Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38
A United States Marine Corps communications squadron that provides expeditionary communications for the aviation combat element of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, commonly known as MWCS-38, is a United States Marine Corps aviation-support unit headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California. It belongs to Marine Air Control Group 38, which is part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron's central role is to establish, operate, maintain, and protect expeditionary communications that enable the Aviation Combat Element of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force and support the Marine Air Command and Control System. The unit was commissioned on 1 September 1967 and initially assigned to Marine Wing Headquarters Group 3. On 1 July 1971, it received its present designation and moved under Marine Air Control Group 38. Its work has traditionally involved communications planning, tactical networks, voice and data services, radio and relay systems, circuit switching, and support to command-and-control organizations distributed across airfields and expeditionary operating locations. Rather than operating as a consumer-facing brand, MWCS-38 is a military formation whose identity is associated with deployable technical expertise and the continuity of aviation command networks in austere environments. During the 1970s and 1980s, the squadron supported recurring exercises and training events, including Palm Tree, Gallant Knight, Gallant Eagle, Weapons and Tactics Instructor Courses, Display Determination, Kernel Blitz, Freedom Banner, RIMPAC, Combined Arms Exercises, and Roving Sands. A major internal reorganization on 29 April 1987 created a headquarters element and two communications detachments. This structure expanded the squadron's ability to support an aviation combat element while also providing communications to two Marine Air-Ground Task Forces operating at the same time. MWCS-38 became heavily involved in expeditionary operations during and after the Gulf War. In August 1990, its command element and Detachment A deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Shield. The force was later reinforced by personnel from MWCS-18 and MWCS-28. At the height of Operation Desert Storm, the squadron supported multiple Marine air bases and several command, control, warning, logistics, refueling, and communications-relay sites. In late 1992, it deployed detachments in support of Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, contributing communications support to a Marine aviation combat element involved in a humanitarian-relief mission. The squadron returned to Southwest Asia in 2003 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. For approximately five years, a continuously deployed squadron element supported Marine aviation operations in Iraq. Its July 2008 deployment included the deactivation of the final Unit Level Circuit Switch in the Iraqi theater, as telephone services were transferred to commercial systems. In February 2009, MWCS-38 transferred communications control at Al Asad Airbase to 9th Communication Battalion as the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing reduced its presence in Iraq. From March 2010, the squadron deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Its work included installing communications infrastructure for a new flight line at Camp Leatherneck and supporting the transition of Kandahar Airfield communications services toward commercial provision. Detachment A returned in August 2012, marking the end of the squadron's Afghanistan presence described in the available unit history. Since 2011, MWCS-38 has also supported the aviation combat elements of the 11th, 13th, and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units, beginning with Operation Iron Fist. From 2013, it supplied detachment-sized support to Marine aviation forces in Bahrain and subsequently maintained continuing support for the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force–Crisis Response–Central Command, including deployments to Bahrain and Kuwait. The squadron combines these operational commitments with exercises and home-station preparation for future contingencies.
History
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 was commissioned on 1 September 1967 and assigned to Marine Wing Headquarters Group 3 of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. On 1 July 1971, it was redesignated Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 and assigned to Marine Air Control Group 38. Its mission was to provide the deployable communications needed by the aviation combat element of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force and to enable the Marine Air Command and Control System. In the 1970s and 1980s, MWCS-38's operational rhythm included major exercises and aviation training events such as Palm Tree, Gallant Knight, Gallant Eagle, Weapons and Tactics Instructor Courses, Display Determination, Kernel Blitz, Freedom Banner, RIMPAC, Combined Arms Exercises, and Roving Sands. On 29 April 1987, the squadron reorganized around a headquarters element and Detachments A and B. This arrangement allowed it to support an aviation combat element and two Marine Air-Ground Task Forces simultaneously, reflecting the Marine Corps requirement for distributed and scalable communications support. The squadron's first major post-Cold War deployment described in the available history came in August 1990, when its command element and Detachment A went to Southwest Asia for Operation Desert Shield. Reinforcements from MWCS-18 in Hawaii and MWCS-28 at New River, North Carolina, joined the effort as Marine aviation forces expanded. During Operation Desert Storm, MWCS-38 supported four Marine air bases, a Tactical Air Command Center, a Tactical Air Operations Center, an