Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28
Encyclopedia
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
.
(MEF), including the phased deployment element of tasked-organized elements thereof.
On 21 September 1994 the squadron was again reorganized. This time the organization consisted of a headquarters and two Detachments collocated at MCAS Cherry Point.
during the war. MWCS-28’s mission was to establish three crucial communication nodes in Iraq in support of 3d MAW command and control requirements.
During February 2004, Bravo Company, reinforced with a maintenance platoon from H&S Company, deployed to Camp Taqaddum, Iraq again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Attached to 3d Marine Air Wing, Bravo Company provided communications support for the Marine Air Control Group agencies and numerous flying squadrons located at Camp Taqaddum as well as providing communications detachments to two Forward Operating Bases.
In January 2005 MWCS-28 again deployed to Al Asad
, Iraq. MWCS-28 was tasked to provide communications for all of the 2nd Marine Air Wing's aviation command and control agencies.
In February 2011 MWCS-28 deployed to Camp Leatherneck
, Afghanistan. MWCS-28 was tasked to provide comminications for all of the 2nd Marine Air Wing's aviation command and control Squadrons.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
communications squadron. The squadron provides expeditionary communications for the aviation combat element
Aviation combat element
In the United States Marine Corps, the aviation combat element or air combat element is the air arm of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force . It provides rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing aircraft, support equipment, pilots, maintenance personnel, as well as command and control assets to the...
of the II Marine Expeditionary Force. They are based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point or MCAS Cherry Point is a United States Marine Corps airfield located in Havelock, North Carolina, USA, in the eastern part of the state...
and fall under the command of Marine Air Control Group 28
Marine Air Control Group 28
Marine Air Control Group 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 5 squadrons and a battalion that provide the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing with airspace coordination, air control, immediate air...
and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing is the major east coast aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps and is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina...
.
Mission
Provide expeditionary communications for the aviation combat element (ACE) of a Marine Expeditionary ForceMarine Expeditionary Force
A Marine Expeditionary Force or MEF is the largest type of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force...
(MEF), including the phased deployment element of tasked-organized elements thereof.
Tasks
- Provide for the effective command of subordinate elements.
- Assist in the systems planning and engineering of ACE communications; and install, operate, and maintain expeditionary communications for command and control of the MEF ACE.
- Provide operational System Control Centers, as required, to coordinate communication functions internally and externally to the ACE.
- Provide calibration and repair facility for all ground common Test Measurement Diagnostic Equipment (TMDE) in the Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW).
- Provide maintenance support for Ground Common Communications Equipment in the MAW.
- Provide the digital backbone communications support for the ACE Command Element (CE), forward operating bases, and Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) agencies for up to two airfields per detachment.
- Provide tactical, automated switching, and telephone services for the ACE CE, and Tactical Air Command Center (TACC).
- Provide electronic message distribution for the ACE CE, primary MACCS agencies, and tenant units.
- Provide external, single-channel radio and radio retransmission communications support for ACE operations, as required.
- Provide deployed Wide Area Network, and deployed Local Area Network server support for the ACE CE, and primary MACCS agencies.
- Provide the Support Cryptographic Site (SCS), for all Ground Common and MACCS assigned Communication Security Equipment within the ACE.
- Plan and coordinate individual and unit training, as required to qualify subordinate detachments for tactical deployment and combat operations.
Early years
On 1 September 1967 Marine Wing Communications Squadron 2 was activated as a subordinate squadron of Marine Wing Headquarters Group 2. The squadron was redesignated Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 and was assigned to Marine Air Control Group 28 on 1 July 1972.On 21 September 1994 the squadron was again reorganized. This time the organization consisted of a headquarters and two Detachments collocated at MCAS Cherry Point.
Global War on Terror
In February, 2003, MWCS-28 deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where they provided communications supporting the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
The 3d Marine Aircraft Wing is the major west coast aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps. It is headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and provides the aviation combat element for I Marine Expeditionary Force...
during the war. MWCS-28’s mission was to establish three crucial communication nodes in Iraq in support of 3d MAW command and control requirements.
During February 2004, Bravo Company, reinforced with a maintenance platoon from H&S Company, deployed to Camp Taqaddum, Iraq again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Attached to 3d Marine Air Wing, Bravo Company provided communications support for the Marine Air Control Group agencies and numerous flying squadrons located at Camp Taqaddum as well as providing communications detachments to two Forward Operating Bases.
In January 2005 MWCS-28 again deployed to Al Asad
Al Asad
Al Asad Airbase is the second largest US military airbase in Iraq and is located in the largely Sunni western Province of Iraq Al Anbar. It was formerly the home of the II Marine Expeditionary Force until January 2010...
, Iraq. MWCS-28 was tasked to provide communications for all of the 2nd Marine Air Wing's aviation command and control agencies.
In February 2011 MWCS-28 deployed to Camp Leatherneck
Camp Leatherneck
Camp Leatherneck is a 1,600 acre United States Marine Corps base located in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade initially developed Camp Leatherneck in 2008 in preparation of its forces deploying to Afghanistan. The forward element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force...
, Afghanistan. MWCS-28 was tasked to provide comminications for all of the 2nd Marine Air Wing's aviation command and control Squadrons.
See also
- United States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures....
- Organization of the United States Marine CorpsOrganization of the United States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is organized within the Department of the Navy, which is led by the Secretary of the Navy . The most senior Marine officer is the Commandant of the Marine Corps, responsible for organizing, recruiting, training, and equipping the Marine Corps so that it is ready for...
- List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units