2-й батальон лёгкой бронеразведки Корпуса морской пехоты США

2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion is a fast and mobilized armored terrestrial reconnaissance battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Their primary weapon system is the 8 wheeled LAV 25 and they fall under the command of the 2nd Marine Division and II Marine Expeditionary Force. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The current mission statement of the battalion is: To perform combined arms reconnaissance and security missions in support of the Ground Combat Element (GCE) of a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). Its mission is to conduct reconnaissance, security and economy of force operations, and, within its capabilities, limited offensive or defensive operations that exploit the unit's mobility and firepower. The LAR battalion may function as an independent maneuver element or as an element of a larger unit such as a regimental combat team, or its subordinate companies may support other tactical units in the GCE.

The United States Marine Corps Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions, or LAR Battalions, are fast and mobilized armored terrestrial reconnaissance units that conduct reconnaissance in force (RIF) ahead of the battalion landing teams or division infantry forces. They mainly provide the Marine Air Ground Task Force and the Marine Expeditionary Unit commanders vital intelligence of the enemy. They perform their methods as special motorized, infantry based reconnaissance units (or light cavalry) as they are equipped with LAV 25s to quickly penetrate enemy lines and locate and/or harass any enemy forces to determine their size, strengths, location, and any other pertinent information requested of the Marine commanders. In counter insurgency operations in the War on Terror, LAR units provided long range patrolling capabilities, line of communication security, quick reaction force service, conducted and supported raids and cordon and searches, and supported infantry units in direct combat. The 2nd LAR Battalion is assigned to the 2nd Marine Division and possess 3 line companies along with a headquarters and service company.

Marines who have the military occupational specialty (MOS) 0311, rifleman are assigned to the LAR battalion as scouts. The scouts receive their scout training from the LAR battalion. The LAR scouts are not employed the same way as infantry or mechanized infantry. Each LAV 25 carries three scouts, who are trained and organized for employment in support of the LAV 25. The LAR scouts should be thought of as an integral part of the vehicle's employment capabilities. The vehicle/scout team is a complete system, with the vehicle and its scouts each dependent on the other for security, mobility, and firepower.

The LAV 25 carries three LAV crewmen and four personnel (typically three scouts and either a corpsman, engineer, sniper, or mechanic) per vehicle. The LAR battalion table of organization (T/O)provides for 216 scouts. Operations requiring large numbers of infantry favor employing mechanized infantry units due to their higher troop density. This limitation can be offset by planning for reinforcements of LAR by helicopter borne or mechanized infantry units. The LAV should not be viewed as an infantry fighting vehicle or as an armored personnel carrier. This vehicle is an armored reconnaissance vehicle that lacks sufficient armor protection and troop density to perform missions normally assigned to a mechanized infantry unit.

The first Light Armored Vehicle unit to be activated was Second LAV Battalion at Camp Lejeune, NC, during May 1985 and it began receiving its first LAVs in June 1985. The battalion underwent several name changes to include Light Armored Infantry in 1988 before settling in 1994 on Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalion. This was done to better reflect the capabilities, mission, and purpose of the LAV equipped battalions.

The battalion has been known by various call signs over the years. At inception, the battalion was known as "Wolfpack". In the late 1980s the call sign was briefly changed to "Dragoon" but was reverted to "Wolfpack" before deploying in support of Operation Desert Shield. When the battalion deployed in 2002, the call sign was changed to "Barbarians" because 3rd LAR BN was also known by the call sign "Wolfpack". During combat operations in March 2003, enemy transmissions were intercepted by Radio Battalion that referred to the unit as "the destroyers". RCT 1 re designated the battalion as "Destroyer" and is still the current call sign of the battalion. When the battalion deployed in September 2006, again the call sign had to be changed due to a conflict in call signs. An army unit already in theater was using "Destroyer". For the duration of the deployment, the battalion was known as "Mountaineer". The name was chosen because the battalion commander at the time, LtCol Renforth, was a fan of the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Operation Just Cause in Panama during 1989 was the first time LAVs were involved in combat operations. As US troops invaded the country to arrest the dictator President Manuel Noriega to justice for drug trafficking. LAV Companies from 2D LAV BN started deploying to Panama in 1988 and conducted freedom of movement exercises throughout the country and demonstrated their amphibious capability by swimming the Panama Canal. During Operation Just Cause LAVs demonstrated their versatility to supporting Special Operations Forces, blocking major highways, and securing important objectives. The first casualty for the battalion also occurred 20 December 1989 when Cpl Garreth Isaak was killed in action, by enemy gunfire. He was awarded the Silver Star (Posthumously).

The attack order assigned the 2d LAI Battalion to screen the division's front and flanks on the Kuwaiti side of the berm, starting on G minus 3, 21 February. The battalion was to "attempt to identify any gaps in the obstacle belt and locate an alternate breach site for Tiger Brigade in the Northwest." This last task was especially important should the division's main breach effort fail or be held up by the enemy. An alternate breach site would permit the Tiger Brigade to move its heavy armored power around the division's flank and help to pull the remainder of the division through. Although this was not needed in the end, it was an important contingency to anticipate. The 2d LAR Battalion along with its supporting artillery unit the 1 3 field artillery from the US Army 1st Tiger Brigade sought contact and reported information on enemy troops, activities, and equipment. Operating almost continuously under antitank, rocket, and indirect fire, the battalion's companies engaged enemy troops, artillery, and tanks on at least 17 occasions, using organic antitank weapons, artillery fire from the 10th Marines, 1 3 field artillery and close air support. During these three days, the battalion accounted for numerous enemy KIA, the destruction of 12 enemy tanks, a further 35 tanks with air strikes, and the capture of 120 EPWs. April 1991 through January 1992 the battalion provided detachments to the 24th and 26th MEU's in support of Operation "Provide Comfort" in Northern Iraq. On 15 May the 24th MEU Detachment swam the Tigris River.

Several detachments in support of MEU operations deploy to support operations in Kismayu and Mogadishu, Somalia from April 1992 through May 1994 during Operation "Restore Hope". The unit is currently stationed in theater in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

4 8 February 2003, 2d LAI deployed to Kuwait with Companies A, B, and H&S Company; Weapons Company was disbanded on 17 January and integrated into A and B Companies, C Co was attached to the MEF Headquarters. They were part of the 17,000 troop increase announced by President Obama in mid February. Company A deployed in support of 4th LAR from December 2009 through June 2010; conducting operations in the Marjah area. May through November 2011, the battalion deployed again to the vicinity of Southern Helmand Province with headquarters elements operating out of FOB Payne with numerous COPS and patrol bases spread throughout the area.