Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38
Encyclopedia
Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38 (MTACS-38), is a United States Marine Corps
aviation command and control
unit that provides the Tactical Air Command Center (TACC) for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
(3rd MAW). The TACC is the senior agency in the Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) which serves as the operational command post for the commander of the aviation combat element
and his staff. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
, California and falls under the command of Marine Air Control Group 38
and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
air command and control agency integrating the six functions of Marine aviation within the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and providing the facilities, equipment and personnel for the aviation combat element
commander and battle staff to plan, supervise, coordinate and execute air operations.
. The squadron deployed to Saudi Arabia
in August 1990 in support of Operation Desert Shield which would transition to Operation Desert Storm in January of 1991. The squadron returned to MCAS El Toro in March 1991. Elements of the squadron deployed to Somalia
in December 1992 to support Operation Restore Hope. They remained there until February 1993. On 1 May 1993 the squadron was re-designated as ‘’Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38’’.
where they established the TACC at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base
. From there they supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq
by managing the assets of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing which was in support of I Marine Expeditionary Force. MTACS-38 subsequently deployed for year long tours in Iraq in 2004, 2006, and 2008 to Al Asad Air Base
in Al Anbar Province .
for the first time in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They supported combat operations in support of I MEF for a year while based at Camp Leatherneck
.
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...
aviation command and control
Command and Control (military)
Command and control, or C2, in a military organization can be defined as the exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commanding officer over assigned and attached forces in the accomplishment of the mission...
unit that provides the Tactical Air Command Center (TACC) for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
3rd 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...
(3rd MAW). The TACC is the senior agency in the Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) which serves as the operational command post for the commander of 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...
and his staff. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , formerly Naval Air Station Miramar is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is the aviation element of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force...
, California and falls under the command of Marine Air Control Group 38
Marine Air Control Group 38
Marine Air Control Group 38 is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar that is currently composed of 5 squadrons and 1 battalion that provide the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wings tactical headquarters, positive and procedural control to...
and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
Mission
To function as the senior Marine Air-Ground Task ForceMarine Air-Ground Task Force
The 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...
air command and control agency integrating the six functions of Marine aviation within the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and providing the facilities, equipment and personnel 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...
commander and battle staff to plan, supervise, coordinate and execute air operations.
Early years
Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron 38 was formed on 1 September 1967 at Marine Corps Air Station El ToroMarine Corps Air Station El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro was a United States Marine Corps Air Station located near Irvine, California.Before it was decommissioned in 1999, it was the home of Marine Corps aviation on the West Coast. Designated as a Master Jet Station, its four runways could handle the largest aircraft...
. The squadron deployed to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
in August 1990 in support of Operation Desert Shield which would transition to Operation Desert Storm in January of 1991. The squadron returned to MCAS El Toro in March 1991. Elements of the squadron deployed to Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
in December 1992 to support Operation Restore Hope. They remained there until February 1993. On 1 May 1993 the squadron was re-designated as ‘’Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38’’.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
In early 2003, MTACS-38 deployed 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...
where they established the TACC at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base
Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base
Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base is a Kuwait Air Force installation with part designated for operations by the U.S. Air Force and its allies.Sitting 75 miles south of the Iraqi border, the base has supported active duty Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve A-10 and F-16 fighter units, along...
. From there they supported 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...
by managing the assets of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing which was in support of I Marine Expeditionary Force. MTACS-38 subsequently deployed for year long tours in Iraq in 2004, 2006, and 2008 to Al Asad Air Base
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...
in Al Anbar Province .
Operation Enduring Freedom
In April 2010, MTACS-38 deployed to AfghanistanAfghanistan
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...
for the first time in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They supported combat operations in support of I MEF for a year while based at 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...
.
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 squadrons