The Fight Tonight Force in Transition: 2nd Marine Air Wing’s Pivot to Integrated Distributed Operations
After two decades defined by the counter-insurgency mission, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing is executing a transformation of historic scope and consequence, a deliberate pivot from the land wars of the Middle East to the littoral contests of an era of peer competition.
This shift represents a deliberate return to the Marine Corps’ expeditionary naval roots, driven by a changing global threat landscape that demands new technologies, tactics, and ways of thinki
The evolution of the 2nd Marine Air Wing was not a reaction to a single event but a deliberate strategic reorientation. The shift away from the land wars that defined the post-9/11 era marked a conscious institutional return to the Marine Corps’ foundational identity as a naval expeditionary force.
This change was driven by a clear-eyed assessment of the global threat landscape, which increasingly points toward peer competition in the maritime domain, particularly in the littorals of Europe and the Pacific.
The operational mindset of the COIN era was fundamentally different from what is required today. In 2009, Brigadier General Walsh, then commanding 2nd MAW (Forward) in Iraq, characterized the core role of Marine air as largely non-kinetic, focused on presence and support rather than overwhelming strike missions. This presence-based approach presented a unique challenge. As Brigadier General Walsh noted, “One can measure the effects of kinetic strike; it is more difficult to measure the effects of presence.” U.S. forces were decentralized and distributed, living among the population, and aviation was tasked with reassuring local partners and deterring a diffuse enemy—a mission that valued persistence over firepower.
The institutional shift away from being what Commandant Amos called a “second land army” was a pivotal moment for the entire Marine Corps. For 2nd MAW, this was marked by a renewed focus on large-scale amphibious operations. The Bold Alligator 2012 exercise served as a key inflection point. In a powerful demonstration of this revitalized capability, the exercise massed 16 Harriers on the deck of the USS Kearsarge, testing a much larger sea-based support structure than the standard six-aircraft detachment common to a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). This was not simply an ARG-MEU “on steroids,” as one participant noted, but an experiment in generating a more potent and scalable strike capability from the sea.
More recently, the strategic pivot has oriented 2nd MAW towards the High North as a primary theater for peer competition. Exercises like Trident Juncture 2018 and Nordic Response 2024 have underscored this new reality. These large-scale deployments have forced the Wing to re-learn the complexities of cold-weather operations after years in the desert and to integrate with NATO allies—notably the Nordic nations—who are on the front line of potential Russian aggression. This focus is not just about adapting to a new climate; it is about preparing for a high-intensity fight where air, land, and sea operations are inextricably linked, and where allied integration is a prerequisite for success.
This strategic realignment created the demand for a new way of fighting. The technological revolution already underway within Marine aviation provided the means to meet it.
Technological Revolution: The Aviation Platforms Driving Transformation
The conceptual evolution of the 2nd Marine Air Wing from a COIN-focused force to a distributed maritime power was fundamentally enabled by the introduction of a new generation of revolutionary aviation platforms.
These aircraft are not mere replacements for their predecessors; they are transformative systems that have reshaped the art of the possible for expeditionary warfare.
MV-22 Osprey: The Original Game-Changer
The MV-22 Osprey was the first and perhaps most disruptive agent of change. In 2012, MajGen “Dog” Davis stated bluntly, “It’s not a replacement. It’s a totally different system.” His assessment has been validated repeatedly. LtCol Boniface, a veteran CH-46 and Osprey pilot, described it as a “true game-changer” that completely altered the operational calculus for the Amphibious Ready Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG-MEU).
The Osprey’s combination of speed and range fundamentally broke the constraints of helicopter-borne operations. It expanded the ARG-MEU’s area of influence from what LtCol Schoofield called a 100-nautical-mile “helo-defined box” to a radius of over 1,000 miles.
This capability was vividly demonstrated during the 2011 Libya TRAP mission, where an Osprey rescued a downed F-15 pilot deep in hostile territory. The mission was executed at least “45 minutes faster than the next available platform,” a critical time savings that likely saved the pilot’s life and showcased a capability no other aircraft could provide.
