Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38

Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 (MWCS-38) is a United States Marine Corps communications squadron. The squadron provides expeditionary communications for the aviation combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force. They are based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and fall under the command of Marine Air Control Group 38 and the 3rd 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.

Subordinate units

 * Headquarters Element
 * Alpha Detachment
 * Bravo Detachment

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.

History
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 3 was activated on 1 September 1967 as part of Marine Wing Headquarters Group 3. The Squadron was redesignated to its current name on 1 July 1971. From August 1990 until March 1991 the squadron participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Elements of the squadron participated in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia from December 1992 through March 1993. .