Marines ready for deployments

About 3,000 Marines and sailors from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Cherry Point are preparing to deploy to Iraq this month.

Units involved include Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, Marine Wing Support Group 27, Marine Air Control Group 28 and Marine Aircraft Group 26, according to a release from Cherry Point. All are based at Cherry Point.

The forward command of the 2nd MAW is to be headquartered at Al Asad, Iraq, with detachments at Korean Village, Al Taqaddum, Al Qaim and other locations in the Al Anbar province, according to the release.

The role of the wing in Iraq will be to provide air support of ground forces, air assaults, aerial reconnaissance, medical and casualty evacuations, logistical and engineering support, and electronic warfare, according to the release.

Brig. Gen. Robert S. Walsh, assistant commander of the wing, will serve as commander of the forward element of the wing while in Iraq.

No exact departure dates were released, and officials also did not release when the units would return.

It is the wing's third deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

While those Marines are getting ready to leave, Cherry Point is expected to welcome back about 100 Marines serving with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Marines, with Marine Attack Squadron 223 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14, are expected back early Sunday morning, according to a release from Cherry Point. The Marines participated in training exercises and patrols while deployed, according to the release.