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III Marine Expeditionary Force
III Marine Expeditionary Force insignia
Active	1942–46, 1965–present
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Marine Air-Ground Task Force
Role	Forward-deployed expeditionary force
Size	~27,000
Part of	Marine Forces Pacific
Garrison/HQ	Camp Courtney,Okinawa,Japan
Mottos	Forward, Faithful, Focused
March	"Fight Now" by Michael Andrew Newell
Engagements	World War II Operation Cartwheel Operation Stalemate II Operation Forager Operation Iceberg Operation Beleaguer Vietnam War Battle of Huế Persian Gulf War Operation Desert Shield Operation Desert Storm Operation Provide Comfort Operation Sea Angel Operation Fiery Vigil Operation Restore Hope Global War on Terrorism Operation Enduring Freedom Iraq War Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Unified Assistance Operation Tomodachi Operation Damayan
Website	iiimef.marines.mil
Commanders
Current commander	Lt. Gen.Roger B. Turner
Notable commanders	Alexander Vandegrift William R. Collins Herman Nickerson Jr. Donn J. Robertson Lewis W. Walt Robert E. Cushman Jr. Carl W. Hoffman

III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) is a formation of theMarine Air-Ground Task Force of theUnited States Marine Corps. It is forward-deployed and able to rapidly conduct operations across the spectrum fromhumanitarian assistance anddisaster relief (HA/DR) toamphibious assault and high-intensity combat.

It maintains a forward presence inJapan andAsia to support theTreaty 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.

TheMarines andsailors of III MEF engage in more than 65 combined, bilateral and multilateral training exercises annually throughout the Asia-Pacific region, in countries including treaty alliesJapan,Thailand,South Korea, thePhilippines, andAustralia. 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 majorcombat operations tohumanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

III MEF has played a significant role in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions throughout the region. The MEF assisted the relief efforts led by the Government ofJapan duringOperation Tomodachi after the2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. III MEF also conducted HA/DR missions inThailand in October 2011, thePhilippines in October 2010, and Indonesia in October 2009.^[1] Most recently in response to the resultinghumanitarian crisis fromTyphoon Haiyan which struck the Philippines in 2013, III MEF activated as Joint Task Force 505 to conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in support of the Philippine government.^[2] More than 2,495 tons of relief supplies were delivered, and over 21,000 people were evacuated.^[3]

Commanded by alieutenant general with its headquarters atCamp Courtney, III MEF's mission is to provide forward based and deployed forces to the commander,U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, to conduct Phase 0 engagement and theater security cooperation events, support contingencies and emergent requirements, and prepare to rapidly execute existing operations plans in support of the theater and national military strategies.

III MEF is organized as aMarine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) to provide a rapidly deployable, flexible self-contained fighting force. The Marines combine air, ground, and logistics forces to operate as a coherent, self-sufficient force. Each mission dictates the MAGTF's scale and structure, giving the Marine Corps the flexibility to respond to any crisis and making a "force in readiness." A MEF is the largest of all MAGTFs.^[1]

III Marine Expeditionary Force was activated as I Amphibious Corps 1 October 1942 in Camp Elliott, San Diego, California. Later that month, they were deployed toNoumea,New Caledonia. The unit was redesignated as III Amphibious Corps 15 April 1944. III Amphibious Corps was deactivated on 10 June 1946.

III Marine Expeditionary Force was activated 6 May 1965 atDa Nang,Republic of Vietnam. III MEF was re-designated toIII Marine Amphibious Force (III MAF) 7 May 1965.

III Marine Amphibious Force deployed toCamp Courtney,Okinawa April 1971. III MAF was redesignated to III Marine Expeditionary Force 5 February 1988.^[1]

DuringWorld War II, III MEF was known asI Marine Amphibious Corps. It was renamed III Amphibious Corps on 15 April 1944, and took part in fighting against theJapanese Empire in thePacific theater during World War II. It fought in some of the bloodiest battles, including theSolomon Islands campaign, theMariana and Palau Islands campaign and theVolcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign (namely theBattle of Okinawa). III Amphibious Corps redeployed toTianjin, China, in September 1945, where it participated in the occupation of Northern China until June 1946, as part ofOperation Beleaguer. III Amphibious Corps was deactivated on 10 June 1946.^[1]

III MEF was reactivated 6 May 1965 inDa Nang,Republic of Vietnam under Major GeneralWilliam R. Collins. 7 May 1965, III MEF was re-designated asIII Marine Amphibious Force (III MAF) and consisted of the1st Marine Division,3rd Marine Division and the1st Marine Aircraft Wing. The III MAF's area of operations was in the northernI Corps Tactical Zone. III MAF participated in theVietnam War from May 1965 – April 1971 operating fromQuang Tri,Thua Thien,Quang Nam,Quang Tin, andQuang Ngai. III MAF deployed to Camp Courtney, Okinawa in April 1971.

Since III MAF was redesignated to III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) 5 February 1988, they have participated in many different operations. These operations include the Persian Gulf War'sOperation Desert Shield,Operation Desert Storm, as well asOperation Provide Comfort inSouthwest Asia andIraq from Sept. 1990 – April 1991 and May–June 1991. III MEF elements have also played a vital role inOperation Sea Angel inBangladesh from May–June 1991;Operation Fiery Vigil in thePhilippines June 1991;Operation Restore Hope andOperation Continue Hope inSomalia from December 1992 to March 1994. III MEF elements have also had a significant impact on the Iraq War'sOperation Iraqi Freedom as well as the Global War on Terrorism'sEnduring Freedom.

