Marine Air Support Squadron 3

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Oceanside, California

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing News

Marine Corps deactivates historic F/A-18 training squadron

9/30/2023 | 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Unprecedented Training Fosters Lethality | MAG-13 Executes Fifth Generation Friday

9/28/2023 | 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Marine EOD Tech Inspires Students at San Clemente High School's Military Appreciation Night

9/19/2023 | 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Second Marine F-35C Squadron Conquers “Safe for Flight” Certification

9/15/2023 | 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Fitting into the mission: Marine and first-gen American from LA County trains in Twentynine Palms

8/24/2023 | 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

01

Marines, Civilians Evaluate Wave Glider System

Engineers from the Naval Information Center and U.S. Marines analyze the Wave Glider at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, March 9,...

02

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 362 Relief and Appointment Ceremony

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Mohammad Arzola, left, outgoing sergeant major of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 362, Marine Aircraft Group 16,...

03

Winter Fury 22 - HMLA-469 trains on San Clemente Island

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. William Ton, a crew chief assigned to Marine Attack Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine...

04

Winter Fury 22 - Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Brian Holloway, an MV-22B Osprey pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine...

05

Winter Fury 22: Marines Arrive in Moses Lake

U.S. Marines from 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, arrive in MV-22B Ospreys from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, Marine...

06

Birds view of the F35

PACIFIC OCEAN (Jan. 21, 2022) Marines of Marine Wing Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 and sailors of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 link up...

MASS-3 Leaders

Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas J. Cruz

Commanding Officer, Marine Air Support Squadron 3

Lieutenant Colonel Cruz was promoted to his current rank in October 2020. He was most recently assigned as the Operations Officer, Marine Air Control Group 48, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois. Lieutenant Colonel Cruz graduated from North Carolina Central University in May 2002 and was later commissioned as a Second

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Major Earl D. Gerlach

Executive Officer, Marine Air Support Squadron 3

Maj Gerlach graduated from Central Washington University with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Anthropology and Geography and was commissioned a second lieutenant in August 2010 via the Platoon Leaders Course program. After completing The Basic School and Air Support Control Officers Course, he was transferred to Marine Air Support Squadron 3.In

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Sergeant Major Manuel G. Martinezortiz

Sergeant Major, Marine Air Support Squadron 3

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Address
Contact Us
Mission Statement
Unit History
Command Policies

Marine Air Support Squadron 3
PO BOX 555831
Camp Pendleton,
CA 92055-5831

MASS-3 Adjutant
(760) 725-3253

MASS-3 Squadron Duty Officer
(760) 725-3811

Unit Voting Assistance Officer
(760) 725-8820
(760) 725-8825

The mission of Marine Air Support Squadron 3 is to provide Direct Air Support Center (DASC) capabilities for control and coordination of aircraft operating in direct support of the Marine Air Ground Task Force.

LINEAGE OF MARINE AIR SUPPORT SQUADRON 3

1950-1965

ACTIVATED 3 AUGUST 1950 AT EL TORO, CALIFORNIA, AS MARINE TACTICAL AIR CONTROL SQUADRON 3, MARINE AIR CONTROL GROUP 2, 1 MARINE AIRCRAFT WING

REDESIGNATED 31 AUGUST 1950 AS MARINE TACTICAL AIR CONTROL SQUADRON 3, MARINE AIR CONTROL GROUP 2, AIR, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC

REDESIGNATED 28 MARCH 1951 AS MARINE TACTICAL AIR CONTROL SQUADRON 3, MARINE AIR CONTROL GROUP 3, AIR, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC

REDESIGNATED 15 FEBRUARY 1954 AS MARINE AIR SUPPORT SQUADRON 3, MARINE AIR CONTROL GROUP 3, AIR, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC

REDESIGNATED 15 SEPTEMBER 1955 AS MARINE AIR SUPPORT SQUADRON 3, MARINE AIR CONTROL GROUP3, 3D MARINE AIRCRAFT WING

REDESIGNATED 1 JANUARY 1956 AS MARINE AIR SUPPORT SQUADRON 3, MARINE WING HEADQUARTERS GROUP 3, 3D MARINE AIRCRAFT WING

DEPLOYED TO THE CARIBBEAN AREA DURING THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS, OCTOBER 1962

RELOCATED DURING DECEMBER 1962 TO EL TORO CALIFORNIA

1966-2003

REDESIGNATED 10 NOVEMBER 1965 AS MARINE AIR SUPPORT SQUADRON 3, MARINE HEADQUARTERS GROUP 1, 1ST MARINE AIRCRAFT WING, AND DEPLOYED TO THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

REDESIGNATED 1 SEPTEMBER 1967 AS MARINE AIR SUPPORT SQUADRON 3, MARINE AIR CONTROL GROUP 18, 1ST MARINE AIRCRAFT WING, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC

PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR IN VIETNAM, NOVEMBER 1966-JUNE 1971, OPERATING FROM

CHU LAI

DA NANG

RELOCATED DURING JUNE 1971 TO EL TORO CALIFORNIA, AND ASSIGNED TO MARINE AIR CONTROL GROUP 38, 3D MARINE AIRCRAFT WING

RELOCATED DURING MAY 1980 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM, SOUTWEST ASIA, AUGUST 1990 – MARCH 1991

ELEMENTS PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS IN SOMALIA, DECEMBER 1992 – MARCH 1993

DEPLOYED DURING FEBRUARY 2003 TO KUWAIT IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM

DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, IRAQ, MARCH – MAY 2003

DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, IRAQ, FEBRUARY 2004 – FEBRUARY 2005

DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, IRAQ, JANUARY 2006 – FEBRUARY 2007

DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, IRAQ, JANUARY 2008 – JANUARY 2009

HONORS OF MARINE AIR SUPPORT SQUADRON 3

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER
VIETNAM - 1966-1967
IRAQ 2003

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER W/ BRONZE STAR
VIETNAM - 1967-1968
SOUTHWEST ASIA - 1990-1991

MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER W/ 3 BRONZE STARS
VIETNAM - 1968-1971
1971
1985-1987
1988-1989

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER W/ 3 BRONZE STARS

ARMED FORCES EXPIDITIONARY STREAMER

VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER W/2 SILVER AND 1 BRONZE STAR

SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE STREAMER W/ 2 BRONZE STARS

VIETNAM CROSS OF GALANTRY W/ PALM STREAMER

VIETNAM MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION CIVIL ACTIONS STREAMER

GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER

GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM SERVICE STREAMER

Command Policies Coming Soon