Anti-Terrorism Battalion

Anti-Terrorism Battalion
AT Bn insignia
Active	2004-2013 (Deactivated)
Country	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Specialty
Role	Anti-terrorism
Size	700+ Marines, 30–40 Navy Hospital Corpsmen
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Motto	Vigilia Aeternus (Eternal Vigilance)

Anti-Terrorism Battalion (ATBN) is a disbanded unit of the United States Marine Corps. It was a specially trained Infantry Battalion equipped to combat subversive organizations.

Mission

The mission of the Anti-Terrorism Battalion was to rapidly deploy specially trained and sustainable forces to detect, deter, and defend against terrorism, as well as to conduct crisis response in the event of a terrorist attack.

History

Global War on Terror

Activation

The AT Battalion was activated Oct. 29, 2004, under the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, which was deactivated in February 2006 on the same day Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command stood up. It was a non rotational unit.

Training

Various schooling, in-house training, & courses attended 2004-2007

Urban Assault Climber Course
Enhanced Marksmanship Program Shooting (EMP) 2004
Basic Urban Skills Training (BUST) 2004
Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT)
Close Quarters Combat (CQB) 2004
Israeli Mout Training and Shooting courses 2005
Blackwater Defensive Driving
Pathfinder Course 2007
Scout Sniper School
Designated Marksman Courses 2005
Combat Marksmanship Course/ MOS 0933
Combat Lifesaver Courses 2005
Non-Lethal Weapons & Tactics Course 2005 (Special Operations Training Group II MEF)
Blackwater N.C. Foreign Weapons group (2011 BSRF) Pre-deployment
FLEET ANTI-TERRORISM COMPETITION 2006
The Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction (SPIE) 2007
FAST Rope 2004
Machine Gunners Course 2004-2007

Iraq

Between 2004 and 2007, the AT Battalion had served in western Al Anbar, central Baghdad and northern Diyala provinces of Iraq. Deployments included:

A detachment of 30+ Marine Officers and SNCO's fulfilled the Border Transition Team's (BTT) mission on the Syrian border for a year over 2005–2006.
The Personal Security Detachment (PSD) for the II MEF Commanding General. Rotations were 1 year each in 2005–2006 and 2007–2008 at Camp Fallujah.
A Combined Anti-Armor Team (CAAT) platoon (CAAT III) deployed in support of the II MEF Headquarters Group as a motorized heavy machine gun platoon based out of Camp Fallujah October 2005 – March 2006
Combined Anti-Armor Team (CAAT) platoons (CAAT I,II) deployed in support of OIF to FOB Spartan (later Grizzly) located adjacent and within Camp Ashraf, Ashraf city, Diyala Province Iraq October 2005 – May 2006
The PSD for Regimental Combat Teams (RCT) 2 and 6 Commanders. Each team deployed for a year over 2007–2008.
Four rotations to the American Embassy in Baghdad (initially company size, later reduced to platoon sized.) A Co, D Co, two separate platoons from B Co rotated on seven-month deployments from 2005 to 2007.
Three company size rotations (B Co 2005 (Reinforced by CAAT I, II teams), A Co 2006–2007, and B Co 2007) to Camp Ashraf / Forward Operating Base Grizzly in Diyala Province in support of US Army 16th MP Brigade. A Co 1st Bn 9th Marines (2005–2006) and a Task Force from the Marine Corps National Capital Region (TF NCR 2007–2008) also deployed to Ashraf.
The PSD requirement for the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) was supported by a squad size element from the ATBN in 2005–2006.

Numerous Marines also augmented other requirements for National Police Training Teams (NPTT), Military Transition Teams (MiTTs), and MEF augmentation requests to other infantry units when the battalion was redesignated the 2nd Bn 9th Marines.

Most Marines in the Battalion completed two to three consecutive combat deployments in a single three year tour of duty with the battalion as part of their initial 4 year enlistment contract.

Yemen

Fox CO Anti-Terrorism BN 4th MARDIV augmented the US Embassy security and Anti-Terrorism operations in Sana'a Yemen 2011-2012.

Deactivation

On 13 July 2007, The Active Duty Anti-terrorism Battalion was deactivated and replaced by 2nd Battalion 9th Marines as part of the increase in the size of the Marine Corps.

On 21 September 2013, The Reserve Anti-terrorism Battalion was officially deactivated.