, equips, and when directed by CDRUSSOCOM deploys organized Marine Special Operation Forces worldwide in support of combatant commanders and other agencies. As far as I know Marine Force Recon is separate of SOCOM, but prior to FEB 2006 most current MARSOC team members were part of Force Recon. Force Recon members are highly trained scouts that provide Intelligence and Reconnaissance.
Originally Force Recon, they are now known as Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC).
There is no official information or announcement indicating that Marine Force Recon will become a separate unit again. However, military organizations and structures can evolve and change over time, so it is always possible for changes to be made in the future.
Marine Force Recon is a branch of MARSOC (Marine Special Operations Command) and their job is to locate HVT's (High Value Targets) and other threats for the main infantry. There is no question about it, they are the most elite fighters in the United States. Many say that Navy SEALs are more elite, but there are over 3,000 SEALs in the world, and only about 300 Force Recon Marines in the world.
Based on the fact that the movie came out in January 2006 and MARSOC wasn't officially stood up late February 2006, it was most likely meant to be Force Recon Marines that are portrayed in the movie.
Navy and Marine SpecOps forces personnel are dedicated to their respective branches; the biggest exceptions are aviation (Naval and Marine Corps aviators fly off of Navy carriers) and Navy Corpsmen, who serve as combat medics for the Marines. The Navy also provides the Chaplains, Doctors, Dentists and JAG officers for the Marine Corps. The only combat trained officers from the Navy that serve with the Marines are those assigned as NGLOs, Naval Gunfire Liaison Officers that work with the Marines in coordinating Naval Gunfire support to the Marine forces. The only other Sailors who train with the Marines are the Navy's SeaBees, who must complete Marine Corps Basic Infantry training. Their respective missions are also different; where Force Recon is first and foremost an advance scouting/recon unit deep inside enemy territory (ahead of invasion or larger forces), the SEAL's are geared more toward active combat behind enemy lines, as well as providing support to other government agencies (e.g., CIA, NSA). That doesn't mean that they don't work together; they do. But their respective training is much different. Of course a Marine can always leave the Corps and become a sailor and try to become a SEAL and vice-versa, but the likelihood of that happening is slim to none, and slim's out of town. Once you achieve the rank, respect, and honor that the hard work and training has given you by being selected, you don't want to leave.
MARSOC MARine Special Operations Capable
The primary special operations force of the USMC is simply known as MARSOC, the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.Also known as Force Recon from their historic origins as an elite Marine unit that wasn't attached to the Special Forces, it is not as well known as the Army Rangers and Navy SEALs becuase it is a relatively new outfit, established in 2006. Unlike Force Recon, MARSOC was established as a full member of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) so as to coordinate an increased need for joint special operations and counter-terrorism.
The U.S. Army have the U.S. Army Rangers and U.S. Army Special Forces more commonly know as the Green Berets and the U.S. Marine Corps have Recon Marines (split into Divison Recon and Force Recon), who are special forces-capable, and MARSOC, which is their contribution to SOCOM (Special Operations Command)and are up their with Navy SEALs, U.S. Army Special Forces, and Air Force Pararescue.
There is no "better", marsoc is direct action and delta force is counter terrorism. In the end we're all fighting for the same country.
The motto of Philippine Marine Corps Force Recon Battalion is 'Recon'.