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Snipers of sky stay on target

USMC News

Story Identification Number: 200332711489
Story by Cpl. Nathaniel C. LeBlanc

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C.(March 28, 2003) -- The Marine Corps has many unique characteristics that set it apart from all other services, but within the Marine Corps, there are a breed of Marines who distinguish themselves in a particularly unique manner.

The one and only battalion of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing is the 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, which continues to hold its structure and carry on its traditional roots as a 2nd Marine Division unit.

Today's air defenses have evolved from a platoon sized unit to a battalion with two batteries that bring death from below without hesitation.

"I like to consider ourselves as the snipers of the skies," said Sgt. Isaiah Patten, platoon sergeant of 2nd Platoon, Btry., B, and Chicago native. "You'll never know where it?s going to come from. Whether it's in the trees, inside a valley, or from a hilltop, it'll take you out before you even know it."

The LAAD gunners work and train to conduct themselves just like any other ground combat element.

"Even though we may be with the aviation combat element, we are geared more like division and work in the same ways as they do," said 1st Lt. Todd Schunk, executive officer, Battery B., and South Plainfield, N.J., native. "Basically we train just like any of those units and mold ourselves after them because essentially those are the ones we are protecting out in the field."

The Marines of 2nd LAAD can be seen maintaining and conditioning their high state of readiness aboard the air station, conducting more rigorous humps and other intense training.

"It's important to always be conditioned because there could be times where a humvee can't go any further and the Marine has no other option except hump with that 34.5 lb., stinger missile," Patten said. "So we always have to be very active and make sure the Marines are conditioned for what ever may come and be ready to rock and roll."

The LAAD gunners deploy to every clime and place, and work with ground units, mechanized units, wing units, as well as Marine Expeditionary Units.

"We are designed to defend any type of Marine Corps asset from air threats," Schunk said. ?So we train these Marines to be well rounded and be able to have an understanding of how the other units operate."

In order to gain an understanding of the units, who they might one day defend in combat, the LAAD gunners train alongside them in numerous exercises such as the Combined Arms Exercises.

"Since we gear ourselves towards the ground combat element, we try to train with them as much as possible and learn their tactics, techniques, and procedures," Shunck said. ?When we do train with them, it's an equal gain for both units because we not only learn more about them, they find out more about how much an asset we are to them."

When deployed with the lead elements of America's forces, the LAAD gunners provide the front line of surface to air defense against hostile aircraft.

"As gunners, we always have to be on our toes," Patten said. ?When we are out there protecting air space, we need to be able to identify any type of aircraft with the naked eye."

The gunners of 2nd LAAD are continuously gaining knowledge in aircraft identification and training to sharpen their skills as "snipers of the skies."

"This is a powerful military occupation specialty with a lot of responsibility that comes with it," Patten said. "Being a gunner has been a great experience. I've been all over the world, worked alongside units from all over, and to this day it still is one of the greatest experiences."