1st Light Armored Infantry BN

The 1st Light Armored Infantry Battalion (1st LAI BN), later redesignated as the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (1st LAR BN), was activated on May 19, 1985, at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California. Designed to provide fast-moving, lightly armored reconnaissance and security for Marine Air-Ground Task Forces, the battalion was equipped with LAV-25 vehicles. The unit saw combat in major operations such as Operation Desert Storm in 1991, where it played a pivotal role in screening and reconnaissance during the rapid advance into Kuwait. Over the years, 1st LAI/1st LAR Battalion has participated in multiple deployments, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, maintaining a reputation for speed, flexibility, and effectiveness on the battlefield.