The 3d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion (3d LAAD) is an air defense unit of the United States Marine Corps currently responsible for providing short range air defense. The battalion falls under the command of Marine Air Control Group 38 (MACG-38) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW) and is currently based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.
Mission
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 Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) Battery (−) was commissioned as an independent command within Marine Air Control Group 38 on March 8, 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 January 22, 1987.
From 1986 to August 1990, the battalion supported several Weapons Tactics and Instructor (WTI) flight phases at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Combined Armed Exercises at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, CA, and Exercise Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. During this time, the battalion also supported the 11th, 13th, and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs) with a single LAAD section. The battalion continues to support these exercises and MEU deployments to this day.
3rd LAAD Battalion experienced its first real-world test when a detachment deployed aboard the on October 8, 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 August 2, 1990, the battalion was tasked to support Operation Desert Shield. On August 14, 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 August 17-20 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 June 29, 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.