Marine Wing Support Squadron 274
Encyclopedia
The Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 (MWSS 274) is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps
. They are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
, North Carolina
. The squadron falls under the command of Marine Wing Support Group 27
and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
.
The Squadron deployed to Southwest Asia in support of aviation operations during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm where it distinguished itself as a combat ready MWSS.
In January 1991, while deployed to Southwest Asia, the Squadron was required to shift its focus from the Gulf War to a Noncombatant Evacuation Operation, Operation Eastern Exit
in Somalia. Supporting the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
MWSS 274 found itself deployed to Current Island, Bahamas in support of hurricane relief operations in the wake of Hurricane Andrew
.
, flying into Ali Al Saleem Airbase. In less than a month these Marines would be providing support to an airstrip in Iraq
as part of the 2003 invasion of Iraq
.
Shortly after the merger of MWSS-271 and 274 in 2003, due to a lack of available personnel within the Marine Logistics Brigade, MWSS-274 was redisignated as MEU Service Support Group 22 (MSSG-22) as part of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit
(22nd MEU). This was done because many of the military occupational specialties of the Marines in a MWSS are identical to that of the Logistics Combat Element
(LCE) required by a MSSG. Departing for sea in 2004, MWSS-274, as part of the 22nd MEU, made Marine Corps history and set a new precedent for ship to shore operations as the unit moved inland to conduct sustained combat operations in Afghanistan
as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
From February to September 2006 and for the first time in over 10 years MWSS-274 deployed to Al Asad Airbase in Iraq as a complete squadron under her own guidon to conduct Aviation Ground Combat Support.
In December 2007 the squadron was redesignated from a support squadron to a security battalion. In February 2008 they again deployed to Al Asad, Iraq however this time as a security force.
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...
. They are based out of 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...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The squadron falls under the command of Marine Wing Support Group 27
Marine Wing Support Group 27
Marine Wing Support Group 27 is a United States Marine Corps aviation combat service support unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point that is currently composed of 4 squadrons, that provide the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and II Marine Expeditionary Force with complete airfield operation...
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 all essential Aviation Ground Support requirements to a designated fixed-wing component of an Aviation Combat Element (ACE) and all supporting or attached elements of the Marine Air Control Group.The Gulf War & the 1990s
Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 (MWSS 274) was activated on 2 June 1986 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina as part of a reorganization of Aviation Ground Support within all Marine Aircraft Wings. The reorganization entailed the consolidation of personnel and equipment from Marine Air Base Squadron 32 (MABS 32), Wing Engineer Squadron 27 (WES 27) and Wing Transportation Squadron 27 (WTS 27) after their deactivation on 2 June 1986.The Squadron deployed to Southwest Asia in support of aviation operations during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm where it distinguished itself as a combat ready MWSS.
In January 1991, while deployed to Southwest Asia, the Squadron was required to shift its focus from the Gulf War to a Noncombatant Evacuation Operation, Operation Eastern Exit
Operation Eastern Exit
Operation Eastern Exit was the codename given to the military evacuation of the United States embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia. On 1 January 1991, after increasing violence in Mogadishu during the Somali Civil War, James Keough Bishop, the then US ambassador to Somalia, requested military assistance...
in Somalia. Supporting the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
MWSS 274 found itself deployed to Current Island, Bahamas in support of hurricane relief operations in the wake of Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew was the third Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the United States, after the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 and Hurricane Camille in 1969. Andrew was the first named storm and only major hurricane of the otherwise inactive 1992 Atlantic hurricane season...
.
Global War on Terror
In January 2003 many of the deployable Marines of MWSS-274 were transferred to sister squadron MWSS-271, also based at MCAS Cherry Point. On 12 February 2003 the Marines of 271 and 274 shipped to KuwaitKuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, flying into Ali Al Saleem Airbase. In less than a month these Marines would be providing support to an airstrip in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
as part of the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
.
22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel...
(22nd MEU). This was done because many of the military occupational specialties of the Marines in a MWSS are identical to that of the Logistics Combat Element
Logistics Combat Element
In the United States Marine Corps, the Logistics Combat Element , formerly combat service support element, is the portion of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force responsible with providing logistical support...
(LCE) required by a MSSG. Departing for sea in 2004, MWSS-274, as part of the 22nd MEU, made Marine Corps history and set a new precedent for ship to shore operations as the unit moved inland to conduct sustained combat operations in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
From February to September 2006 and for the first time in over 10 years MWSS-274 deployed to Al Asad Airbase in Iraq as a complete squadron under her own guidon to conduct Aviation Ground Combat Support.
In December 2007 the squadron was redesignated from a support squadron to a security battalion. In February 2008 they again deployed to Al Asad, Iraq however this time as a security force.
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