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.
Subordinate units Headquarters Company Service Company Alpha Company Bravo Company Charlie Company Defensive Cyber Operations Internal Defensive Measures Company
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. 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 InfoPresidential Unit Citation Streamer2003, 2010Iraq, AfghanistanJoint Meritorious Unit Award Streamer1992–1993SomaliaNavy Unit Commendation Streamer with one Bronze StarMeritorious Unit Commendation Streamer with one Bronze StarNational Defense Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars1966–1974, 1990–1995, 2001–presentVietnam War, Gulf War, war on terrorismArmed Forces Expeditionary Streamer1992–1993SomaliaSouthwest Asia Service Streamer with two Bronze StarsSeptember 1990 – February 1991Desert Shield, Desert StormIraq Campaign StreamerGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary StreamerMarch – May 2003IraqGlobal War on Terrorism Service Streamer2001–present
See also
List of United States Marine Corps battalions Organization of the United States Marine Corps
References
External links 9th Comm's official website