Early Warning Control center, an aviation logistics ship, two Forward Arming and Refueling Points, and two communications-relay sites. In December 1992, two detachments deployed to Somalia for Operation Restore Hope, providing communications support during a humanitarian-relief operation. In March 2003, MWCS-38 deployed again to Southwest Asia for Operation Iraqi Freedom. A continuously deployed squadron element supported the Marine aviation combat element and combat operations in Iraq for approximately five years. In July 2008, the squadron's last detachment-sized Iraq deployment completed the deactivation of the theater's final Unit Level Circuit Switch, a tactical telephone-switching system. Telephone services were transferred to commercial lines as the communications architecture changed. In February 2009, MWCS-38 relinquished communications control at Al Asad Airbase to 9th Communication Battalion while the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing reduced its Iraq footprint. The squadron deployed to Afghanistan in March 2010 for Operation Enduring Freedom. Over more than two years, it supported combat operations and installed communications architecture for a new flight line at Camp Leatherneck. It also contributed to the commercialization of Kandahar Airfield communications services. Detachment A returned in August 2012, ending the MWCS-38 presence in Afghanistan identified by the unit's published history. Beginning in October 2011, the squadron supported the aviation combat element of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit during Operation Iron Fist and continued support for the 11th, 13th, and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units. In March 2013, it provided detachment-minus support to MAG-50 in Bahrain. The squadron subsequently maintained continuous support for the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force–Crisis Response–Central Command through deployments to Bahrain and Kuwait, while continuing exercises and readiness training from its home station. These activities illustrate MWCS-38's enduring role as a scalable communications provider for Marine aviation formations, expeditionary task forces, and crisis-response operations.
- 2013
Central Command crisis-response support
[1]The squadron began detachment-sized support for Marine aviation forces in Bahrain and later maintained continuing support to the regional crisis-response task force, including deployments to Bahrain and Kuwait.
- 2011
Marine Expeditionary Unit support begins
[1]MWCS-38 began supporting the aviation combat elements of the 11th, 13th, and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units.
- 2010
Afghanistan deployment
[1]The squadron deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom and supported communications construction and operations at locations including Camp Leatherneck and Kandahar Airfield.
- 2008
Iraqi tactical circuit-switch transition
[1]MWCS-38 deactivated the final Unit Level Circuit Switch in the Iraqi theater as telephone services moved to commercial lines.
- 2003
Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment
[1]The squadron began a prolonged rotation of deployed communications support for Marine aviation operations in Iraq.
- 1992
Deployment for Operation Restore Hope
[1]Two operational detachments deployed to Somalia in support of a Marine aviation combat element participating in humanitarian relief.
- 1990
Deployment for Operation Desert Shield
[1]MWCS-38 deployed to Southwest Asia and expanded its communications support as Marine aviation forces assembled for the Gulf War.
- 1987
Headquarters-and-detachment reorganization
[1]The squadron reorganized into a headquarters element and Detachments A and B to expand simultaneous support capacity.
- 1971
Adoption of the MWCS-38 designation
[1]On 1 July 1971, the unit was redesignated Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 and assigned to Marine Air Control Group 38.
- 1967
Commissioning
[1]The unit was commissioned on 1 September 1967 and assigned to Marine Wing Headquarters Group 3, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
Products and positioning
A deployable Marine Corps aviation-support communications unit focused on resilient command, control, and information connectivity in expeditionary and combat environments.
Military communications service
Expeditionary communications support
MWCS-38 deploys personnel and equipment to establish communications for the Aviation Combat Element of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The service is designed for expeditionary conditions and can support command centers, air bases, forward sites, relay locations, and distributed aviation formations.
Command-and-control communications
Marine Air Command and Control System communications
The squadron enables communications links used by Marine aviation command-and-control organizations. Its support may include tactical voice and data connectivity, communications relays, switching, network infrastructure, and services required to connect aviation operations across geographically separated locations.
Expeditionary military detachment · 1987
Deployable communications detachments
The unit's headquarters-and-detachment structure allows it to tailor communications support to Marine Expeditionary Units, crisis-response task forces, aviation combat elements, and other deployed formations. Detachments can operate independently or as part of a larger communications architecture.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013SPMAGTF–Crisis Response–Central Command support
Bahrain · Kuwait · U.S. Central Command area
MWCS-38 provided detachment-sized communications support to Marine aviation and crisis-response forces in Bahrain and Kuwait while maintaining readiness through exercises at home.
Outcome. The published unit history describes this as a continuing support commitment.
