1st LAAD Battalion Reactivates in Hawaii

Photo By Lance Cpl. Clayton Baker | U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Heath Phillips, commanding officer, 1st Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Battalion, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, receives a gift during a reactivation and designation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, Aug. 31, 2023. Originally activated in July 1982 in Okinawa, Japan, the unit underwent two redesignations before folding its’ colors in Sept. 2007. The reactivation of 1st LAAD Battalion demonstrates forward progression toward force modernization in the INDOPACIFIC region. The primary mission of 1st LAAD Battalion is to deliver close-in, low-altitude, surface-to-air weapon capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Clayton Baker)

Release from the 1^st Marine Aircraft Wing

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MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HI, UNITED STATES

08.31.2023

MCAS KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii – Today, Headquarters and Service (H&S) Battery, 1st Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Battalion, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, reinstated their unit colors during a reactivation and designation ceremony.

Originating as 1st Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) Battery, initially established on July 1, 1982, in Okinawa, Japan, 1st LAAD Battalion previously underwent two redesignations. The first occurred in October 1986, when 1st FAAD battery was redesignated as the 1st LAAD Battalion. The second took place in May 1993, when the battalion’s size was reduced, leading to its designation as 1st Stinger Battery. 1st Stinger Battery was officially deactivated in Okinawa on Sept. 28, 2007.

Today’s reactivation of 1st LAAD Battalion at Marine Corps Base Hawaii demonstrates progress toward force modernization with a significant increase in III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF), joint, and combined force capabilities. Originally designed to counter fixed wing and rotary wing enemy aircraft, the LAAD community now employs mobile, scalable air defense capabilities to counter not only manned aviation threats but also unmanned. This reactivation provides III MEF organic ground-based air defense assets against enemy aircraft and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) which enables their employment within the Indo-Pacific region without depleting resources from I or II MEF.

The primary mission of 1st LAAD Battalion is to deliver close-in, low-altitude, surface-to-air weapon capabilities. When task-organized, the battalion also provides command and control forces for ground security in defense of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) commander’s designated critical areas. “1st LAAD Battalion will provide a much-needed capability to III MEF in the defense of maneuver units, forward operating areas and command and control nodes. This capability will enable Marines to fight and win under contested airspace,” said Lt. Col. Heath A. Phillips, the commanding officer of 1st LAAD Battalion.

Marine Corps Base Hawaii will primarily serve as a strategic hub for 1st LAAD Battalion. “We are honored to homebase in Hawaii,” Phillips added, “We will grow here; we will train here; but make no mistake about it, our work is west.”

The battalion is taking a phased activation approach, slated to culminate in 2028, beginning with the H&S Battery today. H&S Battery will establish the foundation for onboarding future capabilities and subsequent battery activations. Alpha Battery is anticipated to activate in August 2024.

1st LAAD Battalion looks forward to employing emerging capabilities in the Indo-Pacific in support of service, joint, allied, and partner forces. For more information about 1st LAAD Battalion please contact 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Communication Strategy and Operations, https://www.1stmaw.marines.mil/Subordinate-Units/Marine-Aircraft-Group-24/