Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA-122) is a United States Marine Corps fighter attack squadron flying the F-35B Lightning II. The squadron is based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, AZ and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG-13) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron nickname is the "Flying Leathernecks," and their traditional radio call sign is "Nikel". On 14 November 2017, VMFA-122 opened a new chapter of their history, transitioning from the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet to the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II and moving from MCAS Beaufort and MAG-31, 2nd MAW to MCAS Yuma and MAG-13, 3rd MAW.
The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps that serves as the Aviation Combat Element of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. The wing is headquartered at Camp Foster on the island of Okinawa, Japan. Activated in 1940, the wing has seen heavy combat operations during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing is the major east coast aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered in Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The Wing provides the aviation combat element for the II Marine Expeditionary Force.
The 3rd Marine Logistics Group is the Logistics Combat Element (LCE) for III Marine Expeditionary Force currently headquartered on Camp Kinser, Marine Corps Base Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan. 3rd MLG provides combat service support (CSS) to III MEF units above the organic capability. CSS is the essential capabilities, functions, activities, and tasks necessary to sustain all elements of operating forces in theater at all levels of war. Combat service support includes, but is not limited, to supply, maintenance, transportation, general engineering, health services, and other services required by aviation and ground combat forces to permit those units to accomplish their missions.
Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron 1 (VMAQT-1) was a United States Marine Corps electronic warfare training squadron consisting of EA-6B Prowler jets. The squadron was based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina and fell under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The VMAQT-1 logo was the Banshee, an Irish mythological figure foretelling death. Its motto was "Tairngreacht Bas," Gaelic for "Death Foretold."
Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) is an active air group of the United States Marine Corps, tasked with providing fighter and assault support aircraft. It is currently part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, itself an integral part of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, and based at MCAS Iwakuni in Japan.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 (VMFA-115) was a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron. Officially nicknamed the "Silver Eagles" and on occasion Joe's Jokers after their first commanding officer Major Joe Foss, the squadron was last based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina and fell under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron participated in combat operations during World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars and has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with a final deployment in 2008 to Al Asad Airbase in western Iraq. The Squadron radio callsign was "Blade".
In the United States Marine Corps, a Marine Air–Ground Task Force is 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:
A Marine air–ground task force with separate air ground headquarters is normally formed for combat operations and training exercises in which substantial combat forces of both Marine aviation and Marine ground units are included in the task organization of participating Marine forces.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121), also known as the "Green Knights", is a United States Marine Corps aircraft squadron operating the F-35B Lightning II. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Their tail code is VK and their radio call sign is "Combat".
Marine Air Support Squadron 2 (MASS-2), is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit that provides the Direct Air Support Center (DASC) for the III Marine Expeditionary Force. It is the oldest and most decorated aviation command and control unit in the Marine Corps.
Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the "Diamondbacks", the squadron is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It falls under the command of Marine Air Control Group 38 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and maintains a direct support relationship to Marine Aircraft Group 39.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 (VMFA-242) is a United States Marine Corps squadron flying F-35B Lightning II STOVL Stealth Fighter. The squadron, known as the "Bats", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. The radio callsign is "Profane".
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 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 was 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 12 (MALS-12) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the "Marauders", they fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni.
Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 18 (MTACS-18) was a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The squadron provided the 1st Marine Aircraft Wings tactical headquarters and command post while deployed. MTACS-18 fell under the command of Marine Air Control Group 18 (MACG-18) and 1st MAW. The squadron was decommissioned on 9 June 2021 as part of the service's Force Design 2030. Responsibility for establishing 1st MAW's TACC now resides with the MACG-18 headquarters.
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.
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.
Marine Air Control Squadron 8 (MACS-8) was a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control squadron. The squadron provided aerial surveillance and ground-controlled interception (GCI). Originally formed in World War II as Air Warning Squadron 18 (AWS-18), the squadron served as a training and replacement unit until it was decommissioned in April 1947 as part of the post war drawdown of forces. Reactivated in 1952 during the Korean War the squadron took part in numerous Far East deployments during the 1960s. Transferred to Japan in 1969, the squadron was decommissioned in 1971 as the last Marine Corps units were departing South Vietnam. They were last based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan and fell under the command of Marine Air Control Group 18 (MACG-18) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
Marine Air Traffic Control Units (MATCU) were United States Marine Corps air traffic control (ATC) detachments that provided continuous, all-weather, radar and non-radar, approach, departure, enroute, and tower ATC services at both garrison Marine Corps Air Stations and tactical airfields when deployed. MATCUs possessed Tactical air navigation systems (TACAN) and Ground-controlled approach (GCA) equipment which assisted Marine Corps, joint and coalition aircraft in conducting landings during inclement weather. During the Vietnam War, numerous MATCUs served throughout the I Corps Tactical region of South Vietnam supporting the III Marine Amphibious Force. Beginning in the mid-1970s, the Marine Corps decided to consolidate regionally aligned MATCUs into Marine Air Traffic Control Squadrons. The last reserve MATCU was decommissioned in 1980.
