Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18 (MWCS-18) is a United States Marine Corps

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 III Marine Expeditionary Force

III Marine Expeditionary Force

The III Marine Expeditionary Force is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps that is forward-deployed and able to deploy rapidly and conduct operations across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to amphibious assault and high intensity combat. III...

. They are based at MCB Camp Foster

Camp Foster

Camp Foster, formerly known as Camp Zukeran, is a United States Marine Corps camp located in Ginowan City on the Japanese prefecture island of Okinawa. It is part of the Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler complex, and named after the Medal of Honor recipient PFC William A...

 and fall under the command of Marine Air Control Group 18

Marine Air Control Group 18

Marine Air Control Group 18 is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma that is currently composed of 4 squadrons, 1 battery and 1 administrative detachment that provide the 1st Marine Aircraft Wings tactical headquarters and...

 and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing

1st Marine Aircraft Wing

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...

. 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.

Mission

Provide expeditionary communications for the deployed 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...

 (ACE) and Command Element (CE) of the Marine Expeditionary Force

Marine Expeditionary Force

A Marine Expeditionary Force or MEF is the largest type of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force...

 (MEF) and its supporting Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) including the phased deployment of task-organized elements thereof.

Components

~Det. A

• Wire – Telephone Switching and Cabling
• TechCon- Multiplexing, Operator Maintainers
• Terrestrial- Ground Communications i.e. AN/TRC-170/MRC-142
• CDP- Communications Data Platoon. (Satellite Wide Area Network (SWAN))
• Transmissions- Radio and Satellite Communications
• CEM- Communications Equipment Repairs
• MT/UT- Motor Transport i.e. vehicular maintenance/Utilities (i.e. power, heating, and cooling)
• HQ- Administration, Training and Operations

~Headquarters and Support

• Supply- Issue and de-issue supplies
• 'S' Shops- Maintain Operations

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 collabration 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.

History

Marine Wing Communication Squadron 18 (MWCS-18) was activated 1 September 1967 at Danang, Republic of Vietnam, as Marine Wing Communications Squadron 1 (MWCS-1), Marine Wing Headquarters Group 1, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing..

See also

• United States Marine Corps Aviation
  United States Marine Corps Aviation
  United 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 Corps
  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 . 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