R 041614Z JAN 21
MARADMIN 001/21
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG TECOM QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/AVAILABILITY OF MCRP 3-20F.8, LOW ALTITUDE AIR DEFENSE BATTALION HANDBOOK//
REF/A/MCO/P5600.31A/ARD/17JUL12//
NARR/REF (A) IS MARINE CORPS PRINTING AND PUBLICATIONS REGULATIONS//
POC/K. O’MALLEY/MAJ/MAGTFTC/MAWTS-1/TEL: COMM (928) 269-6203/EMAIL: KEVIN.OMALLEY@USMC.MIL//
POC/A. JANNERETH/CIV/TECOM/PSD/DB/TEL: COMM (703) 432-8493/EMAIL: ADAM.L.JANNERETH@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  The Commanding Officer, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), Marine Air-Ground Task Force Training Command, approved Marine Corps Reference Publication (MCRP) 3-20F.8, Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion Handbook on 13 November 2020.  MCRP 3-20F.8 is available via the USMC doctrine website https:(slash)(slash)homeport.usmc.mil/sites/mcdoctrine/SitePages/Home.aspx.
2.  Background.  On 8 July 2020, the Commanding General (CG), Training and Education Command (TECOM) authorized select O-6 commanders, directors, and special staff to manage, author, and approve the doctrine and training publications assigned to them to make their publications more relevant and timely.  CG TECOM assigned MAWTS-1 to manage this publication.
2.a.  MCRP 3-20F.8, Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion Handbook, complements and expands on the information in Marine Corps Tactical Publication (MCTP) 3-20F, Control of Aircraft and Missiles, and MCTP 3-20C, Antiair Warfare, to show how low altitude air defense (LAAD) supports warfighting.  Additionally, this publication establishes a doctrinal baseline for conducting airbase ground security operations within the aviation combat element of the Marine air-ground task force (MAGTF).
2.b.  Written primarily for MAGTF, naval expeditionary force, and combined joint task force commanders, their staffs, and MAGTF officers and noncommissioned officers, MCRP 3-20F.8 provides doctrinal principles, tactics, techniques, and procedures for execution of the LAAD aspect of antiair warfare.  This publication discusses the planning, execution, operation, and employment of LAAD assets and their integration into the MAGTF, joint, or multinational LAAD battalion—the sole provider of LAAD assets in the Marine Corps—and its mission, organization, command relationships, and support relationships.  By investigating these areas, MCRP 3-20F.8 provides the requisite information needed by commanders and staffs to understand and evaluate the operational principles and capabilities of LAAD employment options.
2.c.  This publication supersedes MCRP 3-20F.8, Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion Handbook, dated 1 May 2013; and cancels this publication’s associated erratum dated 2 May 2016 and change 1 dated 4 April 2018.  This publication cancels MCRP 3-20F.9, Low Altitude Air Defense Gunner’s Handbook, dated 9 May 2011 and its associated erratum dated 2 May 2016 and change 1 dated 4 April 2018.
3.  Coordinating Instructions.  Reference (a) details steps required to request publication hard copies.  However, these publications will be disseminated via electronic distribution only unless commanders submit compelling justification for printed copies.  Units requiring print allocations must follow procedures identified in reference (a), paragraph 4a(2).  For Marine Corps Publication Distribution System identification purposes, the publication control number is:  144 000248 00.  MCRP 3-20F.8 is Distribution D:  Distribution authorized to Department of Defense (DOD) and DOD contractors only.
4.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force.
5.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Lewis A. Craparotta, Commanding General, Training and Education Command.//