Aviation combat element
In the United States Marine Corps, the aviation combat element or air combat element is the aviation component of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The ACE is task organized to perform the six functions of Marine Corps aviation in support of MAGTF operations. The ACE is led by an aviation headquarters which employs rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing aircraft in conjunction with command and control, maintenance and engineering units.
Role within the MAGTF
The majority of aircraft usage within the MAGTF is for close air support or transport for the ground combat element or logistics combat element, however, other specialized missions are available. The six main functions include: assault support, anti-air warfare, offensive air support, electronic warfare, control of aircraft and missiles, and aerial reconnaissance.The aviation combat element, which contributes the air power to the MAGTF, includes all aircraft and aviation support units. The units are organized into detachments, squadrons, groups, and wings, except for low-altitude air defense units, which are organized into platoons, detachments, batteries, and battalions. These units include pilots, flight officers, enlisted aircrewmen, aviation logistics and Navy aviation medical and chaplain's corps personnel, as well as ground-based air defense units, and those units necessary for command and control, aviation command and control, communications, and aviation ground support.
ACE Organization and size
The size of the ACE varies in proportion to the size of the MAGTF. A Marine Expeditionary Force has a Marine Aircraft Wing or MAW. A Marine Expeditionary Brigade holds a Marine Aircraft Group or MAG, reinforced with a variety of aircraft squadrons and support personnel. The various Marine Expeditionary Units command a reinforced squadron, with various types of aircraft mixed into a single unit.Generally, MEF postings are permanent, while MEBs and MEUs rotate their ACE, GCE, and LCE twice annually. 1st and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wings are unique in that they are subordinate to III MEF and I MEF, respectively, while all other equivalent units numerical designators match the MEF to which attached.
Hierarchy of Marine Aviation units
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname | Notes |
| Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1 | America's Finest |
[Marine Aircraft Group 12]
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname | Notes |
| Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 | Marauders | ||
| Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 | Green Knights | ||
| Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 | Bats | ||
| Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 | Sumos | ||
| Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 | The Sentinels |
[Marine Aircraft Group 24]
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname | Notes |
| Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24 | Warriors | ||
| Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 | Red Dragons | ||
| Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 | Lucky Red Lions | ||
| Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 153 | Hercules | ||
| Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 | Phantoms | ||
| Marine Wing Support Squadron 174 | Gryphons |
[Marine Air Control Group 18]
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname | Notes |
| 1st LAAD Battalion | Death from Below | ||
| Marine Air Control Squadron 4 | Vice Squad | ||
| Marine Air Support Squadron 2 | Pacific Vagabonds | ||
| Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18 | Warriors |
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname | Notes |
| Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 | Snake Eyes The Deuce |
[Marine Aircraft Group 14]
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname | Notes |
| Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14 | Dragons | ||
| Marine Attack Squadron 223 | Bulldogs | ||
| Marine Attack Squadron 231 | Ace of Spades | ||
| Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 | Otis | ||
| Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542 | Tigers | ||
| Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Training Squadron 2 | Night Owls |
[Marine Aircraft Group 26]
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname | Notes |
| Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 | Patriots | ||
| Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 | Golden Eagles | ||
| Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204 | Raptors | ||
| Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 | Raging Bulls | ||
| Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 | Thunder Chickens | ||
| Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 | Fighting Griffins | ||
| Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 | Blue Knights |
[Marine Aircraft Group 29]
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname | Notes |
| Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29 | Wolverines | ||
| Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 | Warriors | ||
| Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 | Gunrunners | ||
| Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 302 | Phoenix | ||
| Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 | Ironhorse | ||
| Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 | Condors |
[Marine Aircraft Group 31]
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname | Notes |
| Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 | Stingers | ||
| Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 | Bengals | ||
| Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 | Checkerboards | ||
| Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 | Warlords | ||
| Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 533 | Hawks |
[Marine Air Control Group 28]
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname | Notes |
| Marine Air Control Squadron 2 | Eyes of the MAGTF | ||
| Marine Air Support Squadron 1 | Atlantic Nomads | ||
| Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 | Spartans | ||
| 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion | Death from Below | ||
| Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 | Workhorse of the Wing | ||
| Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 | Untouchables | ||
| Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 | Sweathogs |
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
| Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 |
[Marine Aircraft Group 11]
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
| Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11 | Devilfish | |
| Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 | Red Devils | |
| Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311 | Tomcats | |
| Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 | Black Knights | |
| Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 | Death Rattlers | |
| Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 | Raiders | |
| Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 502 | Flying Nightmares |
[Marine Aircraft Group 13]
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
| Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 | Black Widows | |
| Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 | Werewolves | |
| Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 | Wake Island Avengers | |
| Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214 | Black Sheep | |
| Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 | Vikings | |
| Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 | Watchdogs |
[Marine Aircraft Group 16]
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
| Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16 | Forerunners | |
| Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 | Greyhawks | |
| Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 | Ridge Runners | |
| Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165 | White Knights | |
| Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 | Flying Tigers | |
| Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 362 | Ugly Angels | |
| Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 | Heavy Haulers | |
| Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 | Warhorse | |
| Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 | Wolfpack |
[Marine Aircraft Group 39]
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
| Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39 | Hellhounds | |
| Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 | Knightriders | |
| Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 | Vipers | |
| Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 | Stingers | |
| Marine Light Attack Training Squadron 303 | Atlas | |
| Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 | Purple Foxes | |
| Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 | Gunfighters |
[Marine Air Control Group 38]
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
| 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion | Stingers | |
| Marine Air Control Squadron 1 | Falconers | |
| Marine Air Support Squadron 3 | Blacklist | |
| Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 | Red Lightning | |
| Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 | Sand Sharks | |
| Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 | Diamondbacks | |
| Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 | Ace Support | |
| Marine Wing Support Squadron 374 | Rhinos |
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
| 4th Marine Aircraft Wing Training Support Group |
[Marine Aircraft Group 41]
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
| Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 41 | Desperados | |
| Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 | Cowboys | |
| Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 | Rangers | |
| Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 | Snipers | |
| Marine Fighter Training Squadron 402 | Grim Reapers | |
| Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764 | Moonlight | |
| Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 775 | Coyote | |
| Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4 | Evil Eyes | |
| Marine Wing Support Squadron 471 | ||
| Marine Wing Support Squadron 473 |
[Marine Aircraft Group 49]
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
| Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49 | Magicians | |
| Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452 | Yankees | |
| Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772 | Hustler | |
| Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 | Red Dogs | |
| Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 774 | Wild Goose | |
| Marine Wing Support Squadron 472 | Dragons |
[Marine Air Control Group 48]
| Squadron Name | Insignia | Nickname |
| Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 48 | ||
| Marine Air Control Squadron 24 | Earthquake | |
| Marine Air Support Squadron 6 | Lighthouse | |
| Marine Wing Communications Squadron 48 | Roar |