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 LAV-25 carries three LAV crewmen and four personnel (typically three scouts and either a corpsman, engineer, sniper, or mechanic) per vehicle.

This limitation can be offset by planning for reinforcements of LAR by helicopter borne or mechanized infantry units.

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.

During combat operations in March 2003, enemy transmissions were intercepted by Radio Battalion that referred to the unit as "the destroyers".

The name was chosen because the battalion commander at the time, LtCol Renforth, was a fan of the West Virginia Mountaineers.

As US troops invaded the country to arrest the dictator President Manuel Noriega to justice for drug trafficking.

The first casualty for the battalion also occurred 20 December 1989 when Cpl Garreth Isaak was killed in action, by enemy gunfire.

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."

[2] The company immediately began an aggressive patrol posture combating looters and gangs that controlled the area.

The MEU conducted the re-call and was embarked for departure in less than 56 hours from receiving the order to redeploy for Operation "Unified Response".

[2] During late 2001 2d LAR landed at Camp Rhino in Afghanistan which was already held by the 15th MEU to begin the assault on Kandahar.

LAVs from 2nd LAR, attached to RCT-1, broke through the city of Al Nasiriyah after stiff Fedayeen resistance was encountered.

Once in Baghdad, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd LAR Battalions were reorganized into Task Force Tripoli to continue the attack north and capture Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit.

Operation Iraqi Freedom marked the longest inland penetration by US Marine Forces ever, and no units went further and faster than the LAR battalions, again proving their incredible versatility and capability.

Since Operation Iraqi Freedom began, 2nd LAR Battalion has completed and supported multiple Iraq deployments.

[2] On 19 March 2003 at 0300Z the battalion was ordered to assume MOPP Level 1 due to heightening tensions in the area.

[2] This battle and the subsequent "Running Gun-fights" through numerous towns would result in the Battalion's renaming as "Destroyers".

Supported with Cobra's the Regiment attached through Al Hayy which resulted in the destruction of large numbers of enemy vehicles, bunkers, and weapons caches.

[2] 9 through 13 May the battalion moved back to Camp Matilda, Kuwait and began preparing to return home, with the last Marines arriving on 28 June.

During its 8-month deployment D Company conducted combat operations around Fallujah, Zaidon, Al-Karmah, Abu Ghraib, and Al Iskandariyah.

D Company was constantly in the field and was often engaged directly during this time period as it pursued an aggressive patrolling and reconnaissance mission in support of RCT-1.

Due to the large number of LAR members that completed several previous deployments to Al Anbar and Camp Korean Village, the terrain was familiar and the battalion was able to rapidly affect changes to the tactical layout of the AO.

They seized Khan Neshin Castle and established (2) COPS and several Afghan Border Patrol and Afghanistan National Police Stations.

[7][8][9] 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.