4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion


caption= 4th LAR Insignia
dates= *September 23, 1987 - present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=USMC
type= Mechanized infantry battalion
role= Screen in advance of maneuver units
size=
command_structure=4th Marine Division
Marine Forces Reserve
current_commander=
garrison=Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Iron Horse Marines
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
* 2003 invasion of Iraq
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (4th LAR) is a mechanized infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps reserve. Their primary weapon system is the LAV-25 and they are part of the 4th Marine Division and Marine Forces Reserve. The unit headquarters is at Camp Pendleton, California but other units in the battalion are located throughout the United States.

Mission

Conduct combined arms reconnaissance and security operations as part of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) to establish a designated secure area, provide combat information, reaction time, and maneuver space. On order, it conducts combined arms offensive and defensive economy of force operations to preserve the combat power of the MAGTF.

Current units

History

The 1980s and 1990s

The 4th Light Armored Vehicle Battalion was activated on September 23, 1987. From December 26,1990 to April 24, 1991 deployed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The Battalion's assets were spread out over hundreds of miles of desert terrain and were utilized by the Marine Command to constantly probe the boundaries of Iraqi controlled areas. The Battalion executed Reconnaissance and Counter Reconnaissance Operations, emergency extraction of friendly forces, breaching of berms and minefields along the Iraqi and Kuwait border and prisoner capture and control.On October 1,1996 the battalion was re-designated as the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion.

Global War on Terror

From February 24, 2003 to October 1, 2003, 4th LAR deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Alpha and Bravo companies were mobilized in early February 2003 and deployed with 1st and 3rd LAR Battalions respectively, participating in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The remainder of the battalion was activated in early March 2003 and quickly deployed to Iraq.

In April 2003, 1st Platoon from Delta company was attached to 2nd Battalion 8th Marines as part of Task Force Rebel. Task Force Rebel was tasked with patrolling and securing the city of Al Kut in the Wasit province. In May 2003 the battalion was reconstituted as a whole and conducted surveillance and reconnaissance operations along the Iraq/Iran Border. On June 2, 2003 the battalion moved to the 1st Marine Division HQ, located in Al Hilla to act as the Division quick reaction force. Bravo Company was based in Ad Diwaniyah, and generally conducted missions separately from the rest of the battalion. On June 13, 2003 Task Force Scorpion was activated and moved to the Northern Babil province with orders to secure Army convoy routes in and out of Forward Operating Base Dogwood. The core of Task Force Scorpion was initially formed around 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, consisting initially of H&S and Alpha Companies, 4th LAR; Co C, 1st Battalion 4th Marines, two platoons from Force Reconnaissance; an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) detachment; and elements of Radio Battalion. The Task Force was later reinforced with Delta Company and two other active duty infantry companies from 1st Battalion 7th Marines. Task Force Scorpion's offensive posture and heavy patrolling effectively reduced the number of attacks on American soldiers in the area. [cite web
last =Wyer
first = Sgt Colin
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Ground Forces Commander Tells Troops 'You Cannot Fail'
work =
publisher = www.defendamerica.mil
date =
url = http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/aug2003/a080703e.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-04-02] [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Raid in Iraq's 'Indian Country'
work =
publisher = United Press International
date =
url = http://www.upi.com/archive/view.php?archive=1&StoryID=20030804-022042-6813r
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-04-02] The battalion conducted numerous raids and was eventually awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its work as part of I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Since OIF I, Marines from the battalion have continued to support on-going combat and security operations associated with the Global War on Terror. Several Marines returned to Iraq with the 1st Marine Division, serving as members of the Division Commander's Personal Security Detachment and as military advisers to Iraqi infantry units. In 2006, members of Co A and H&S Company were mobilized and formed the 4th Provisional Security Company and deployed to the Horn of Africa. Also Co B was mobilized and returned to Iraq on October 11, 2006 to serve Dam Security Unit-3 conducting riverine reconnaissance, support, and security operations from Al-Qa'im to Fallujah. They returned to the United States on April 1, 2007 [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Marines return to U.S.
work =
publisher = The Frderick New-Post Online
date =
url = http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/archives/display_detail.htm?StoryID=66787
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-04-02] . In December 2007, Marines of Company D were mobilized and attached to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion out of Camp Lejeune for their deployment in support of OIF.

ee also

* List of United States Marine Corps battalions
* Organization of the United States Marine Corps

Notes

References

:Marine Corps

;Web
* [http://www.mfr.usmc.mil/4thmardiv/4thlar/ 4th LAR's official website]