The Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) is the aviation

command and control Command and control (abbr. C2) is a "set of organizational and technical attributes and processes ... hatemploys human, physical, and information resources to solve problems and accomplish missions" to achieve the goals of an organization or en ...

agencies of the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

that provide the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) commander with the means to monitor, supervise, and influence aviation operations in support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The command and control agencies of the MACCS are provided by the squadrons and battalions of the Marine Air Control Groups that are present within each Marine Air Wing. The capabilities resident within the MACCS allow the MAGTF commander to safely conduct aviation operations, facilitate timely

maneuver Maneuver (American English), manoeuvre (British English), manoeuver, manœuver (also spelled, directly from the French, as manœuvre) denotes one's tactical move, or series of moves, that improves or maintains one's strategic situation in a compet ...

and prosecution of

fires Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material (the fuel) in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. At a certain point in the combustion reaction, called the ignition point, flames are pr ...

and ultimately retain full control of their entire area of operations. MACCS agencies are also responsible for coordinating Marine Corps aviation operations with joint, multinational and

civil aviation Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military and non-state aviation, both private and commercial. Most of the countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and work ...

. The three principal objectives of the MACCS are to enhance unity of effort, integrate the elements of the command and control system, and disseminate common

situational awareness Situational awareness or situation awareness (SA) is the perception of environmental elements and events with respect to time or space, the comprehension of their meaning, and the projection of their future status. An alternative definition is tha ...

. The MACCS focuses the other five functions of Marine Aviation (Antiair Warfare, Offensive Air Support, Assault Support, Electronic Warfare and Air Reconnaissance) and gives the ACE commander the ability to real-time allocate resources and control aircraft in support of the MAGTF commander.

Control of aircraft and missiles

Current agencies and missions

*Air Traffic Control (ATC) - provides continuous all-weather air traffic control services to an independent and geographically separated main air base or air facility. Each active duty Marine Air Control Squadron has three air traffic control detachments. *Direct Air Support Center (DASC) - controls and coordinates tactical aircraft operations directly supporting ground forces. It is responsible for the processing of immediate requests (e.g.

Close Air Support In military tactics, close air support (CAS) is defined as air action such as air strikes by fixed or rotary-winged aircraft against hostile targets near friendly forces and require detailed integration of each air mission with fire and moveme ...

CASEVAC Casualty evacuation, also known as CASEVAC or by the callsign Dustoff or colloquially Dust Off, is a military term for the emergency patient evacuation of casualties from a combat zone. Casevac can be done by both ground and air. "DUSTOFF" is ...

, and Assault Support), integrating and deconflicting indirect fire support (e.g., artillery and mortars) with aviation assets, manage terminal control assets, and procedurally controlling aircraft. The DASC's parent unit is the Marine Air Support Squadron (MASS). *Tactical Air Command Center (TACC) - agency from which air operations and air defense warning functions are directed. It is the senior agency of the MACCS and also serves as the operational command post of the ACE commander. The TACC's parent unit is the Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron which is responsible for setting up the physical infrastructure of the TACC and providing command and control Marines to staff the current operations cell. Additional personnel for the TACC are staffed from the Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron and augments from across the Wing as required. *Tactical Air Operations Center (TAOC) - agency responsible for real time surveillance, direction, positive control, and navigational assistance for friendly aircraft. The TAOC performs real-time direction and control of all anti-air warfare operations, to include manned interceptors and surface-to-air weapons. The TAOC's parent unit is the Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS). *Ground Based Air Defense - The LAAD Battalions provide close-in, low altitude, surface-to-air weapons fires in defense of Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) assets. These battalions defend forward combat areas, maneuver forces, vital areas, installations and/or units engaged in special/independent operations. They also provide a task organized, ground security force in defense of MAGTF air sites when not engaged in air defense operations.

Current MACCS organization

Citations

References

;Bibliography ;Web {{US Marine Corps navbox United States Marine Corps aviation

Control of aircraft and missiles

Current agencies and missions

Current MACCS organization

See also

Citations

References