Provide close-in, low altitude, surface-to-air weapons fires in defense of Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) assets by defending forward combat areas, maneuver forces, vital areas, installations and/or units engaged in special/independent operations & to provide a task organized, ground security force in defense of MAGTF air sites when not engaged in air defense operations.
History
3rd FAAD Battery insignia
3rd Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) Battery (−) was commissioned as an independent command within Marine Air Control Group 38 on 8 March 1982 following 3rd FAAD Platoon's detachment from Marine Air Support Squadron 3 the previous day. Major Jeffrey Johnson commanded 3rd FAAD Battery under MASS-3, MACG-38, 3rd MAW, initially in 1982 at its inception. Later, under Maj Ralph F. Marchewka's command, 3rd FAAD Btry (-) started with 78 Marines and an H&S Platoon. It grew to five firing platoons before 3d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion was activated under LtCol Robert. C. Dodt Jr. on 22 January 1987.
A US Marine with a field radio relays the direction of approaching aircraft to the operator of an FIM-92 Stinger missile launcher during an exercise in 1984
3rd LAAD Battalion experienced its first real-world test when a detachment deployed aboard the USSOkinawa(LPH-3) on 8 October 1987 as part of Contingency Marine Air Ground Task Force (CMAGTF) 1-88. In response to Iranian aggression during the Tanker Wars, Marines from B Battery provided critical air defense from Iranian aircraft and guaranteed the safety of countless merchant vessels transiting between the Straits of Hormuz and Kuwait.
With Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990, the battalion was tasked to support Operation Desert Shield. On 14 August 1990, advance elements of the battalion arrived with a contingent from the 7th Marine Regiment. The remainder of the battalion, augmented by a battery from 4th LAAD Battalion, reached the Saudi Arabia between 17-20 August as part of the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade. At the time of embarkation, only 45 Stinger teams and necessary support personnel were authorized to deploy. Once ashore, A Battery (−) defended the vital assets of Jubayl Airport, Jubayl Port Complex, King Abdul Aziz Naval Base, and Shiek Isa Airfield, Bahrain while B Battery (-) was in direct support of 7th Marine Regiment. On 29 June 1991, the unit returned to MCB Camp Pendleton after successfully accomplishing its assigned mission.
During the 1990s, LAAD Battalions began acquiring several new weapon systems to augment dismounted Marines carrying the Stinger missile on their shoulders. 3d LAAD Bn fielded the Light Armored Vehicle-Air Defense Variant (LAV-AD) and the AN/TWQ-1 Avenger Weapons System taking into consideration concept of employment, personnel requirements, training, logistic support, and facilities requirements.
The acquisition of the LAV-AD was not without opposition. Major General Lynch, Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, opposed the acquisition due to other Marine Corps needs and the low priority of the LAV-AD. Brigadier General West, a Marine Corps congressional liaison, favored the acquisition based on strong congressional interest and the Marine Corps' "Hill reputation" of buying only that for which it requests funding. Ultimately, the decision was made to purchase the LAV-AD due to table of organization structure availability, the current threat to the MAGTF, and the probable loss of the Marine Corps' HAWK Battalions.
A Marine Corps AN/TWQ-1 Avenger, Pedestal Mounted Stinger Missile System mounted on a Humvee
The Avenger Weapon System was introduced to the battalion in January 1995. The Avenger provided Marine Corps air defenders with new capabilities in a lightweight, day/night, limited adverse weather fire unit for countering the threat of low altitude, high-speed fixed-wing or rotary wing aircraft. The firing unit incorporated two Standard Vehicle-Mounted Launcher (SVML) missile pods, a .50 caliber machine gun, Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR), Laser Range Finder (LRF), and IFF capability. The fully rotating, gyro-stabilized turret was mounted on the M1097 heavy High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). The fire unit could engage a target with missiles or the machine gun either with a gunner in the turret or from a remote location using the Remote Control Unit (RCU). On-board communication equipment provided for VHF radio and intercom operations.
