MWSS-271

Marine Wing Support Squadron 271
MWSS-271's insignia courtesy of www.military-graphics.com
Active	4 June 1986 – present
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Aviation ground support squadron
Part of	Marine Aircraft Group 14 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Nickname(s)	"Workhorse of the Wing"
Engagements	Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Commanding Officer	LtCol. Ginger E. Beals
Executive Officer	Maj. Adam J. Scott
Sergeant Major	SgtMaj. Jermaine L. Jenkins

Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 (MWSS 271) is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The squadron falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

MWSS-271 provides essential aviation ground support to the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) and all supporting or attached elements of a composite Marine Aircraft Group.

Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 was activated on 4 June 1986, organized from the assets of Wing Transportation Squadron 27, Wing Engineer Squadron 27, and Marine Air Base Squadron 14.

Since its inception, the "Workhorses" of MWSS-271 have supported both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing on a daily basis and have participated in many major USMC and joint service exercises and operations. MWSS-271 deployed to Saudi Arabia, in January 1991 in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The Squadron provided Aviation Ground Support to multiple Marine Air Groups by constructing and operating Forward Arming and Refueling Points at Al Kabrit, Qahar, Khanjar, and Tanijib, Saudi Arabia. On 24 February 1991, MWSS 271 displaced its elements in support of offensive ground combat operations into Kuwait in the midst of heavy combat to establish a Forward Operating Base at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base and, eventually, Kuwait International Airport, becoming the only MWSS to take part in offensive combat operations in Kuwait during Desert Storm.

The last elements of the Squadron returned to the United States on 15 June 1991 and rapidly resumed peace-time operations to provide Aviation Ground Support (AGS) for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at MCAS Cherry Point and at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue (MCALF Bogue), North Carolina.