Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38

Last updated

Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38
MWCS-38 squadron insignia.jpg
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 insignia
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States of America
BranchFlag of the United States Marine Corps.svg  United States Marine Corps
TypeAviation Command & Control
Role Communications
Part of Marine Air Control Group 38
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQ Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Nickname(s)Red Lightning
Motto(s)"BOOM, RED LIGHTNING!"
Anniversaries1 September 1967
Commanders
Current
commander		LtCol Atiim Phillips

Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 (MWCS-38) is a United States Marine Corps communications squadron. The squadron provides expeditionary communications for the aviation combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force. They are based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, and fall under the command of Marine Air Control Group 38 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Contents

Mission

On order, MWCS-38 provides expeditionary communications for the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) of a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) in order to enable the Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) of the ACE.

History

Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 was commissioned on 1 September 1967 and assigned to Marine Wing Headquarters Group 3, 3D Marine Aircraft Wing. On 1 July 1971, the squadron was re-designated as Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 and assigned to Marine Air Control Group 38, 3D Marine Aircraft Wing. [1]

For most of the mid-1970s and the 1980s, the squadron’s deployment schedule centered on Exercise Palm Tree and Gallant Knight/Gallant Eagle, and Weapons and Tactics Instructor Courses. On 29 April 1987, the Squadron reorganized into a headquarters element and two communications detachments, Detachment A and Detachment B. This reorganization enabled the squadron to provide communications support for the ACE and two Marine Air Ground Task Forces (MAGTF) deployed simultaneously. In the late 1980s, Display Determination, Kernel Blitz, Freedom Banner, RIMPAC, Combined Arms Exercise (CAX), and Roving Sands were added to the exercise schedule.

In August 1990, the Squadron Command Element and Detachment A deployed to Southwest Asia in support of MAG-70 for Operation Desert Shield. Over the next four months, this initial echelon grew when augmented by an MWCS-18 Detachment from Hawaii and Detachment B, MWCS-28 from New River, North Carolina, while Marine aviation forces grew to almost two wings. At the peak of Operation Desert Storm, MWCS-38 supported four fully functional Marine Air Bases, a Tactical Air Command Center (TACC), a Tactical Air Operations Center (TAOC), an Early Warning Control (EWC) center, an Aviation Logistics Ship, two Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARP), and two relay sites.

In December 1992, MWCS-38 was once again called upon to provide expeditionary communications support during a crisis, this time for Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. MWCS-38 deployed two operational detachments in support of designated Marine Aviation Combat Element (ACE) in a historic humanitarian relief effort.

In March 2003, MWCS-38 deployed to Southwest Asia once again, this time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. For the next five years, a continuous detachment (+) sized communications squadron element supported the ACE and combat operations in Iraq.

In January 2008, MWCS-38 deployed its last detachment-sized element to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This deployment saw the deactivation of the last Unit Level Circuit Switch (ULCS), a tactical telephone switch, in the Iraqi theater of operations, completing the cutover of all telephone services to commercial lines.

In October 2008, MWCS-38 relinquished communications control to 9th Communication Battalion aboard Al Asad Airbase, Iraq, as the 3D Marine Aircraft Wing’s footprint in Iraq was significantly reduced.

In March 2010, MWCS-38 once again deployed a detachment-sized unit to Southwest Asia, this time to Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. For over two years, MWCS-38 supported combat operations and made significant accomplishments such as the installation of the communications architecture for a new flight line at Camp Leatherneck, as well as the commercialization of Kandahar Airfield. Detachment A returned from Afghanistan in August 2012 as the last MWCS-38 presence.

In October 2011, MWCS-38 began supporting the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), beginning with Operation Iron Fist. MWCS-38 has continued supporting the 11th, 13th, and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units from 2011 – present.

In March 2013, MWCS-38 supported MAG-50 with detachment (-) sized deployments to the Kingdom of Bahrain. MWCS-38 is now in continuous support of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC) with detachment (-) sized deployments to the Kingdom of Bahrain and Kuwait, and continues to prepare for future contingencies through participation in training exercises back home.

MWCS-38 is now in continuous support of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC) with detachment (-) sized deployments to the Kingdom of Bahrain and Kuwait, and continues to prepare for future contingencies through participation in training exercises back home.

Command lineage

Time ActiveUnit Engagement
August 1990 - March 1991Participated in Operations DESERT SHIELD and Desert Storm, Southwest Asia.
December 1992 - March 1993Elements participated in Operation Restore Hope, Somalia.
June 1996 - October 1996Elements participated in Support of Operation Joint Endeavor, Bosnia.
September 2001 - October 2003Participated in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq.
January 2003Deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
March 2003 - January 2009Participated in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq.
January 2005Elements participated in Operation Unified Assistance, Indonesia.
2003 - 2011Elements participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq.
2010 - 2015Elements participated in Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.

See also

Related Research Articles

II Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the US Marine Corps

The II Marine Expeditionary Force is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force consisting of ground, air and logistics forces capable of projecting offensive combat power ashore while sustaining itself in combat without external assistance for a period of 60 days. The II Marine Expeditionary Force is commanded by a lieutenant general, who serves under U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, providing Marine fighting formations and units to European Command, Central Command and Southern Command. The current Commanding General is Lieutenant General William Jurney. The Deputy Commanding General is Brigadier General Anthony Henderson.

