The Marines, Sailors, and Civilians of the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) staff sections, the 3d MAW Band, and the headquarters squadron “S” shops together make up Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 (MWHS-3). The Marines that are assigned to the local Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) and Naval Air Technical Data and Engineering Service Command (NATEC) are also administratively attached to MWHS-3. In addition, the squadron attaches and provides pre-deployment training and administrative reach-back support to forward deployed headquarters command elements such as 3d MAW (Forward) and Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Forces as necessary.
The mission of MWHS-3 is to provide operational, personnel, administrative, training, logistical, and family readiness support to all 3d MAW Headquarters personnel in order to facilitate fluid, efficient staff functions.
MWHS-3 was activated 10 November 1942 at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina, as Headquarters Squadron 3 (HS-3), 3rd MAW. The squadron deployed from April to May of 1944 to Ewa, a territory of Hawaii. The squadron was deactivated on 31 December 1945.
The squadron was reactivated on 1 February 1952 at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, as HS-3, 3d MAW. It was relocated during May 1952 to Miami, Florida and again relocated during September 1955 to MCAS El Toro, California. HS-3 was reassigned during January 1956 to Marine Wing Headquarters Group 3, 3d MAW, Air, Fleet Marine Force Pacific.
The squadron was re-designated 1 July 1971 as MWHS-3, 3d MAW, Fleet Marine Force Pacific. The squadron participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, Southwest Asia, from September 1990 to May 1991. They relocated again in October 1998 to MCAS Miramar, California.
The squadron was re-designated 1 November 1999 as Headquarters and Service Company, Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3d MAW, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC). The squadron was last re-designated on 15 February 2002 as MWHS-3, 3d MAW, MARFORPAC. The squadron has deployed multiple times to Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom between January 2003 and October 2014.