Marine Air Control Group 28 Marine Air Control Group 28 ( MACG - 28 ) is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point that is currently composed of 5 squadrons and a battalion that provide the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing with airspace coordination , air control , immediate air support , fires integration , air traffic control ( ATC ) , radar surveillance , organic Unmanned Aerial Vehicle s ( UAVs ) , aviation combat element ( ACE ) communications support , and an integrated ACE command post in support of the II Marine Expeditionary Force . Mission . The mission of the MACG is to provide , operate , and maintain the MACCS . The MACG contains subordinate units that provide the major facilities of the MACCS . It normally consists of a MTACS , a Marine air support squadron ( MASS ) , one Marine air control squadron ( MACS ) , a low - altitude air defense ( LAAD ) battalion , and an MWCS . History . 1950s through the 1980s . Marine Air Control Group 28 was initially activated in January 1956 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point , North Carolina . At the time of activation , it was designated as the Marine Wing Headquarters Group of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing . Its composition at that time included Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron 2 and Marine Air Control Squadron 7 ( MACS - 7 ) . The fledgling organization began to grow when , in 1963 , it was administratively assigned the 3rd Light Anti Aircraft Missile Battalion ( 3rd LAAM ) . Its growth was short lived however , for in 1965 MACS - 7 was directed to deploy to Okinawa , Japan and subsequently saw duty in the Republic of Vietnam . Upon completing its service in Vietnam , MACS - 7 was reassigned for duty with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro , California . In May 1966 , the Group was again re - designated ; it would now be known as Marine Air Control Group 2 . It was this year that the 3rd LAAM Battalion became administratively and operationally under the control of the Group . Re - designation occurred once more when in 1967 the Group was assigned its present day identification as Marine Air Control Group 28 . With its new designation canme additional support and control organizations in the form of Marine Air Support Squadron 1 and Marine Air Control Squadron 5 . MACS - 5 was activated and assigned to support Fleet Marine Force Aviation operation at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort , South Carolina . MCAS Beaufort has remained the home of MACS - 5 since its activation . The Group ' s expanding support and control responsibilities were examined and in 1971 it was determined that the critical function of Wing communications would be added to that of the Group ' s communications capabilities . This consolidation joined the organizational colors of Marine Wing Communications Squadron - 28 with those of H & HS - 28 , Third LAAM Battalion , MASS - 1 , MACS - 5 , and MACS - 6 under the senior banner of MACG - 28 . In 1973 , the capability of a shoulder - launched missile was introduced into the Group . A Forward Area Air Defense ( FAAD ) platoon was activated and placed under the administrative and operational control of the Third LAAM Battalion . The activation of the FAAD platoon would enhance air defense of aviation vital areas and introduce a close - in air defense capability for maneuver units or security missions . April 1976 introduced the consolidation of air traffic control assets within the Marine Air Wing and a new squadron . Marine Air Traffic Control Squadron 28 , joined ranks as the newest member of the Marine Air Command and Control System . The tactical advantages , increased capabilities and innovative employment offered by shoulder - launched missiles led to the creation of a FAAD Battery . This enhanced capability was formally introduced in October 1983 as the Second Forward Area Air Defense Battery stood - up and took its place in the organizational structure of MACG - 23 . Global War on Terror . Following September 11 , 2001 MACG - 28 Marines were sent almost immediately to augment the Combined Air Operations Center ( CAOC ) at Prince Sultan Air Base , Saudi Arabia and were manning tactical positions on the CAOC floor when the first bombs fell in Afghanistan . Notably , MACS - 2 deployed an Early Warning and Control site to assist with data collection on Iraq in the months building to Operation Iraqi Freedom ( OIF ) . During OIF all subordinate units of MACG - 28 deployed Marines with the I Marine Expeditionary Force . MASS - 1 , MWCS - 28 , VMU - 2 sent their entire squadrons , while 2nd LAAD deployed a battery , MACS - 2 an EW / C detachment , and MTACS - 28 critical augments for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing ( 3rd MAW ) Tactical Air Command Center ( TACC ) At the conclusion of major offensive operations , most elements of MACG - 28 redeployed home . In early 2004 , MACG - 28 deployed VMU - 2 and an Air Traffic Control Detachment from MACS - 2 , and B CO , MWCS - 28 to Al Taqqadum Airfield in Al Anbar Province , Iraq . At the start of 2005 , MACG - 28 deployed its Headquarters , MTACS - 28 , MACS - 2 , 2nd LAAD , MASS - 1 , MWCS - 28 back to Iraq . The units of MACG - 28 maintained air command and control , wing communications , and ISR of the MEF battlespace for the duration of 2005 , then the majority redeployed back to the states . In January 2007 , MACG - 28 again deployed all its units and tactical agencies once again to Iraq . For the foreseeable future , MACG - 28 will stand ready to go wherever called in order to provide tactical aviation command and control across the MEF battlespace , integrated UAV ISR , and communications support to 2D Marine Aircraft Wing . In January 2009 , MACG - 28 deployed all units ( with the exception of 2nd LAAD ) to Operation Iraqi Freedom . They were the last Marine units to control the airspace in western Iraq . Several detachments of the group have also deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom as part of Marine Aircraft Group 40 .