1st Battalion 11th Marines (1/11) is an artillery battalion comprising four firing batteries and a Headquarters battery. The battalion is stationed at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California. Its primary weapon system is the M777 lightweight howitzer. The battalion is under the command of the 11th Marine Regiment, part of the 1st Marine Division. Mission To provide direct support to the 1st Marine Division in time of conflict. That support may come in the traditional fashion of artillery support to maneuver forces, or by providing batteries to serve as temporary rifle companies. It also has the secondary mission of being the primary providers of civil-military operations (CMO). CMO is defined as the activities of the commander that establish, maintain, influence, or exploit relations between military organizations, Government and civilian organizations and the civilian population. Subordinate units Headquarters Battery Battery A (Alpha Battery) Battery B (Bravo Battery) Battery C (Charlie Battery) Battery I (India Battery) (attached from 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines) History Early years The 1st Battalion, 11th Marines, was activated together with rest of the regiment on 20 August 1917 at the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. The battalion underwent intensive infantry training until September 1918, when it was attached to the 5th Marine Brigade and ordered to France. The 1st Battalion arrived on October 13 to Brest, but too late to see combat. The battalion was stationed in the area around the town of Tours until July 1919. when it was ordered stateside and deactivated at Norfolk Navy Yard on 11 August 1919. The 1st Battalion was reactivated on 3 December 1923 at the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, as the 1st Battalion, 10th Regiment. It participated in mail guard duty in the mid-western United States from October 1926 to February 1927. The battalion deployed during April to June 1927 to Tientsin in China and was assigned to the 3rd Marine Brigade. The unit returned during September 1928 to MCB Quantico and was detached from the 3rd Marine Brigade during December 1928. It were re-designated on 10 July 1930 to the 1st Battalion, 10th Marines. The battalion was assigned to the 1st Marine Brigade during September 1935. It was re-designated on 1 September 1940 as the 1st Battalion, 11th Marines. During October 1940, it was deployed to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. On 1 February 1941, the 1st Marine Brigade was re-designated as the 1st Marine Division. The