Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28

Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 (MWCS-28) is a United States Marine Corps communications squadron. The squadron provides expeditionary communications for the aviation combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force. They are based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and fall under the command of Marine Air Control Group 28 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Mission
Provide expeditionary communications for the aviation combat element (ACE) of a Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), including the phased deployment element of tasked-organized elements thereof.

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 calibration 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.

Early years
On 1 September 1967 Marine Wing Communications Squadron 2 was activated as a subordinate squadron of Marine Wing Headquarters Group 2. The squadron was redesignated Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 and was assigned to Marine Air Control Group 28 on 1 July 1972.

On 21 September 1994 the squadron was again reorganized. This time the organization consisted of a headquarters and two Detachments collocated at MCAS Cherry Point.

Global War on Terror
In February, 2003, MWCS-28 deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where they provided communications supporting the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing during the war. MWCS-28’s mission was to establish three crucial communication nodes in Iraq in support of 3d MAW command and control requirements.

During February 2004, Bravo Company, reinforced with a maintenance platoon from H&S Company, deployed to Camp Taqaddum, Iraq again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Attached to 3d Marine Air Wing, Bravo Company provided communications support for the Marine Air Control Group agencies and numerous flying squadrons located at Camp Taqaddum as well as providing communications detachments to two Forward Operating Bases.

In January 2005 MWCS-28 again deployed to Al Asad, Iraq. MWCS-28 was tasked to provide communications for all of the 2nd Marine Air Wing's aviation command and control agencies.

In February 2011 MWCS-28 deployed to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. MWCS-28 was tasked to provide communications for all of the 2nd Marine Air Wing's aviation command and control Squadrons.