Battalion to reactivate as 2/9 on Friday

[Vulture6]

Battalion to reactivate as 2/9 on Friday

By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jul 11, 2007 17:59:40 EDT

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — The Marine Corps’ Anti-Terrorism Battalion will deactivate Friday and reactivate as 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines.

Lt. Col. Thad Trapp will assume command of 2/9 during a ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The battalion will fall under 6th Marines at Lejeune and is the second in 9th Marines to be activated this year. In April, 1/9 was activated; next year, 3/9 will be reactivated.

The reactivations are part of the Corps’ long-range plan to reach an end strength of 202,000 Marines by 2011.

The activation ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. Friday and is open to former members of the battalion.

The Anti-Terrorism Battalion was activated in October 2004 as a rapidly deploying force to fight terrorism.