I agree wholeheartedly with what SkidKid said, and I'm going to expand a bit (hopefully to include why we have fixed wing). It gets down to the very basics of why the Marine Corps exists. The USMC is designed as an expeditionary force, able to forward deploy from US Navy Shipping, and sustain themselves for a certain period of time. For a MEU, if I remember correctly, they should be able to sustain themselves for 15 days. The intent is that the MAGTF goes ashore, and is able to hold on to key terrain/objectives until larger, more robust forces can relieve them. As the logisitically huge, and less mobile (but more robust) forces are moving into theater, the Marine Corps must be able to complete EVERY mission assigned to them. Hence the reason they have fixed wing (for CAS and Assault Support). Once the larger force takes over, we (in theory) pack up our toys and head out. Without our own fixed wing component, we SEVERLY limit our capabilities for CAS, ISR, etc... While I feel more comfortable with skids escorting me, I still want to see that litening pod footage, etc... Even if I do have to put up with those guys whining in the wardroom!