III Marine Expeditionary Force

III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) is a formation of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps. It is forward-deployed and able to deploy rapidly conduct operations across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR). to amphibious assault and high-intensity combat.

It maintains a forward presence in Japan and Asia to support the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan (1960) and other alliance relationships of the United States. III MEF also conducts combined operations and training throughout the region in support of the National Security Strategy for Theater Security Cooperation.

The Marines and sailors of III MEF engage in more than 65 combined, bilateral and multi-lateral training exercises annually throughout the Asia-Pacific region, in countries including treaty allies Japan, the Thailand, the South Korea, the Philippines, and Australia. These exercises build partner capacity, develop and maintain strong regional alliances and military-to-military contacts. These exercises prepare III MEF to conduct operations ranging from major combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Marine Expeditionary Force

A Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), formerly known as a Marine Amphibious Force, is the largest type of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force. A MEF is the largest building block of United States Marine Corps combat power.

Structure

An MEF is larger than a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) or Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB).

Each MEF consists of a MEF Headquarters Group (MEF HQG) as the command element, a Marine Division (MARDIV) as the ground combat element, a Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) as the aviation combat element, and a Marine Logistics Group (MLG) as the logistics combat element.

The MEF also contains a Special Operations Training Group (SOTG) and is the training section component for the MEU and MEB. The SOTG oversees the training and evaluation exercises for the MEU's annual Special Operations Capable Certification.

Organization

A MEF also commands several smaller MAGTFs, including MEBs and MEUs.

List of MEFs

I Marine Expeditionary Force

II Marine Expeditionary Force

Expeditionary Force

Expeditionary Force is a generic name sometimes applied to a military force dispatched to fight in a foreign country, particularly during World War I and World War II.

Military formations with Expeditionary Force in their name include:

III

III (iii) may refer to:

Companies

Music

Other uses

See also

Marines

Marines, also known as a marine corps and naval infantry, are an infantry force that specializes in the support of naval and army operations on land and at sea, as well as the execution of their own operations. In the majority of countries, the marine force is part of the navy, but it can also be under the army like the Troupes de marine (French Marines) and Givati Brigade (Israeli Marines), or form an independent armed service branch like the United States Marine Corps and Royal Marines.

Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included providing protection from war while at sea, reflecting the pressed nature of the ships' company and the risk of mutiny. Other tasks would include boarding of vessels during combat or capture of prize ships and providing manpower for raiding ashore in support of the naval objectives.

With the industrialization of warfare in the 20th century the scale of landing operations increased; this brought with it an increased likelihood of opposition and a need for co-ordination of various military elements. Marine forces evolved to specialize in the skills and capabilities required for amphibious warfare.