squadronsAircraft Units
squadrons
Equivalent to a battalion
Made up of
24aircraft
Marine aviation squadrons are about the size equivalent of a battalion and are organized by aircraft type – fixed-wing aircraft, tiltrotor aircraft and helicopters - although there are nonflying squadrons, too, such as those for logistics. Squadrons are expected to execute a list of specified mission-essential tasks. For example, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 is based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, as the first forward-deployed permanent F-35B Lightning II squadron.
GroupsAircraft Units
groups
Equivalent to a regiment
Made up of
3squadrons
Three or more squadrons form a group, which is equivalent in size to a regiment. There are several kinds of groups: aircraft, air control, training support and wing support. Aircraft groups are made up of the aircraft themselves and the people who support them to fly; air control groups coordinate all aspects of air command and air defense. Support groups provide administrative duties, ceremonial support and special-detail advisors.
WingsAircraft Units
wings
Equivalent to a division
Made up of
3groups
There are currently four active Marine aircraft wings. The 1st MAW is part of III MEF and has been a key player in providing humanitarian aid to disaster areas in the Indo-Pacific. The 2nd MAW has deployed in support of noncombat operations in Iraq in the 1990s, as well as combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan throughout this century. The 3rd MAW is deployed in support of operations in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. The 4th MAW is a subordinate command of the Marine Corps Reserve.
squadrons
Equivalent to a battalion
Made up of
24aircraft
Marine aviation squadrons are about the size equivalent of a battalion and are organized by aircraft type – fixed-wing aircraft, tiltrotor aircraft and helicopters - although there are nonflying squadrons, too, such as those for logistics. Squadrons are expected to execute a list of specified mission-essential tasks. For example, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 is based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, as the first forward-deployed permanent F-35B Lightning II squadron.
groups
Equivalent to a regiment
Made up of
3squadrons
Three or more squadrons form a group, which is equivalent in size to a regiment. There are several kinds of groups: aircraft, air control, training support and wing support. Aircraft groups are made up of the aircraft themselves and the people who support them to fly; air control groups coordinate all aspects of air command and air defense. Support groups provide administrative duties, ceremonial support and special-detail advisors.
wings
Equivalent to a division
Made up of
3groups
There are currently four active Marine aircraft wings. The 1st MAW is part of III MEF and has been a key player in providing humanitarian aid to disaster areas in the Indo-Pacific. The 2nd MAW has deployed in support of noncombat operations in Iraq in the 1990s, as well as combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan throughout this century. The 3rd MAW is deployed in support of operations in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. The 4th MAW is a subordinate command of the Marine Corps Reserve.
