WrrH THE 2D MARINE DWISION IN DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM             95


LAAD--Low Altitude Air Defense. A LAAD Battalion is a part of each Marine
Aircraft Wing. LAAD teams, armed with Stinger missiles, are assigned to
ground units to provide them close-in defense against air attack.

LAl--Light Armored Infantry.

LAN--Computer system's Local Area Network.

LAV--Light Armored Vehicle. An armored personnel carrier used by the 2d
LAl Battalion.

LD--Line of Departure. A control measure. Troops are considered to be in the
attack once they have crossed the LD.

LREOS--Long Range Electrical Optical System. A telescope system of enhanced
magnification and clarity, used by Marines of the 2d Reconnaissance Battalion.

MarCent--United States Marine Forces Central Command, a component of
CentCom.

MCAS--Marine Corps Air Station.

MCB--Marine Corps Base.

MCLC--Mine Clearing Line Charge.

MEB--Marine  Expeditionary Brigade. A Marine  Air Ground Task         Force
(MAGTF) normally structured around a regiment as its (ICE. See MEF, below.

MEF--Marine Expeditionary Force. The largest deployable Marine formation,
capable of up to 60 days of self-sustained combat. Like all Marine Air Ground
Task Forces (MAGTFs), it is composed of a Command Element (CE), a Ground
Combat Element (GCE), an Aviation Combat Element(ACE), and a Combat
Service Support Element (CSSE). The GCE of a MEF is normally a division,
although it can be composed of two divisions. During Operation Desert Storm,
I MEF had such a two-division structure for its (ICE.

MEU--Marine Expeditionary Unit. The smallest Marine Air Ground Task Force
normally structured around a battalion as its (ICE. See MEF, above.

MLRS--Multiple Launch Rocket System. A field artillery weapon system of the
U.S. Army, capable of firing 12 227mm rockets. It is a highly mobile automatic
rocket system designed to engage massed enemy formations and area targets.
Battery A, 92d Field Artillery, an MLRS battery, was a part of the Tiger
Brigade, and provided fire support to the 2d Marine Division.