- 2011Marine Expeditionary Unit support
Indo-Pacific region · Marine Expeditionary Unit deployments
MWCS-38 began supporting the aviation combat elements of the 11th, 13th, and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units, beginning with Operation Iron Fist.
Outcome. The squadron continued this recurring expeditionary support role.
- 2010Operation Enduring Freedom
Afghanistan
The squadron supported combat operations and communications construction, including a new flight-line architecture at Camp Leatherneck and the commercialization of Kandahar Airfield services.
Outcome. Detachment A returned in August 2012, ending the MWCS-38 Afghanistan presence described in the unit history.
- 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom
Iraq · Southwest Asia
A continuously deployed squadron element supported the Marine aviation combat element and combat operations in Iraq over an approximately five-year period.
Outcome. MWCS-38 continued communications support until the unit's Iraq mission was transferred during the drawdown.
- 1992Operation Restore Hope
Somalia
Two MWCS-38 detachments supported a Marine aviation combat element during the United States-led humanitarian-relief operation.
Outcome. The detachments supplied expeditionary communications during the Somalia relief mission.
- 1990Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm
Southwest Asia
MWCS-38 deployed with its command element and Detachment A, then expanded through augmentation from other communications squadrons. It supported Marine air bases and multiple aviation command, warning, logistics, refueling, and relay facilities.
Outcome. The squadron provided communications support through the Gulf War buildup and combat phase.
Brand decisions
2013
Continuing regional crisis-response communications supportStrategyBackground
Marine aviation forces required communications support for crisis-response missions in the U.S. Central Command area.
Action taken
MWCS-38 began providing detachment-sized support in Bahrain and subsequently supported the crisis-response task force through deployments to Bahrain and Kuwait.
Aftermath
The squadron continued combining overseas detachments with exercises and readiness preparation at its home station.
2008
Transition away from the final Iraqi Unit Level Circuit SwitchGeneration changeBackground
The Iraqi theater communications architecture was being moved from tactical telephone switching toward commercial telephone services.
Action taken
MWCS-38 deactivated the theater's last Unit Level Circuit Switch during its July 2008 deployment.
Aftermath
Telephone services in the theater were transferred to commercial lines, and communications control was later handed to 9th Communication Battalion as the Marine aviation footprint contracted.
1987
Reorganization into headquarters and detachmentsStrategyBackground
The squadron needed to provide communications support to an aviation combat element and two Marine Air-Ground Task Forces at the same time.
Action taken
On 29 April 1987, MWCS-38 reorganized into a headquarters element and Detachments A and B.
Aftermath
The new structure increased the squadron's ability to distribute communications support across simultaneous deployments.
Recent events
- 2013
MWCS-38 supports crisis-response forces in Bahrain and Kuwait[1]
Other
The squadron began providing detachment-sized communications support for Marine aviation forces and later maintained continuing support to the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force–Crisis Response–Central Command.
- 2011
MWCS-38 begins recurring Marine Expeditionary Unit support[1]
Other
The squadron began supporting the aviation combat elements of the 11th, 13th, and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units, starting with Operation Iron Fist.
- 2010
MWCS-38 supports Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan[1]
Other
The squadron deployed to Afghanistan, where it helped build communications for a new Camp Leatherneck flight line and supported commercialization of Kandahar Airfield services.
- 2008
Final Iraqi Unit Level Circuit Switch is deactivated[1]
Product generation · Other
During its final detachment-sized Iraq deployment, MWCS-38 completed the shutdown of the theater's last Unit Level Circuit Switch as telephone services transitioned to commercial lines.
- 2003
MWCS-38 conducts extended Iraq deployment[1]
Other
A continuously deployed squadron element supported the Aviation Combat Element and combat operations in Iraq for roughly five years.
- 1992
MWCS-38 supports Operation Restore Hope[1]
Other
Two operational detachments deployed to Somalia to provide communications support to a Marine aviation combat element during the humanitarian-relief operation.
- 1991
MWCS-38 supports Operation Desert Storm communications[1]
Other
At the operation's peak, the squadron supported communications across Marine air bases, command centers, warning facilities, logistics and refueling locations, and relay sites.
- 1990
MWCS-38 deploys in support of Operation Desert Shield[1]
Other
The squadron command element and Detachment A deployed to Southwest Asia and were later reinforced to support expanding Marine aviation operations.
Sources2 sources
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