Aviation combat element

In the United States Marine Corps, the aviation combat element or air combat element (ACE) is the aviation component of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). The ACE is task organized to perform the six functions of Marine Corps aviation in support of MAGTF operations. The ACE is led by an aviation headquarters which employs rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing aircraft in conjunction with command and control, maintenance and engineering units. [1]

Role within the MAGTF

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The majority of aircraft usage within the MAGTF is for close air support or transport for the ground combat element (GCE) or logistics combat element (LCE), however, other specialized missions are available. The six main functions include: assault support, anti-air warfare, offensive air support, electronic warfare, control of aircraft and missiles, and aerial reconnaissance.[2]

The aviation combat element (ACE), which contributes the air power to the MAGTF, includes all aircraft (fixed wing, helicopters, tiltrotor, and UAV) and aviation support units. The units are organized into detachments, squadrons, groups, and wings, except for low altitude air defense units, which are organized into platoons, detachments, batteries, and battalions. These units include pilots, flight officers, enlisted aircrewmen, aviation logistics (aircraft maintenance, aviation electronics, aviation ordnance, and aviation supply) and Navy aviation medical and chaplain's corps personnel, as well as ground-based air defense units, and those units necessary for command and control (management and planning for manpower, intelligence, operations and training, and logistics functions), aviation command and control (tactical air command, air defense control, air support control, and air traffic control), communications, and aviation ground support (e.g., airfield services, bulk fuels/aircraft refueling, crash rescue, engineer construction and utilities support, EOD, motor transport, ground equipment supply and maintenance, local security/law enforcement, and the wing band).

ACE Organization and size

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The size of the ACE varies in proportion to the size of the MAGTF. A Marine Expeditionary Force has a Marine Aircraft Wing or MAW. A Marine Expeditionary Brigade holds a Marine Aircraft Group or MAG, reinforced with a variety of aircraft squadrons and support personnel. The various Marine Expeditionary Units command a reinforced squadron, with various types of aircraft mixed into a single unit (known as a composite squadron). Generally, MEF postings are permanent, while MEBs and MEUs rotate their ACE, GCE, and LCE twice annually. 1st and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wings are unique in that they are subordinate to III MEF and I MEF, respectively, while all other equivalent units numerical designators match the MEF to which attached.

Hierarchy of Marine Aviation units

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Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes
Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1   America's Finest [3]
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12   Marauders [4]
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121   Green Knights [5]
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242   Bats [6]
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152   Sumos [7]
Marine Wing Support Squadron 171   The Sentinels [8]
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24   Warriors [9]
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268   Red Dragons [10]
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363   Lucky Red Lions [11]
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 153   Hercules [12]
Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3   Phantoms [13]
Marine Wing Support Squadron 174   Gryphons [14]
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36   Bladerunner [15]
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262   Flying Tigers [16]
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265   Dragons [17]
UDP squadrons from II and III MEFs
Marine Wing Support Squadron 172   Firebirds [18]
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes
1st LAAD Battalion   Death from Below [19]
Marine Air Control Squadron 4   Vice Squad [20]
Marine Air Support Squadron 2   Pacific Vagabonds [21]
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18   Warriors [22]
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes
Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2   Snake Eyes
The Deuce
[23]
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14   Dragons [24]
Marine Attack Squadron 223   Bulldogs [25]
Marine Attack Squadron 231   Ace of Spades [26]
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252   Otis [27]
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542   Tigers [28]
Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Training Squadron 2   Night Owls [29]
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26   Patriots [30]
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162   Golden Eagles [31]
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204   Raptors [32]
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261   Raging Bulls [33]
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263   Thunder Chickens [34]
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266   Fighting Griffins [35]
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365   Blue Knights [36]
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29   Wolverines [37]
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167   Warriors [38]
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269   Gunrunners [39]
Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 302   Phoenix [40]
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461   Ironhorse [41]
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464   Condors [42]
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31   Stingers [43]
Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224   Bengals [44]
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312   Checkerboards [45]
Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501   Warlords [46]
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 533   Hawks [47]
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Notes
Marine Air Control Squadron 2   Eyes of the MAGTF [48]
Marine Air Support Squadron 1   Atlantic Nomads [49]
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28   Spartans [50]
2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion   Death from Below [51]
Marine Wing Support Squadron 271   Workhorse of the Wing [52]
Marine Wing Support Squadron 272   Untouchables [53]
Marine Wing Support Squadron 273   Sweathogs [54]
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname
Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3  
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11   Devilfish
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232   Red Devils
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311   Tomcats
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314   Black Knights
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323   Death Rattlers
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352   Raiders
Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 502   Flying Nightmares
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13   Black Widows
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122   Werewolves
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211   Wake Island Avengers
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214   Black Sheep
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225   Vikings
Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1   Watchdogs
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16 Forerunners
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161   Greyhawks
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163   Ridge Runners
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165   White Knights
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361   Flying Tigers
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 362   Ugly Angels
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462   Heavy Haulers
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465   Warhorse
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466   Wolfpack
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39   Hellhounds
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164   Knightriders
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169   Vipers
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267   Stingers
Marine Light Attack Training Squadron 303   Atlas
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364   Purple Foxes
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369   Gunfighters
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname
3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion   Stingers
Marine Air Control Squadron 1   Falconers
Marine Air Support Squadron 3   Blacklist
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38   Red Lightning
Marine Wing Support Squadron 371   Sand Sharks
Marine Wing Support Squadron 372   Diamondbacks
Marine Wing Support Squadron 373   Ace Support
Marine Wing Support Squadron 374   Rhinos
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname
4th Marine Aircraft Wing Training Support Group  
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 41   Desperados
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112   Cowboys
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234   Rangers
Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401   Snipers
Marine Fighter Training Squadron 402   Grim Reapers
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764   Moonlight
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 775   Coyote
Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4   Evil Eyes
Marine Wing Support Squadron 471  
Marine Wing Support Squadron 473  
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49   Magicians
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452   Yankees
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772   Hustler
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773   Red Dogs
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 774   Wild Goose
Marine Wing Support Squadron 472   Dragons
 
Squadron Name Insignia Nickname
Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 48  
Marine Air Control Squadron 24   Earthquake
Marine Air Support Squadron 6   Lighthouse
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 48   Roar

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "MAGTF Composition". www.candp.marines.mil. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  2. ^ "MAWTS-1 hones warfighting edge". Naval Aviation News. Archived from the original on 21 August 2007. Retrieved 1 April 2007.
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