In the United States Marine Corps, the aviation combat element or air combat element (ACE) is the air arm of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). It provides rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing aircraft, support equipment, pilots, maintenance personnel, as well as command and control assets to the commander.[1]
Role within the MAGTF[]
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]
Organization[]
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[]
1st Marine Aircraft Wing[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Aircraft Group 12[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Aircraft Group 24[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Aircraft Group 36[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Air Control Group 18[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Wing Support Group 17[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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2nd Marine Aircraft Wing[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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The Deuce |
Marine Aircraft Group 14[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Aircraft Group 26[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Aircraft Group 29[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Aircraft Group 31[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Air Control Group 28[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Wing Support Group 27[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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3rd Marine Aircraft Wing[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Aircraft Group 11[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Aircraft Group 13[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Aircraft Group 16[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Aircraft Group 39[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Air Control Group 38[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Wing Support Group 37[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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4th Marine Aircraft Wing[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Aircraft Group 41[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Aircraft Group 49[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Air Control Group 48[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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Marine Wing Support Group 47[]
Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
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See also[]
- Marine Air-Ground Task Force
- United States Marine Corps Aviation
- List of United States Marine Corps aircraft wings
- List of United States Marine Corps aircraft groups
- List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
- List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
- List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units
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References[]
- ↑ Marine Aviation homepage
- ↑ "MAWTS-1 hones warfighting edge". Naval Aviation News. Archived from the original on 2007-08-21. http://web.archive.org/web/20070821151111/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IAX/is_6_84/ai_94262327. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
The original article can be found at Aviation combat element and the edit history here.