Marine Wing Support Squadron 272

Marine Wing Support Squadron 272
MWSS-272 (The Untouchables) insignia
Active	6 June 1986 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Aviation ground support squadron
Part of	Marine Aircraft Group 26 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Air Station New River
Nickname(s)	Untouchables
Engagements	Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom * 2003 invasion of Iraq
Commanders
Commanding Officer	LtCol Patrizia M. Dienhart-Stabile
Executive Officer	Maj Richard P. Ayers
Sergeant Major	SgtMaj Gregory N. Mitchell

Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 (MWSS 272) is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are based out of Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. The squadron, nicknamed "The Untouchables," falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 26 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Mission

Provide all essential Aviation Ground Support (AGS) requirements to a designated rotary-wing component of an Aviation Combat Element (ACE) including all supporting or attached elements of the Marine Air Control Group.

When tasked with operating an airfield the squadron must conduct all aviation and ground refueling, aircraft recovery and firefighting, expeditionary airfield services, explosive ordnance disposal and weather services.

When tasked with supporting airfield functions the squadron provides essential engineer services; field messing facilities; internal airfield communications; individual and unit training; motor transport support; nuclear, chemical and biological defense; routine and emergency sick call and aviation medicine; security and law enforcement; and an Airbase Commandant. The Squadron is the enabling organization for the employment of Marine Aviation ashore

Subordinate units

Headquarters & Services Company
Airfield Operations Company
Engineer Company
Motor Transportation Company

History

Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 was activated on 6 June 1986 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. MWSS-272 was organized from the assets of Marine Air Base Squadron 26, Marine Air Base Squadron 29 and Detachment "A", Marine Wing Support Group 27, which were deactivated on 5 June 1986.

Global War on Terror

Marines from the MWSS 272 prepare to fire during training on the Enhanced Marksmanship Program range, 7–13 April 2005.
Photo credit: LCpl Brandon M. Gale

In late 2001, MWSS-272 augmented several Marine Expeditionary Units in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

MWSS-272 deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in February 2003 and remained there until June 2003. MWSS-272 was responsible for providing aviation ground support to three Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) at Al Jabr, Ali Al Salem, and Joe Foss. FOB Joe Foss was the largest expeditionary airfield built since World War II, and it was vitally important to air assault and medevac operations during the war.

In 2004, MWSS-272 augmented both MWSS-271 and MWSS-273 with personnel for their AGS mission in Iraq again as well as providing personnel to support operations for OEF in the Horn of Africa. In August 2005 the Squadron deployed to Al Asad Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and provided aviation ground support for the entire airbase at Al Asad as well as FOB Al Qaim.

The Squadron deployed to Afghanistan in 2011 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, again providing aviation ground support at various locations across Helmand Province.

On 29 February 2012, operational control of MWSS-272 transferred from Marine Wing Support Group 27 to Marine Aircraft Group 26, in advance of the deactivation of MWSG-27 during May, 2012. As a result of this permanent change, and to reflect the all-MV22 type/model/series make-up of MAG-26, the Squadron patch was redesigned to incorporate elements that reflect its mission of expeditionary airfield construction and aviation ground support. The elements are a M970 refueling truck and a Medium Crawler Tractor bulldozer, at the end of an AM-2 airfield matting runway. An Osprey tiltrotor aircraft now dominates the top half of the patch, included to reflect the airframe flown by MWSS-272's sister squadrons of MAG-26.

External links

MWSS-272's official website

United States Marine Corps

Leadership	Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Marine Corps generals United States Congress House Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Senate Subcommittee on Seapower

Major commands	Organization of the Marine Corps Headquarters Marine Corps Marine Forces Command II Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Pacific I Marine Expeditionary Force III Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Reserve Fleet Marine Force Atlantic Pacific

Structure	Marine Air-Ground Task Force Bases Battalions Regiments Brigades Divisions MEF/Corps Marine aviation Marine expeditionary unit Special Operations Marine Raider Regiment Recon Force Division

Personnel and training	Personnel Rank insignia MOS Notable Marines Historical Marines Criminal Investigation Division Judge Advocate Division Chaplain of the Marine Corps Hispanic Marines Associated organizations Training Recruit Training School of Infantry Officer Candidates School The Basic School Martial Arts Program

Uniforms and equipment	Uniforms Awards Badges Weapons Vehicles and aircraft Individual equipment

History and traditions	History Culture Acronyms and terms Birthday Ball Eagle, Globe, and Anchor Marine Band Drum and Bugle Corps Service Numbers Marine Corps War Memorial Flag Marine One Marines' Hymn National Museum Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Rifleman's Creed Semper Fidelis Silent Drill Platoon History of Hispanics in the USMC Toys for Tots

Portal:United States Marine Corps Category:United States Marine Corps

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing

Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 2nd MAW Band

MAG-14	MALS-14 MWSS-271 VMAQT-1 VMAQ-2 VMAQ-3 VMAQ-4 VMAT-203 VMA-223 VMA-231 VMGR-252 VMA-542

MAG-26	MALS-26 MWSS-272 VMM-162 VMMT-204 VMM-261 VMM-263 VMM-264 VMM-266 VMM-365

MAG-29	MALS-29 MWSS-274 HMLA-167 HMLA-269 HMHT-302 HMH-366 HMH-461 HMH-464 HMLA-467

MAG-31	MALS-31 MWSS-273 VMFA-115 VMFA-122 VMFA(AW)-224 VMFA-251 VMFA-312 VMFAT-501 VMFA(AW)-533

MACG-28	MTACS-28 MACS-2 MASS-1 MWCS-28 2nd LAAD VMU-2

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