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Information About

4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion




  caption 4th LAR Insignia
  dates September 23 , 1987 - Present
  country United States
  branch USMC
  type Mechanized infantry battalion
  role Screen in advance of maneuver units
  command Structure 4th Marine Division <br> Marine Forces Reserve
  garrison Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
  nickname Iron Horse Marines
  battles ''' Operation Desert Storm '''<br>''' Operation Iraqi Freedom '''<br> 2003 Invasion Of Iraq


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 September 16 , 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.