F-35 Lightning II: The Networked Linchpin
The F-35 is not just a replacement for legacy fighters like the Harrier and Hornet; it is a transformative capability for the entire Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). In 2021, MajGen Cederholm captured the necessary shift in thinking when he questioned, “Why do we stuff the F-35 into our current operating concepts? Why don’t we take our current operating concepts and revise them based on F-35 capabilities?”
The F-35’s power lies in its role as both a strike aircraft and what MajGen Davis called a “superb sensor platform.” Its ability to collect, fuse, and share vast amounts of battlefield information makes it the networked linchpin of a modern fighting force. As LtCol Hansell noted, the F-35 was “designed from its very inception to hunt as a pack.” This networked lethality extends to coalition forces. During Nordic Response 24, Maj Bonci described how the F-35’s native MADL data link enabled seamless, immediate integration with British and Norwegian F-35s, a stark contrast to the persistent interoperability challenges of the legacy Link 16 system.
CH-53K King Stallion: The Digital Heavy-Lift Backbone
The CH-53K King Stallion represents a generational leap beyond the CH-53E it replaces. Its “clean sheet” digital design has created a fundamentally different and more capable aircraft. The distinction was captured by a 2019 logistics demo team: one is a “mechanic” on the Echo, but a “technician” on the Kilo. This digital foundation enables advanced capabilities and a proactive, condition-based maintenance approach.
Logistically, the CH-53K is a critical enabler for distributed operations. Its ability to internally carry standard USAF 463L pallets allows for rapid “tail-to-tail” transfers from KC-130Js. This minimizes time on the ground in vulnerable locations, a key requirement for EABO. Its unique flight capabilities, powered by a fly-by-wire system, were demonstrated during the recovery of a downed Navy MH-60S Seahawk from the bottom of a ravine. The King Stallion maintained its position “within one foot of its intended hover point,” a feat of precision crucial for the success of the complex mission.
KC-130J Super Hercules: The Indispensable Enabler
Characterized as 2nd MAW’s “organic lift capability,” the KC-130J is the foundational enabler for long-range, distributed operations. While often seen as a support asset, its role is indispensable. The strategic pairing of the KC-130J and the MV-22 has been a cornerstone of Marine Corps innovation, allowing for the creation of the Special Purpose MAGTF and extending the reach of assault forces from 400 to over 1,000 nautical miles, according to LtCol Koltick.
Furthermore, the evolution of the Harvest HAWK variant has transformed the KC-130J into a true multi-mission platform. By integrating ISR sensors, communications relays, and precision-guided weapons, Harvest HAWK effectively turns a logistics and refueling aircraft into a loitering “mothership” capable of providing persistent overwatch and fires.
The introduction of these platforms did more than upgrade an inventory; it provided the essential tools for a tactical revolution. The Osprey’s reach redefined the battlespace, the F-35’s network became the central nervous system, and the CH-53K’s lift provided the logistical backbone for the rise of the integrated distributed force.
Tactical and Operational Innovation: The Rise of the Integrated Distributed Force
The confluence of a renewed strategic focus on maritime competition and the arrival of revolutionary aviation technology created fertile ground for operational innovation. Armed with platforms that could fly farther, faster, and share more information than ever before, 2nd MAW began developing and refining new operational concepts designed to maximize its expeditionary advantage. These tactical shifts represent a fundamental departure from the centralized, large-footprint operations of the past.
At the heart of this tactical evolution is the concept of Distributed Aviation Operations (DAO). This approach seeks to enhance resilience and lethality by disaggregating forces, moving away from vulnerable, centralized airfields. Captain Medlen of MWSS-272 vividly contrasted the old model of “large FOB style, Walmart supercenters” with the new concept of “Mom and Pop type stores,” where fuel, ordnance, and support are spread across multiple, smaller, and more defensible locations.
This is far more complex than simply setting up a temporary refueling point.
As MajGen Benedict explained, a simple Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) is only the visible manifestation of a much deeper effort. The real challenge lies in the “backside of distributed operations,” which encompasses the intricate planning, logistics, force protection, and command and control required to make the distributed model work. This logistical and C2 “backside” is precisely where platforms like the digital CH-53K, with its rapid tail-to-tail transfer capability, and the networked F-35 become indispensable enablers, not just combat assets. It requires a new level of integration between aviation, ground, and logistics elements to ensure disaggregated units can rapidly aggregate their combat power at the decisive moment.