In 2005, I MEF designated 3rd LAAD Bn as the Fleet Sponsor for the Complementary Low Altitude Weapon System (CLAWS). Designated members of the Battalion participated in operational training with the CLAWS employing it in support of WTI 1-06. After WTI, CLAWS traveled to White Sands, New Mexico to conduct a live-fire exercise. The CLAWS team fired eight Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) and successfully engaged seven targets. The CLAWS team continued preparation for the fielding of the system during 2006. On 3 May 2006, Marine Corps Systems Command elected to discontinue the program on the basis of insufficient funding and lack of necessity.
Pre-9/11 Operations
Throughout the 1990s, LAAD Marines remained ready for any situation through constant training. 3rd LAAD Bn consistently supported WTI Courses, Combined Arms Exercises (CAX), Red Flag Exercises, and numerous other air defense exercises throughout the continental United States. In September 1994, A Battery conducted anti-narcotic operations in Gallup, New Mexico with local law enforcement agencies and Joint Task Force 6 aboard the Zuni Indian Reservation. The Marines established observation posts and were tasked with determining possible air corridors for narcotics planes to drop drugs at designated drop zones. On 10 Oct 1994, the Battalion planned to immediately deploy to Saudi Arabia after receiving a Southwest Asia Contingency Alert in response to the Iraqi military buildup along the Kuwaiti border. Operation VIGILANT WARRIOR quickly contained Iraq's aggressive posturing and 3d LAAD Bn stood down.
Air Defense in the Post Cold War Era
The Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991. The days of a bi-polar world ended abruptly, almost unexpectedly. Washington military planners decided that the need for a robust, integrated air defense capability no longer existed. HAWK funding decreased until the last LAAM Battalion was deactivated in 1997. Due to maintenance costs, the Avenger and LAV-AD programs were discontinued. 4th LAAD Bn was deactivated in 2005. 1st Stinger Battery, a Cold War mainstay on the island of Okinawa, was deactivated in 2007. Throughout the first decade of the new millennium, 3rd LAAD Bn consistently achieved mission accomplishment amidst a demanding operational tempo. During this same period, the focus of military action has been on counterinsurgency warfare in Afghanistan and Iraq. However the battalion has continued to support the 11th, 13th, and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units and the Unit Deployment Program to this day.
Global War on Terror
On 11 September 2001 3rd LAAD Bn Marines were again called to action. The LAAD Detachment assigned to the 15th MEU defended a critical Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) in Pakistan.
An NCO with 3d LAAD Battalion coaches a Marine as he fires an FIM-92A Stinger missile at an unmanned aerial target during training.
In January 2003, the Battalion's training again focused on preparations for war in Iraq. By the end of January, the Offload Preparation Party and Arrival and Assembly Operations Element departed Camp Pendleton bound for Kuwait. A Battery's 1st Platoon departed for Kuwait on 27 January. On 5 February, the Battalion's equipment was embarked aboard the USNS Soderman. Four days later, the remainder of the battalion departed March Air Force Base for Kuwait. By 13 February, the battalion consolidated at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait and dedicated its time to training and preparing for crossing the border into Iraq. On 24 Feb, the battalion departed Ali Al Salem for Camp Work Horse located in Tactical Assembly Area Coyote.
Prior to 21 March 2003, when Operation IRAQI FREEDOM began, the Defended Asset List experienced a variety of changes and forced 3d LAAD Bn Marines to plan dynamically. When the ground invasion began early on the morning of 21 March, 3d LAAD Bn Marines provided air defense for Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 (MWSS-271), MWSS-371, MWSS-372, MWSS-373, and served as a gap filler for a battalion from the Army's 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. The mission was to defend logistics convoys loaded with aviation fuel and ordnance that would be staged at FARPS along I MEF's path into Northern Iraq. These FARPs enabled helicopters to provide the Ground Combat Element with more timely close air support. As Saddam's Fadayeen put up a fight in places like An Nasiriyah, Qalat Sikar, and Al Kut, fuel and ordnance assumed critical importance and Marines from the battalion often found themselves in the midst of the fighting.
The battalion returned to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM two more times in February 2004 and August 2006 to provide air base ground defense for Al Asad Air Base. 3d LAAD Bn was called on again in September 2007 to provide air base ground defense for Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Most recently, 3d LAAD Bn provided ground security for Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, from February to September 2010 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
A Marine of 3d LAAD Battalion on guard.
