- 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion
caption= 2nd LAAD Insignia
dates=February 26 ,1969 — present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch= USMC
type= Logistics
role=Air defense
size=
command_structure=Marine Air Control Group 28 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
current_commander= LtCol Matthew Sieber
garrison=Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= 2nd LAAD
patron=
motto= “Death from Below”
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom
anniversaries=2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion (2nd LAAD) is an air defense unit of the
United States Marine Corps . They are part ofMarine Air Control Group 28 (MACG-28) and the2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW) and are currently based atMarine Corps Air Station Cherry Point .History
Early years
On
February 26 ,1969 , an official table of organization was established for the Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) Platoon. As a result of a decision to group all anti-air warfare assets under the command and control of the tactical air commander, the 2d FAAD Platoon was transferred to Marine Air Control Group 28, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. From 1969 to 1983, 2d FAAD Platoon was assigned under the operational and administrative control of three commands: Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron 28,Marine Air Support Squadron 1 , and the3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion (3rd LAAM). Based on aHeadquarters Marine Corps initiative to strengthen close-in air defense assets in support of eachMarine Air Ground Task Force , a decision was made to activate the 2d FAAD Battery, which eventually consisted of a service platoon and five firing platoons.1980s and 1990s
On Aug. 8, 1986, the unit was expanded into a battalion comprising a headquarters and service battery, and two firing batteries. Since its activation, 2d LAAD Battalion has remained heavily committed around the globe. The battalion has continuously provided LAAD detachments to the 22nd, 24th and
26th Marine Expeditionary Unit s. Participating in numerous exercises from the Carolinas toCalifornia and numerousNATO exercise fromTurkey to NorthernNorway .In August 1990, at the outset of the
Iraq i invasion intoKuwait , the battalion deployed one firing battery in support of the4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade , which immediately set sail to thePersian Gulf . Subsequently, the remainder of the battalion, augmented by a reserve firing battery from4th LAAD Battalion , deployed toSouthwest Asia in January 1991 in support of Operation Desert Shield andOperation Desert Storm . The battalion was designated as the Marine Air Command and Control Systems Unit of the Year for 1991 and received the prestigious "Edward S. Fris Award". Following Desert Storm, detachments from the battalion participated inOperation Provide Comfort in Northern Iraq andOperation Safe Harbor inGuantanamo Bay, Cuba .In 1999, 2d LAAD Battalion’s 26th MEU Marines were first in the Marine Corps to take combat loaded
M1097 Avenger s into a combat environment during operationOperation Allied Force inKosovo as well as participate inOperation Joint Guardian offAlbania andOperation Avid Response inTurkey . During the operations in theBalkans , a section from 2d LAAD supported the 26th MEU and landed in Kosovo with the battalion landing team. The section provided air defense and perimeter security for the BLT againstsniper attacks.Global War on Terror
In September 2001, the Battalion was again heavily deployed. A detachment from the battalion was part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and deployed ashore in support of combat operations in
Pakistan andAfghanistan .During
Operation Iraqi Freedom , 2nd LAAD Bn was deployed to theAl Anbar Province inIraq , and engaged in combat operations between February 2005 to Septamber 2005. The entire battalion is returning to Iraq in 2007 to support operations within theal Anbar Governorate in the role of a Provisional Security Battalion aboard and aroundAl Asad Airbase . Upon returning home late 2007, 2d LAAD Bn once again deployed to the Al Anbar Province early 2008 as the Provisional Security Battalion aboard CampAl Taqaddum ,Iraq ee also
*
List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units References
:"This article incorporates text in the
public domain from theUnited States Marine Corps ."
* [http://www.2maw.usmc.mil/MACG28/2dlaadbn/default.asp 2nd LAAD’s official website] . Retrieved on2007-01-18 .
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