The squadron is responsible for the planning, receiving, coordination and processing of requests for direct or close air support. It provides this through the facility known as the Direct Air Support Center (DASC).  The DASC is the principal Marine air command and control system agency, responsible for the direction of air operations directly supporting ground forces. It functions in a decentralized mode of operation. During amphibious or expeditionary operations, the DASC is normally the first air command & control agency ashore and usually lands in the same serial (i.e., scheduled wave or on-call wave) as the Ground Combat Element's senior Fire Support Coordination Center.