2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion ( 2nd LAAD ) is an air defense unit of the United States Marine Corps . They are part of Marine Air Control Group 28 ( MACG - 28 ) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing ( 2nd MAW ) and are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point . History . Early years . On February 26 , 1969 , an official table of organization was established for the Forward Area Air Defense ( FAAD ) Platoon . As a result of a decision to group all anti - air warfare assets under the command and control of the tactical air commander , the 2d FAAD Platoon was transferred to Marine Air Control Group 28 , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing . From 1969 to 1983 , 2d FAAD Platoon was assigned under the operational and administrative control of three commands : Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron 28 , Marine Air Support Squadron 1 , and the 3rd Light Anti - Aircraft Missile Battalion ( 3rd LAAM ) . Based on a Headquarters Marine Corps initiative to strengthen close - in air defense assets in support of each Marine Air Ground Task Force , a decision was made to activate the 2d FAAD Battery , which eventually consisted of a service platoon and five firing platoons . 1980s and 1990s . On August 8 , 1986 , the unit was expanded into a battalion comprising a headquarters and service battery , and two firing batteries . Since its activation , 2d LAAD Battalion has remained heavily committed around the globe . The battalion has continuously provided LAAD detachments to the 22nd , 24th and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit s . Participating in numerous exercises from the Carolinas to California and numerous NATO exercise from Turkey to Northern Norway . In August 1990 , at the outset of the Iraqi invasion into Kuwait , the battalion deployed one firing battery in support of the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade , which immediately set sail to the Persian Gulf . Subsequently , the remainder of the battalion , augmented by a reserve firing battery from 4th LAAD Battalion , deployed to Southwest Asia in January 1991 in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm . The battalion was designated as the Marine Air Command and Control Systems Unit of the Year for 1991 and received the prestigious " Edward S . Fris Award " . Following Desert Storm , detachments from the battalion participated in Operation Provide Comfort in Northern Iraq and Operation Safe Harbor in Guantanamo Bay , Cuba . In 1999 , 2d LAAD Battalion ’ s 26th MEU Marines were first in the Marine Corps to take combat loaded M1097 Avenger s into a combat environment during operation Operation Allied Force in Kosovo as well as participate in Operation Joint Guardian off Albania and Operation Avid Response in Turkey . During the operations in the Balkans , a section from 2d LAAD supported the 26th MEU and landed in Kosovo with the battalion landing team . The section provided air defense and perimeter security for the BLT against sniper attacks . Global War on Terror . In September 2001 , the Battalion was again heavily deployed . A detachment from the battalion was part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and deployed ashore in support of combat operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan . During Operation Iraqi Freedom , 2nd LAAD Bn was deployed to the Al Anbar Province in Iraq , and engaged in combat operations between February 2005 to September 2005 . From February 2007 to November 2007 , 2d LAAD Bn conducted combat and support operations within the al Anbar Governorate in the role of a Provisional Security Battalion aboard and around Al Asad Airbase . From April 2008 to October 2008 , 2d LAAD Bn would again deploy to Iraq and this time provide support and security operations aboard Al Taqaddum Airbase .