Officially Licensed USMC 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Patch — 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Embroidered Patch Swift, Silent, Deadly—1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, the Marine Corps' premier mounted reconnaissance force, providing eyes and ears for the 1st Marine Division from Camp Pendleton. 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (1st LAR) is assigned to the 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. The battalion operates the LAV-25 Light Armored Vehicle—an eight-wheeled amphibious armored personnel carrier armed with a 25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun and 7.62mm coaxial machine gun—conducting mounted reconnaissance, security, and economy of force operations that provide Marine division commanders with critical battlefield information while screening the division's flanks and forward areas. 1st LAR was activated on 13 June 1985 as part of the Marine Corps' restructuring to incorporate light armored vehicles into its combined arms force. The battalion quickly proved its worth in combat during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, when LAR units served as the tip of the spear for the 1st Marine Division's advance into Kuwait, screening ahead of the main body and engaging Iraqi forces along the division's axis of advance. During Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, 1st LAR conducted deep reconnaissance and security operations from the Kuwaiti border to Baghdad, racing ahead of the infantry to identify enemy positions and seize key terrain. The LAR community embodies the Marine Corps' scout tradition—mounted Marines who operate far forward of friendly lines, gathering intelligence, engaging enemy reconnaissance forces, and providing the early warning that allows the division commander to make informed decisions. 1st LAR's Marines combine the mobility and firepower of their armored vehicles with the warrior ethos of the Fleet Marine Force, creating a versatile force that can fight for information or hold ground when the situation demands. Perfect For: 1st LAR Battalion Marines and veterans, LAV-25 crew members, 1st Marine Division reconnaissance and security personnel, Camp Pendleton Marines, I MEF service members, and Marine Corps mechanized reconnaissance enthusiasts. Swift, Silent, Deadly—1st LAR, the mounted reconnaissance force that leads the way for the 1st Marine Division, seeing the enemy first and striking before they know what hit them.
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