United States Marine Corps Light Armored Reconnaissance



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 mechanized, infantry-based reconnaissance units 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.

History
The LAR Battalions were formed from the remnants of the Scout (Tank) companies in Marine tank battalions that existed during World War II. The early tank scouts would reconnoiter ahead of enemy forces and conduct reconnaissance-in-force while riding on top of the tanks. They became reliable as they were able to be projected into enemy territory, harass the enemy, and withdraw back to friendly lines, reporting their newfound intelligence. By the time World War II ended, the scout companies formed into scout and snipers platoons and Division Reconnaissance companies.

In the early 1980s, the Light Armored Battalions were created to fill in the necessary assets to the infantry regiments. Prior to the formation of LAR Battalions assigned to the Fleet Marine Force (FMF), there was one combat-ready LAV-25 equipped unit within the Marine Corps. In 1983, the First Light Armored Vehicle Battalion (1stLAVB), was created at Marine Corps Air and Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) Twentynine Palms, California.

LAR Battalions are tasked with screening for RCTs or BLTs and are not to get decisively engaged. However during OIF many elements of LAR Battalions were the lead element in the push to Baghdad..