1st Reconnaissance Battalion
Commanding Officer

LtCol Michael J. Mooney

LtCol Mooney joined the Marine Corps under the delayed entry program as an infantryman on July 12, 1984, and reported to MCRD, Parris Island, SC on July 5, 1985. Following recruit training he attended Infantry Training School at Camp Geiger, NC, earning the 0311 military occupational specialty. Assigned to Sea Duty, he graduated from Sea School at MCRD San Diego in January 1986. He served with the Marine Detachment, USS Coronado (AGF-11) and Marine Detachment, USS Belknap (CG-26) in Gaeta, Italy from February 1986-July 1987. LCpl Mooney was then selected to attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, RI. In May 1988, Cpl Mooney was selected for admission to the U.S. Naval Academy from which he graduated and was commissioned as a Marine officer in May 1992.

His first operational assignment was as the S-2A and S-2, 8th Marines. During this period he deployed with the regimental headquarters to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as part of Operation Sea Signal. Returning to CONUS, 1stLt Mooney completed the reconnaissance screening and indoctrination for 2d Reconnaissance Bn, and was subsequently assigned as 1st Platoon Commander, Company A in May 1995. He deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as the Reconnaissance Platoon Cmdr, BLT 2/8, 24th MEU(SOC) from June-Dec 1996. In January 1997, Capt Mooney was reassigned within the consolidated 2d Recon Bn/2d Force Reconnaissance Co as the Direct Action (Company B) Company Cmdr. In August 1997 he was one of eight hand-selected Marines from II MEF to be assigned to a CJSOTF operating in support of SFOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Capt Mooney served as a Team Leader and Operations Officer during his six month tour in the Balkans.

Capt Mooney’s next assignment was as Special Operations Officer, Coalition & Special Warfare Division, MCCDC, coordinating MEU(SOC) training, USMC counter-drug efforts, and USMC-SOCOM integration. After attending Amphibious Warfare School, Capt Mooney was assigned as Company Commander, Company C, 2d Reconnaissance Bn. Upon promotion to major, he next assumed duties as the 2d Reconnaissance Battalion S-3. In July 2002, Maj Mooney reported to 2d Marines to serve as the Regimental Intelligence Officer. He deployed to Kuwait in Jan 2003, and served as the RCT-2 S-2 during combat operations in OIF-I.

Maj Mooney then was selected to attend Naval Postgraduate School, from which he graduated in June 2004. From June 2004-May 2006 he served as the 6th Company Officer at the United States Naval Academy. Upon completion of his tour at USNA, he served at the Marine Corps Augmentation Training and Support Unit, during which time he deployed to Iraq in support of combat operations in Baghdad. Reporting to 1st Marine Division in December 2007, he has served as the 1st Marine Division G-3 Training Officer prior to assuming command of 1st Reconnaissance Bn.

LtCol Mooney is a graduate of USMC Officer Candidate School, the Basic Recon Course, Airborne, SCUBA, and other special operations courses.

His decorations most proudly include the USMC Good Conduct Medal.