Case Study: Exercise Deep Water (2020)
Exercise Deep Water served as a large-scale proof-of-concept for this new model, demonstrating the ability to command and control an integrated, distributed insertion force. The exercise involved a complex air assault, with forces originating from pickup zones in both North Carolina and Virginia, inserting into nine distinct landing zones. This scenario tested the MAGTF’s ability to coordinate a wide array of aircraft—from Ospreys and Super Stallions to Hornets and Harriers—in a dynamic, force-on-force environment.
A key innovation showcased during the exercise was the use of an MV-22 Osprey as an airborne command post. Equipped with a “roll-on/roll-off” C2 suite known as the NOTM-A kit, the Osprey provided commanders with critical real-time situational awareness and the flexibility to move the command node as the battle evolved. This capability is essential for a distributed force that cannot rely on a static headquarters.
Case Study: Nordic Integration
The strategic pivot to the High North has also been a powerful driver of tactical innovation, particularly through integrated training with allies. During Exercise ILVES, aviators from VMFA-115 trained alongside the Finnish Air Force, gaining invaluable exposure to Finland’s highly refined methods of distributed air operations. Learning firsthand how the Finns utilize their national road system as runways and sustain dispersed air assets provided crucial, practical insights for the USMC’s own Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) concepts.
As Major Simmermon reflected, this type of bilateral training exposed the squadron to “smaller level tactics, techniques, and procedures” that would have been missed in a larger, more scripted multinational exercise. This cross-pollination of ideas and practices is vital for building a truly interoperable coalition force capable of operating effectively in a specific, high-threat theater.
These innovations in tactics and operational design mark a fundamental shift in how the Marine Corps generates combat power from expeditionary locations. However, this new model of warfare is not without its own unique and significant set of challenges.
Enduring Challenges in an Era of Transformation
While the strategic and technological transformation of the 2nd Marine Air Wing has been profound, it has not been without significant friction.
The pivot to a distributed, high-end warfighting posture has exposed new vulnerabilities and exacerbated long-standing institutional challenges.
Perhaps the most critical challenge is the growing gap between 2nd MAW’s operational reach and its aging logistical support structure. The ability of platforms like the MV-22 Osprey to project force over a thousand-mile radius has far outpaced the systems designed to sustain them. As far back as 2014, LtCol Boniface issued a stark warning that the ARG-MEU has “gotten out of the helo mindset with regard to operations but not with regard to sustainment approaches.” A 10-14 day resupply cycle, adequate for a force operating within a 100-mile box, is dangerously insufficient for a disaggregated force spread across a vast theater. Without a modernized, responsive logistics enterprise, the tactical advantages of distributed operations risk being negated by an inability to sustain the force.
The Wing is navigating a complex and resource-intensive transition period, creating an inherent tension between two competing priorities. It must maintain the combat readiness of its legacy platforms, including AV-8B Harriers, CH-53E Super Stallions, and F/A-18 Hornets, which remain essential to meeting global force management commitments.
Simultaneously, it must invest significant resources, time, and manpower into standing up new, digital-age aircraft.
The ongoing construction of new hangars and simulator buildings for the F-35 at MCAS Cherry Point is a physical manifestation of this demanding transition, which stretches maintenance personnel, training pipelines, and budgets.
Enabling an integrated, distributed force requires a command-and-control architecture that is as agile and resilient as the forces it directs. Professionals at Marine Air Control Group 28 (MACG-28) have identified several critical C2 challenges that must be addressed to create a truly effective kill web:
- Transitional Gaps: Amphibious forces currently lack the Navy’s most advanced C2 systems, creating a digital seam between the sea base and the forces operating ashore.
- Avoiding “Combat Orphans”: Forward-deployed expeditionary advanced bases must have robust, redundant connectivity to the larger force to avoid becoming isolated and vulnerable nodes.
- Decision-Making Authority: The doctrine for delegating tactical decision-making authority for integrated fires—where sensors and shooters are spread across multiple dispersed units—is still evolving and must be clearly defined.
