[Amelia]

I thought all Marines were special ops...especially Recon Marines.

[Poohbah]

Recon Marines are NOT a special ops unit. They are a reconnaisance unit, and serve as the eyes of the Marine Expeditionary Force commander, locating the enemy so that he may be blown to Kingdom Come.

Special operations are more focused on unconventional warfare--counterterrorism and guerilla warfare.

[Eagle Eye]

It's the difference between conventional and unconventional warfare. Tables of Oganization and Equipment (TO&E) differ as does the approach to the misson.

While many of us have always regarded our jarhead friends as "special", they have been a conventional force.