12 Recon Knots Every Recon Marine Candidate NEEDS to Know
If you're wanting to be a Reconnaissance Marine, you're going to need to know how to tie the 12 Recon Knots. These knots will be tested during the Reconnaissance Training and Assessment Program (RTAP), and the instructors have very SPECIFIC standards and criteria for each knot. Most classes have a few candidates get rolled back to the next class for failure to adhere to these standards.
Fret not, keep reading and you should be good to go on your Knot Tying Test.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Why do I need to know the 12 Recon Knots?
What rope do they use in training?
How can I tie the 12 Recon Knots?
What are the 12 Recon Knots?
The knots are need to know for Recon Training are:
- Square Knot (with 2 safeties)
- Water Tape
- Double Sheet Bend
- Bowline Around an Object
- Clove Hitch
- Round Turn 2 Half Hitch
- Figure 8 Loop
- Bowline on a Bight
- 4 Finger Prusik Secured with a Bowline
- Directional Figure 8
- Rappel Seat
- Bowline Around the Body with a Figure 8
Why do I need to know the 12 Recon Knots?
For starters, you won't be able to move onto the Basic Reconnaissance Course if you cannot tie the 12 Recon Knots to the instructors' standards in RTAP. Aside from that, there are good reasons why the Recon Community built this into the Recon training pipeline.
These knots have several real-world applications, and the duties and tasks you'll be doing as a Reconnaissance Marine will have you using these knots more than you'd expect. For example, you will be using these knots for rappelling, SPIE rigging, helocasting, and for boat ops.
What rope do they use in Recon Training?
Recon candidates are sometimes referred to as "Ropers" because of the ropes they must carry around their shoulders for the entirety of Recon Training. This rope is the same rope you'll be using for your knot tying test.
The rope they have you use in Recon Training is a black, 12mm thick rappelling rope. They're cut to around a 13 foot length.
Which is exactly what we offer you with our Recon Rope. We provide you with the real deal so you can get ahead of the game and learn the 12 Recon Knots with the same one you'll be using in training.
Yeah, we know, you can buy any rope to tie knots with - but why not practice with the rope you'll be using throughout training? Plus, a rope of this quality doesn't come in 13 foot increments. If you're looking to buy a rappelling rope, you're looking at getting some of them at upwards of 100 feet, and you don't need that much! We give you just what you need.
Click here to invest in a Recon Rope and get ahead of the game today.
How can I tie the 12 Recon Knots?
Each knot has specific length requirements and criteria you must adhere to. If that wasn't enough, you'll also be tying these under a time limit. With that said, it would be near impossible to explain how to tie the 12 Recon Knots over a blog post like this, so luckily for you, we've produced an entire video dedicated to this topic.
If you watch this video and follow along with your Recon Rope, you'll have everything you need to know to pass the Recon Knot Tying Test.
Conclusion
The 12 Recon Knots might seem like a lot to know, but once you "learn the ropes" and tie each knot a few times, you'll be surprised at how quick they become second nature. The journey to becoming a Recon Marine is difficult, but you can make it easier on yourself by taking the time and investing in yourself by learning how to tie these knots. Good luck!
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