9th Communication Battalion

9th Communication Battalion (9th Comm) is a communications battalion in the United States Marine Corps. It is part of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) and is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

9th Communication Battalion
9th Commmuications Battalion insignia
Active1 June 1966 – present
Country United States of America
Branch United States Marine Corps
TypeCommunications
Part ofI Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group
Nickname(s)9th Comm, 9th Crime
Motto(s)Professionalism, Reliability, Flexibility
EngagementsOperation Desert Storm
Operation Restore Hope
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current
commander		LtCol Kevin J. Stepp

Subordinate units

History

Early years

9th Communication Battalion was activated 1 June 1966 at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. They were assigned to Force Troops, Fleet Marine Force Pacific in July 1967. The unit was reduced to zero strength and deactivated 15 October 1974. The Communication Support Company was activated 16 October 1974 but was quickly deactivated on 30 November 1976. It was again activated on 1 December 1976 as Communication Support Company, (Reinforced), 9th Communication Battalion at 29 Palms and assigned to Force Troops, FMF, Pacific. On 15 February 1979, Force Troops was deactivated and the battalion was assigned to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), 29 Palms.

1980s & 1990s

1 December 1982: Communication Company (Reinforced), 9th Communication Battalion redesignated at Camp Pendleton, California, as the 9th Communication Battalion, Fleet Marine Force
January 1984: Reassigned to I Marine Amphibious Force
5 February 1988: I Marine Amphibious Force redesignated as I Marine Expeditionary Force
July 1989: Reassigned to 1st Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Intelligence Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force
August 1990-March 1991: Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Southwest Asia
December 1992-April 1993: Operation Restore Hope, Somalia
Reassigned during June 1998 to I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group

Global War on Terror

9th Comm has made four, year long deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom OIF. They deployed to Kuwait in late 2002 and subsequently took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. After that they have spent year long deployments for OIF during 2004, 2006 and 2008.

9th Comm has also participated in multiple deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom OEF. Their cumulative deployments saw the installation, operation, and maintenance of the largest enterprise network ever established by a Marine Corps unit aboard Camp Leatherneck.[1] During this time, Camp Leatherneck and surrounding areas saw significant upgrades in telecommunications infrastructure as well as an increase in the availability of commercialized network services to support all base personnel. 9th Comm's presence on Camp Leatherneck lasted until the end of operations in October 2014 when the camp was turned over to Afghan control.

Unit awards

A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. 9th Comm has been presented with the following awards:

Streamer Award Year(s) Additional Info
Presidential Unit Citation Streamer 2003, 2010 Iraq, Afghanistan
Joint Meritorious Unit Award Streamer 1992–1993 Somalia
Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with one Bronze Star

Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer with one Bronze Star

National Defense Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars 1966–1974, 1990–1995, 2001–present Vietnam War, Gulf War, War on Terrorism
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamer 1992–1993 Somalia
Southwest Asia Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars September 1990 – February 1991 Desert Shield, Desert Storm
Iraq Campaign Streamer

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Streamer March – May 2003 Iraq
Global War on Terrorism Service Streamer 2001–present

See also

References
  1. http://www.afcea.org/content/?q=marines-revolutionize-network-southwest-afghanistan


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