I've Added a Factual Mistake

Hopefully, it'll make the cut. If not, here it is.

In the beginning, we see GySgt Highway being assigned to 2d Marine Division, 2d Reconnaissance Battalion. However, when he arrives, we find his unit to be a platoon-sized asset, referred to as "Recon Platoon". If this were, in fact, 2d Reconnaissance Battalion, there would be no "Recon Platoon" -- the entire battalion is "Recon".

Later, when Maj Powers is chastising Highway for his altering of the ambush plan, Powers mentions that the men are "the 2d Marine Division's men; the 8th Marine Regiment's men; in other words, they're my men, get it?" 2d Reconnaissance Battalion has never been a subordinate unit of the 8th Marine Regiment.

I think that the actual goof is in Highway's assignment to 2d Reconnaissance Battalion. What would make more sense is him being assigned to the reconnaissance element of a conventional infantry battalion. This would explain the using of the term "Recon Platoon" and the rivalry between them and the clearly conventional 1st Platoon.

However, to my knowledge, this would also prove inconsistent, as well, since Marine Corps infantry battalions didn't employ reconnaissance elements within their own units during the early 80's.

I was a Reconnaissance Marine during the 90's and am completely open to correction by some old school leathernecks.