The anti-Castro Cuban commandos trained at the remote South Florida JMWAVE bases - Pirates Lair and Point Mary, off Key Largo, appear to have been trained as LRRS - Long Range Recon and Surveillance units, including parachute training, taught by Ranger qualified USMC captain and two US Army Ranger Captains.
Here's a link to the training manual for LRRS from 1962 - and note that sniper training was included and taking out a HPT - High Priority Target was approved at that time.
Eyes Behind the Lines – US Army Long-Range
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Units
Major James f. Gebhardt, US Army (Retired)
Colonel Ellis D. Bingham
Commander of the VII Corps – LRRP Company – Long
Range Recon Patrol
July 1961 – October 1962
USA REUR 50s and 60s
The Alamo Scouts
The planning would then result in the following
minimum guidance being provided:
-
Specific mission statement
-
All available information on terrain,
weather, enemy, and areas of operation
-
Method of delivery and return, with
provision for coordination with transportation unit
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Friendly tactical information
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Special instructions on use of
electronic surveillance equipment
-
Method of obtaining special equipment
for patrol’s use
-
Evasion and escape (E & E)
procedures
The “Operations”
section of this field manual provides insight into LRP-unit tactics in 1962.
From a LRP company command post (CP) located somewhere near the corps or army
main CP, LRP’s were dispatched to confirm or amplify information acquired from
aerial observation, photography, electronic surveillance, or radio intercept,
or to enter area about which nothing was known. In addition, the LRP could be
used to locate targets….or provided early warning about the movement of
specific enemy weapons systems or units
(reserves).
LRP company personnel
were to be volunteers and parachute qualified. The company commander,
operations officer, platoon, and patrol leaders were to be Ranger qualified. It
was desired that other personnel have Ranger or special forces qualifications.
All personnel were also to be cross-trained as radio operators and receive
continuous training in a number of subjects: demolitions, combat surveillance,
target-acquisition techniques, evasion, escape, survival, advanced first-aid
procedures, map reading, tactical appreciation of terrain, and an extensive
knowledge of enemy tactics, organization, weapons, and logistical systems. LRP
units were to maintain proficiency by conducting frequent long-range
reconnaissance and combat-raid exercises.”
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