The Cultural Shift to Digital Maintenance
One of the most crucial, yet often overlooked, challenges is non-technical. The transition to digitally native aircraft like the F-35 and CH-53K requires a corresponding evolution in maintenance culture. This is a shift from a mechanical mindset to a digital one.
Col Seymour’s account of overcoming initial resistance to new maintenance practices for the Osprey illustrates the cultural inertia that must be confronted.
Similarly, the deliberate effort by the CH-53K team to validate digital procedures and train a new generation of “technicians” rather than “mechanics” highlights the deep-seated cultural adaptation that is necessary for success.
These challenges are not insurmountable obstacles but rather critical focus areas for senior leadership. Addressing them proactively will be the key to ensuring that 2nd MAW’s impressive transformation translates into durable combat effectiveness.
Strategic Implications for the Future Force
The comprehensive transformation of the 2nd Marine Air Wing, driven by strategic necessity, enabled by revolutionary technology, and operationalized through tactical innovation, carries profound implications for the future of the joint force.
By synthesizing the preceding analysis, we can articulate the key strategic outcomes of this evolution.
The shift to a distributed, integrated, and long-range force provides combatant commanders with a significantly more agile, scalable, and strategically unpredictable crisis response tool. The ability to rapidly deploy self-sustaining, lethal force packages from the sea complicates an adversary’s decision-making calculus.
A force that can establish a network of expeditionary bases, generate combat power from unexpected locations, and disaggregate to survive attack presents a much more resilient and credible deterrent than a force tied to large, predictable, and vulnerable main operating bases.
This inherent unpredictability strengthens deterrence by raising the costs and risks for any potential aggressor.
The adoption of common, high-end platforms is creating a more deeply integrated and lethal coalition force. The widespread acquisition of the F-35 by key NATO allies, for example, removes many of the technical barriers to interoperability that have plagued past operations.
When a U.S. Marine Corps F-35 can seamlessly share data with a Norwegian or British F-35 via its native systems, the result is a shared battlespace awareness that is exponentially more powerful than what legacy systems could provide.
Combined with integrated exercises in critical theaters like the North Atlantic, this shared technology is forging a coalition capable of executing high-end, multi-domain combat operations at a level of integration previously unattainable.
The revolutionary capabilities of the modern Aviation Combat Element (ACE) create a new imperative for the naval fleet.
The expanded range, lethality, and command-and-control potential of platforms like the MV-22, F-35, and CH-53K demand a parallel evolution of the amphibious ships that support them. The full potential of Distributed Aviation Operations (DAO) and Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) can only be realized if the Navy’s amphibious fleet is equipped with corresponding upgrades to its own C2 networks, logistical connectors, and sustainment capabilities.
The ACE can no longer be viewed as a component that simply operates from the ship; it must be seen as an integrated node in a naval network that projects power from the sea to the shore and back again.
To ensure the continued success of this transformation and to mitigate the enduring challenges, a number of priorities have become evident:
- Invest in Resilient Logistics. The greatest strategic risk to the distributed operations model is a failure of sustainment. Leadership must prioritize the development, funding, and fielding of a modern, responsive logistics enterprise specifically designed to support dispersed maritime forces. This includes everything from advanced connectors and at-sea replenishment strategies to predictive maintenance and a global parts network.
- Accelerate Joint and Allied C2 Integration. The vision of a seamless “kill web” remains aspirational as long as critical C2 gaps persist. Leadership must mandate the technical and doctrinal solutions required to close the seams between the Marine expeditionary force, the wider naval fleet, and key NATO allies. True integration requires more than common platforms; it requires a common, resilient network.
- Institutionalize Integrated LVC Training. The complexity of modern, multi-domain operations cannot be mastered solely through live-fly exercises. Leadership must resource and expand the use of Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training environments, like that demonstrated in Exercise COPE JAVELIN. These integrated simulations allow forces to rehearse complex scenarios against a thinking adversary at a scale and intensity that is impossible to replicate in the real world, providing the repetitions necessary to achieve true combat mastery.
For a comprehensive look at the 2nd MAW path of defense transformation, see the following:
For a podcast discussing the book, see the folllowing:
For a video discussing the book, see the following:
https://sldinfo.com/2025/11/transitioning-the-flight-tonight-force-the-story-of-2nd-marine-air-wing/