3rd LAAD Bn began training to provide Air Base Ground Defense for the Bastion/Leatherneck/Shorebak (BLS) Complex in Afghanistan's Helmand Province in the summer of 2009. The battalion was certified by instructors from Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 and the School of Infantry – West to conduct Military Entry Point (MEP), Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP), mounted and dismounted patrol, IED sweep, and autonomous counterinsurgency (COIN) operations in January 2010. The battalion deployed in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM 10.1 as part of I MEF Headquarters Group the following month. After conducting a battle hand-over with 5th Bn 10th Marines, 3rd LAAD Bn immediately took ownership of its area of operations. Again displaying its utility and versatility on the battlefield, A Battery operated Camp Leatherneck's MEP, provided a TRAP force, conducted combat patrols, and trained Afghan forces. B Battery's mission focused on small unit decentralized COIN operations. Operating out of a small patrol base located 10km south of the BLS Complex, B Battery patrolled through the settlements of Habib Abad, Now Abad, and Boldak. The squad-level patrols conducted key leader engagements, counter-IED patrolling, and human terrain mapping in an effort to counter the insurgent threat to the BLS Complex. Due to the efforts of Marines and Sailors of 3rd LAAD Bn, the BLS Complex did not experience any attacks by insurgent forces while the Battalion was deployed in support of OEF 10.1.
Post GWOT
With Operations winding down in Iraq and Afghanistan, 3rd LAAD Bn continued to focus on both Ground Based Air Defense while participating in numerous WTIs and Integrated Training Exercises (ITX-formerly known as EMV) as well as I MEF exercises such as Steel Knight and Desert Scimitar. In the spring of 2013 the battalion deployed the first iteration of the LAAD Unit Deployment Program Detachment to MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. Focus on the Air Base Ground Defense mission continued with Unit Level Training at the Battalion level. In the spring of 2014 Bravo Battery (REIN) deployed to Jordan for Exercise Eager Lion. This was followed by Bravo Battery(REIN)'s eventual deployment ISO Special Purpose MAGTF Crisis Response-CENTCOM (SP-MAGTF-CR-CENT) in the fall of 2014.
Unit awards
A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. 3rd LAAD Bn has been presented with the following awards:
The 4th Marine Division is a reserve division in the United States Marine Corps. It was raised in 1943 for service during World War II, and subsequently fought in the Pacific against the Japanese. Deactivated after the war, the division was re-formed in 1966 and elements of the division deployed during the Gulf War in 1990–1991, as well as during the Iraq War. It is currently the ground combat element of the Marine Forces Reserve and is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has units throughout the United States.
The 5th Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It is the most highly decorated regiment in the Marine Corps and falls under the command of the 1st Marine Division and the I Marine Expeditionary Force.
Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) is an airborne fire support and liaison unit of the United States Marine Corps. The mission of ANGLICO is "To provide Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Commanders a liaison capability to plan, coordinate, and conduct terminal control of fires in support of joint, allied, and coalition forces. Per this mission statement, ANGLICOs are not designed to support U.S. Marine Corps maneuver elements. Instead, the doctrinal purpose of ANGLICO is to provide fire support and coordination in support of units adjacent to the MAGTF.
The 3rd Marine Logistics Group is the Logistics Combat Element (LCE) for III Marine Expeditionary Force currently headquartered on Camp Kinser, Marine Corps Base Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan. 3rd MLG provides combat service support (CSS) to III MEF units above the organic capability. CSS is the essential capabilities, functions, activities, and tasks necessary to sustain all elements of operating forces in theater at all levels of war. Combat service support includes, but is not limited, to supply, maintenance, transportation, general engineering, health services, and other services required by aviation and ground combat forces to permit those units to accomplish their missions.
The 7th Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. Nicknamed the "Magnificent Seventh", the regiment falls under the command of the 1st Marine Division and the I Marine Expeditionary Force.
