Lt. Col. Joel A. Burdette, commanding officer of 2nd

Lt. Col. Joel A. Burdette, commanding officer of 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, locks on to an unmanned aerial target with his PL-87 Stinger Missile on Onslow Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., during 2nd LAAD's live Stinger Missile shoot Sept. 17. “We are a critical component in providing air defense against the emerging threats to the 2nd MAW airfields around the globe,” said Burdette. “We, at 2nd LAAD, train for many scenarios and will continue to train to make sure we are ready for any and every threat the Marine Corps and 2nd MAW faces. Whether that is while deployed or at home here at Cherry Point we will continue to be mission ready. We are still riflemen and will continue to support the mission of 2nd MAW.”