HMLA-267 Military unit

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 (HMLA-267) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and Bell UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters. Nicknamed the "Stingers", the squadron is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

HMH-464 Military unit

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 (HMH-464) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopters. The squadron is known as the "Condors" and is based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. They fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 29 (MAG-29) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

VMM-268 United States Marine Corps tiltrotor squadron consisting of MV-22 transport

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (VMM-268) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of MV-22 transport. The squadron, known as the "Red Dragons", is based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe, Hawaii and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

VMM-264 Military unit

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 (VMM-264) was a United States Marine Corps tiltrotor squadron consisting of MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft. The squadron, known as the "Black Knights", was based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, and normally fell under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 26 (MAG-26) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. They were the last east coast CH-46 Sea Knight squadron to transition to the Osprey. VMM-264 was decommissioned on June 24, 2020.

Marine Air-Ground Task Force is a term used by the United States Marine Corps to describe the principal organization for all missions across the range of military operations. MAGTFs are a balanced air-ground, combined arms task organization of Marine Corps forces under a single commander that is structured to accomplish a specific mission. The MAGTF was formalized by the publishing of Marine Corps Order 3120.3 in December 1963 "The Marine Corps in the National Defense, MCDP 1-0". It stated:

Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 Military unit

Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The squadron falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Marine Air Control Group 28 Military unit

Marine Air Control Group 28 (MACG-28) is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point that is currently composed of four command and control squadrons and a low altitude air defense battalion that provide the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing with airspace coordination, air control, immediate air support, fires integration, air traffic control (ATC), radar surveillance, aviation combat element (ACE) communications support, and an integrated ACE command post in support of the II Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marine Air Control Group 38 United States military unit

Marine Air Control Group 38 (MACG-38) is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar that is currently composed of four squadrons and one battalion that provide the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing's tactical headquarters, positive and procedural control to aircraft, and air defense support for the I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marine Wing Support Group 27 Military unit

Marine Wing Support Group 27 (MWSG-27) is a United States Marine Corps aviation combat service support unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. It is composed of four squadrons, which provide the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and II Marine Expeditionary Force with complete airfield operation services, engineer and transportation support, medical assistance, food services, security support, and other direct combat and combat service support to aviation combat elements.

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29 Military unit

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29 (MALS-29) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the "Wolverines", they fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 29 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station New River. MALS 29 supports multiple types of aircraft and provides detachments to aviation combat elements operating globally in support the United States National Defense Strategy.

2d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion Military unit

2d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion is an air defense unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are part of Marine Air Control Group 28 (MACG-28) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. The Battalion is composed of one Headquarters and Support Battery and two Firing Batteries.

Marine Wing Communications Squadron 48 Military unit

Marine Wing Communications Squadron 48 is a communications squadron in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. As part of Marine Air Control Group 48, MWCS-48 provides expeditionary communications for the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, the Aviation Combat Element of Marine Forces Reserve. They are based at Naval Station Great Lakes and fall under the command of Marine Air Control Group 48 and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.

Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18 Military unit

Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18 (MWCS-18) is a United States Marine Corps communications squadron. The squadron provides expeditionary communications for the aviation combat element of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. They are based at MCB Camp Foster and fall under the command of Marine Air Control Group 18 and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Although a subordinate squadron of MACG-18, MWCS-18 is considered a 1st MAW asset and therefore serves to augment the entire 1st Marine Air Wing with communications support.

Organization of the United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps is organized within the Department of the Navy, which is led by the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV). The most senior Marine commissioned officer is the Commandant of the Marine Corps, responsible for organizing, recruiting, training, and equipping the Marine Corps so that it is ready for operation under the command of the unified combatant commanders. The Marine Corps is organized into four principal subdivisions: Headquarters Marine Corps, the Operating Forces, the Supporting Establishment, and the Marine Forces Reserve.

Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 Military unit

Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 (MWCS-28) is a United States Marine Corps communications squadron. The squadron provides expeditionary communications for the aviation combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force. They are based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and fall under the command of Marine Air Control Group 28 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

In the United States Marine Corps, the aviation combat element or air combat element (ACE) is the aviation component of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). The ACE is task organized to perform the six functions of Marine Corps aviation in support of MAGTF operations. The ACE is led by an aviation headquarters which employs rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing aircraft in conjunction with command and control, maintenance and engineering units.

VMU-3 Military unit

Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) squadron in the United States Marine Corps that operates the RQ-21 Blackjack that consists of approximately 200 Marines. They are based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and its primary mission is to provide aerial surveillance for the III Marine Expeditionary Force. The unit also provides Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) to units participating in Mojave Viper, an exercise held several times a year in 29 Palms, CA. The squadron, nicknamed the Phantoms, was activated on September 12, 2008 and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 24 and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Africa Military unit

Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Africa (SP-MAGTF-CR-AF) is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force that is permanently based at Morón Air Base in Spain. SP-MAGTF-CR-AF reports to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa under United States Africa Command. It is a self-mobile, self-sustaining force of approximately 850 Marines and sailors, capable of responding to a range of crises. The unit is specifically trained to support U.S. and partner interests throughout the United States Africa Command area of responsibility, to include embassy reinforcement, support to noncombatant evacuation operations, tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. The unit also takes part in bilateral and multilateral training exercises with regional partners. It is commanded by a U.S. Marine colonel (O-6).

Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command Military unit

Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command (SP-MAGTF-CR-CC) is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force that is based at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates  public domain material from websites or documents ofthe United States Marine Corps .
  1. ↑ "Status of Forces - July-September 1971" (PDF). United States Marine Corps History Division. United States Marine Corps. 7 July 1971. p. 52. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.