In the United States Marine Corps, a Marine Air–Ground Task Force is the principal organization for all missions across the range of military operations. MAGTFs are a balanced air–ground, combined arms task organization of Marine Corps forces under a single commander that is structured to accomplish a specific mission. The MAGTF was formalized by the publishing of Marine Corps Order 3120.3 in December 1963, "The Marine Corps in the National Defense, MCDP 1-0". It stated:
A Marine air–ground task force with separate air ground headquarters is normally formed for combat operations and training exercises in which substantial combat forces of both Marine aviation and Marine ground units are included in the task organization of participating Marine forces.
3rd Battalion, 4th Marines (3/4) or (V34) is an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Nicknamed "Thundering Third" and "Darkside," it is based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, and consist of approximately 1,000 Marines. The unit currently falls under the command of the 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, but — along with its two sister battalions — is hosted by the 3rd Marine Division, at Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan, when training in jungle warfare. The 3rd falls under the 4th Marine Regiment at such times.
The 14th Marine Regiment is a reserve artillery regiment of the United States Marine Corps consisting of three artillery battalions and a headquarters battery. The regiment is based in Fort Worth, Texas however its units are dispersed among 15 different sites in 12 states. Its primary weapon system is the M777A2 Howitzer with a maximum effective range of 30 km however one of its battalions has converted to fire the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) weapon system.
Marine Air Control Group 28 (MACG-28) is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point that is currently composed of four command and control squadrons and a low altitude air defense battalion that provide the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing with airspace coordination, air control, immediate air support, fires integration, air traffic control (ATC), radar surveillance, aviation combat element (ACE) communications support, and an integrated ACE command post in support of the II Marine Expeditionary Force.
The 2d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion is an air defense unit of the United States Marine Corps. The battalion is subordinate to Marine Air Control Group 28 (MACG-28) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and is currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. The battalion is composed of one Headquarters and Support Battery and two Firing Batteries.
The 1st Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion is an air defense unit of the United States Marine Corps. It is part of Marine Air Control Group 18 (MACG-18) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and is based at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. The battery was decommissioned on 28 September 2007 and reactivated on 31 August 2023.
4th Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion was a reserve air defense unit of the United States Marine Corps. They were part of Marine Air Control Group 48 (MACG-48) and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and were based out in Pasadena, California.
Marine Wing Support Group 47 (MWSG-47) was a United States Marine Corps aviation combat service support unit based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan that was composed of three squadrons, that provided the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Forces Reserve with complete airfield operation services, engineer and transportation support, medical assistance, food services, security support, and other direct combat service support to aviation combat elements.
The United States Marine Corps is organized within the Department of the Navy, which is led by the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV). The most senior Marine commissioned officer is the Commandant of the Marine Corps, responsible for organizing, recruiting, training, and equipping the Marine Corps so that it is ready for operation under the command of the unified combatant commanders. The Marine Corps is organized into four principal subdivisions: Headquarters Marine Corps, the Operating Forces, the Supporting Establishment, and the Marine Forces Reserve.
Combat Logistics Battalion 6 (CLB-6) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Nicknamed "Red Cloud," the unit is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and fall under the command of Combat Logistics Regiment 2 and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group..
The 41st Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery regiment of the United States Army.
The 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command is a United States Army unit. It derives its lineage from the 3rd Logistical Command, which was activated in Japan on 19 September 1950 for service in Korea.
3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control and air defense unit that is optimized for operations in the first island chain. The battalion is based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii and falls under the command of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment and the 3rd Marine Division.
The History of ground based air defense in the United States Marine Corps dates back to the early 1930s with the establishment of the Advanced Base Force. World War II would be the high-water mark for air defense units when 20+ defense/anti-aircraft battalions were formed with many seeing significant action throughout the Pacific Theater. Following the war, the Marine Corps divested itself of most of its air defense capability at a time when the service was facing deep personnel cuts and fighting for its institutional survival. Beginning in the early 1950s the Marine Corps aligned itself with the Navy and their development of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). The Marine Corps retained both flak weapons and SAMs throughout the 1950s until the fielding of the MIM-23 Hawk Missile System in 1960. The HAWK Missile was employed by Light Antiaircraft Missile (LAAM) battalions and remained a mainstay of Marine Corps ground based air defense for the next four decades.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
United States of America
United States Marine Corps 