One of the biggest roles III MEF plays in the Asia-Pacific region ishumanitarian assistance anddisaster relief (HA/DR). III MEF elements participated inOperation Unified Assistance in response to thetsunami disaster in Southeast Asia from December 2004 to February 2005. III MEF has also assisted with the2005 Kashmir earthquake response from October 2005 to March 2006;Philippinemudslide response in March and April 2006;2006 Yogyakarta earthquake response in May and June 2006;Legazpityphoon recovery in March 2007;2007 Solomon Islands earthquake andtsunami response in April 2007;Operation Sea Angel II inBangladesh from November to December 2007;Operation Caring Response inBurma from May and June 2008;Taiwan typhoon relief in August 2009; Philippine typhoon and Indonesian earthquake relief in October 2009; Philippine typhoon relief in October 2010;Operation Tomodachi in May 2011; Thailand flood relief from October through November 2011; and Philippine typhoon relief in December 2012 and again in November 2013.^[4]

III Marine Expeditionary Force, together withI Marine Expeditionary Force, makes upMarine Forces, Pacific.

As the Eastern Hemisphere’s sole musical representative of the United States Marine Corps, the III MEF Band enjoys a busy schedule filled with performances across Okinawa and the Indo-Pacific region each year. The band capitalizes on this unique position by making it a priority to present community outreach performances and by participating in bi-lateral engagements with partner and allied nations throughout Asia and the Pacific. Consisting of musicians trained in a variety of musical styles, the III MEF Band is able to provide a number of small ensembles for civilian events, including brass and woodwind quintets, jazz combo, rock band, and brass band. The band was awarded the title of2018 Marine Corps Band of the Year in February 2018.^[7][8] The III MEF Band was most recently award the2023 Colonel George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence for Military Concert Bands.

The following comprises the leadership of the band:^[9]

• Band Officer –Captain Randel Metzinger
• Enlisted Bandleader –Master Sergeant James Holt
• Instrument Repair Technician –Gunnery Sergeant Mathew Medina
• Enlisted Conductor –Staff Sergeant Peter Yurkovich
• Drum Major –Staff Sergeant Miguel Avalos
• Production Manager –Gunnery Sergeant Joshua W. Waldie

Uniquely, the band used to have its own mascot. The history of the use of a mascot dates back to 1974, when the Commanding General of the1st Marine Aircraft Wing presented aGolden Retriever to the 1st MAW Band. Since then, the 1st MAW and 3D MARDIV Bands combined to form the III MEF Band and five mascots have served the unit. Since November of 2012, Sgt Chopper V continued this unique tradition and retired in 2024 after serving the Marines of the III MEF Band faithfully and honorably.^[10]

No.	Commander		Term			Ref
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
-		Lieutenant General Lawrence D. Nicholson (born 1956)	11 September 2015	2 August 2018	2 years, 325 days	[11]
-		Lieutenant General Eric M. Smith	2 August 2018	31 May 2019	302 days	[12]
-		Lieutenant General H. Stacy Clardy (born 1960)	31 May 2019	9 November 2021	2 years, 162 days	[13]
-		Lieutenant General James W. Bierman Jr. (born 1965)	9 November 2021	26 January 2024	2 years, 78 days	[14][15]
-		Lieutenant General Roger B. Turner	26 January 2024	Incumbent	1 year, 267 days	[16][17]

Streamer	Award	Year(s)	Additional Info
	Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with two Bronze Stars[1]	1965–1968, 1968–1971, 2001–2003[1]	Vietnam War, Iraq War, War in Afghanistan[1]
	Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer with one Bronze Star[1]	2004–2005 2019-2021[1]	Iraq War, War in Afghanistan, War on Terror[1]
	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign[1]	1942–1946[1]	World War II[1]
	World War II Victory[1]	1945[1]	World War II[1]
	China Service[1]	1945–1946[1]	Occupation of North China[1]
	National Defense Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars[1]	1961–1974, 1990–1995, 2001–present[1]	Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War'sOperation Desert Shield andDesert Storm, Iraq War'sOperation Iraqi Freedom andEnduring Freedom[1]
	Vietnam Service Streamer with two Silver and three Bronze Stars[1]	1965–1971[1]	Quang Tri,Thua Thien,Quang Nam,Quang Tin, andQuang Ngai[1]
	Global War on Terrorism Service Streamer[1]	2001–present[1]
	Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Streamer[1]	1965–1971[1]	Foreign award fromSouth Vietnam[1]
	Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Civil Actions Streamer[1]	1965–1971[1]	Foreign award from South Vietnam[1]

NATO Symbol
III

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Citations

References used

Media related toIII Marine Expeditionary Force at Wikimedia Commons

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• Corps of the United States in World War II
• 1942 establishments in the United States
• 1946 in the United States
• 1965 establishments in the United States
• Corps of the United States Marine Corps
• Military units and formations disestablished in 1946
• Military units and formations established in 1942
• Military units and formations established in 1965
• Military units and formations of the United States Marine Corps in World War II

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