3rd Battalion 11th Marines

3rd Battalion 11th Marines
3/11 Insignia
Active	1 May 1943 – 30 September 1947 20 August 1950 – present
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Artillery
Role	Provide fires in support of 1st Marine Division
Size	800
Part of	11th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms
Motto(s)	"Semper Flexibilis" and "Dominatus Nox"
Engagements	World War II * Battle of Guadalcanal * Battle of Cape Gloucester * Battle of Peleliu * Battle of Okinawa Korean War * Battle of Inchon * Battle of Chosin Reservoir Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Restore Hope Operation Iraqi Freedom * 2003 invasion of Iraq Operation Enduring Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant Colonel Christopher R. Escamilla

3rd Battalion 11th Marines (3/11) is an artillery battalion comprising four firing batteries and a headquarters battery. The battalion is based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California and its primary weapon system is the M777 lightweight howitzer with a maximum effective range of 30 km. They fall under the 11th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division.

Mission

Provide direct support of the 7th Marine Regiment in time of conflict. That support may come in the traditional fashion of artillery support to maneuver forces, or by providing batteries to serve as provisional rifle companies. They also have the secondary mission of being the primary providers of civil-military operations (CMO). CMO is defined as the activities of the commander that establish, maintain, influence, or exploit relations between military organizations, Government and civilian organizations and the civilian populace.

Current units

Headquarters Battery
Battery I (India Battery)
Battery K (Kilo Battery)
Battery M (Mike Battery)

History

World War II

3rd Battalion 11th Marines was activated 1 May 1943 at Victoria, Australia as the 5th Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. The Battalion was redesignated 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines on 7 May 1944. During World War II, 3/11 participated in the Eastern New Guinea, Battle of New Britain, Battle of Peleliu, Battle of Guadalcanal and the Battle of Okinawa. Following World War II, Third Battalion participated in the occupation of North China from September 1945 to January 1947. In December 1946, the battalion was attached to the 7th Marines. The battalion was relocated to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California in January 1947 and was assigned to the 3rd Marine Brigade. The battalion was deactivated on 30 September 1947.

Korean War

3/11 was reactivated on 20 August 1950 at Camp Pendleton and was assigned to the 1st Marine Division, FMF. The battalion deployed in September 1950 to Kobe, Japan and participated in the Korean War, operating from Inchon, Seoul, the Chosin Reservoir, the East, Central, and Western Fronts. Third Battalion participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone from July 1953 to February 1955. The battalion was relocated to Camp Pendleton in February 1955.

Vietnam War

In May 1965, Third Battalion was attached to Regimental Landing Team Seven and deployed to the Western Pacific. The battalion was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division in June 1965 and was later reassigned to the 1st Marine Division in March 1966 to October 1970, the battalion participated in the war in Vietnam, operating from Chu Lai, Da Nang, Dai Loc, and Hoi An. Third Battalion relocated to Camp Pendleton in October 1970 and was assigned to the Fifth Marine Amphibious Brigade. The battalion was reassigned in April 1971 to the First Marine Division, FMF.

The Gulf War and the 1990s

Third Battalion relocated to its current home at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California in February 1990. The battalion participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in Southwest Asia from August 1990 to March 1991.

From December 1992 to April 1993, the battalion was deployed as a Provisional Infantry Battalion to Mogadishu, Somalia for Operation Restore Hope. While in Somalia the battalion was instrumental in coordinating security for the city of Mogadishu with 12 other nations. On January 20, 1993, Pfc. Domingo Arroyo was killed in an ambush while on patrol in Mogadishu. He was the first casualty of Operation Restore Hope.

Global War on Terror

Artillerymen with Gun 3, Battery K, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment fire-off a round with the newly fielded M777 Lightweight 155-millimeter Howitzer

The battalion once again deployed to Southwest Asia from January 2003 to July 2003 to support the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The battalion’s timely and accurate fires proved to be crucial in allowing I MEF to quickly move deep into Iraqi territory and topple the regime in 21 days of major combat operations. Immediately following the fall of Baghdad, the battalion assumed the mission of a Provisional Infantry Battalion and begun assisting in civil/military duties as well as conducting Security and Stability Operation (SASO) patrols in the capital city, securing hospitals and other vital infrastructure.

In November 2003 the battalion again received orders to deploy to Iraq, but this time as a Provisional Military Police Battalion. The battalion quickly transitioned into its new job and deployed from February 2004 to September 2004. The battalion’s motto of Semper Flexibils, Always Flexible, held true with the battalion participating in missions ranging from convoy escorts, combat patrols, humanitarian assistance, security force training, and controlling a battle space of over 40,000 square kilometers.

In May 2005, the battalion became the first unit in the world to field the new M777 Lightweight howitzer. Feedback from the artillerymen of 3/11 led to modifications prior to being issued to other Marine and Army units.

Currently, the battalion supports OIF by deploying individual batteries to fulfill the role of artillery support, as well as provisional MP; as well as supporting III MEF in Okinawa, Japan with the Unit Deployment Program by deploying a battery semi-annually.

3/11 deployed to southern Afghanistan in the spring of 2009 as part of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.^[1] They are part of the 17,000 troop increase announced by President Obama in mid-February.^[2] 3/11 operated as part of Regimental Combat Team 3 and was the only Marine artillery battalion in Afghanistan.^[3] The battalion built Fiddler's Green in July 2009 as a fire base for Operation Strike of the Sword.

Notes

↑ Hlad, Jennifer (9 March 2008). "2/8, other Lejeune units to deploy with 2nd MEB". www.enctoday.com. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
↑ Page, Susan (16 February 2009). "Obama OKs adding Afghanistan forces". USA Today. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
↑ http://www.marine-corps-news.com/2009/09/airground_team_airlifts_newest.htm#more

References

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

Web

3/11's official website

United States Marine Corps

Leadership	Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Marine Corps generals United States Congress House Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Senate Subcommittee on Seapower

Major commands	Organization of the Marine Corps Headquarters Marine Corps Marine Forces Command II Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Pacific I Marine Expeditionary Force III Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Reserve Fleet Marine Force Atlantic Pacific

Structure	Marine Air-Ground Task Force Bases Battalions Regiments Brigades Divisions MEF/Corps Marine aviation Marine expeditionary unit Special Operations Marine Raider Regiment Recon Force Division

Personnel and training	Personnel Rank insignia MOS Notable Marines Historical Marines Marine Astronauts Criminal Investigation Division Judge Advocate Division Chaplain of the Marine Corps Associated organizations Training Recruit Training School of Infantry Officer Candidates School The Basic School Martial Arts Program

Uniforms and equipment	Uniforms Awards Badges Weapons Vehicles and aircraft Individual equipment

History and traditions	History Culture Acronyms and terms Birthday Ball Eagle, Globe, and Anchor Marine Band Drum and Bugle Corps Service Numbers Marine Corps War Memorial Flag Marine One Marines' Hymn National Museum Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Rifleman's Creed Semper Fidelis Silent Drill Platoon History of Hispanics in the USMC History of women in the USMC Women's Reserve Honorary Marine Toys for Tots White House Sentries

Portal Category

1st Marine Division

1st Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion 1st Battalion, 4th Marines

5th Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines

7th Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines

11th Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion 5th Battalion

Other Battalions	1st Reconnaissance 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance 1st Combat Engineer 1st Tank 3rd Assault Amphibian

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