2nd Battalion 25th Marines

2nd Battalion, 25th Marines
2d Battalion, 25th Marines insignia
Active	1 May 1943
Country	United States
Branch	USMC
Type	Infantry battalion
Role	Locate, close with and destroy the enemy with fire and maneuver
Size	1,000
Part of	25th Marine Regiment 4th Marine Division
Garrison/HQ	Garden City, New York
Nickname(s)	"Empire Battalion"
Motto(s)	Vis Pugnare, Constantia Vincere "Power to Fight - Always to Triumph"
Engagements	World War II *Battle of Kwajalein *Battle of Tinian *Battle of Saipan *Battle of Iwo Jima Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	LtCol Armando Acosta

2nd Battalion, 25th Marines (2/25) is a reserve infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps headquartered in Garden City, New York, with units located throughout the Mid-Atlantic States. It consists of approximately 1000 Marines and sailors. They fall under the command of the 25th Marine Regiment and the 4th Marine Division.

Provide trained and qualified units and individuals to augment, reinforce, or reconstitute the active component of the Marine Corps in time of war, national emergency, and such other times as the national security may require

The Battalion was first activated on 1 May 1943 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines. They relocated during August–September 1943 to Camp Pendleton, California. In September 1943, 2/25 was assigned to the 4th Marine Division. They were deployed for combat during January 1944 to Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. They participated in the following World War II campaigns: Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. In October 1945, they relocated to Camp Pendleton, California and were deactivated on 31 October 1945.

2/25 was reactivated on 1 July 1962 at Garden City, New York, and assigned to the 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve.

The battalion was mobilized piecemeal during the period of November 1990 - January 1991 in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The majority of the battalion trained at Camp Pendleton and 29 Palms, CA for possible deployment overseas, while Fox Company 2/25 deployed to the Persian Gulf and participated directly in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. 2nd Platoon of Fox Company deployed as part of 5th Marine Regiment of the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade participating in combat operations in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, while the remainder of the company supported 2nd Marine Division operations with the 2nd Light Armored Infantry Battalion. With the cessation of hostilities in the Persian Gulf, 2nd platoon of Fox Company was subsequently diverted to Bangladesh for participation in Operation Sea Angel in May 1991. The battalion demobilized during March/April 1991 and returned to Garden City, New York. The elements of Fox Company that remained active returned to the Bronx, NY on July 3, 1991 just prior to the 4th of July weekend of 1991. These Marines were subsequently reassigned to other 2/25 elements as the Fox Company headquarters was moved from its prior home in New Rochelle, NY to Albany, NY during their deployment.