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Marines


III MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
III MEF Logo
FORWARD. FAITHFUL. FOCUSED.

Mission

III MEF provides the United States with a forward-deployed force in readiness in the Pacific Theater, as a globally responsive, expeditionary, and fully scalable Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF), capable of generating, deploying, and employing forces for crisis response, forward presence, major combat operations, and campaigns.

 

  • U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James Bierman, center right, commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, shakes hands with Lt. Gen. Yamane Toshikazu, center, commanding general of Western Army, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
  • Balikatan 23 is the 38th iteration of the annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military. The exercise includes three weeks of training focused on amphibious operations, command and control, humanitarian assistance, urban operations and counterterrorism skills throughout northern and western Luzon. Coastal defense training figures prominently in the Balikatan 23 training schedule. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jennifer Andrade)
  • U.S. Marines conduct a pass and review during a relief and appointment ceremony on Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, March 7, 2023. Sgt. Maj. Eric D. Cook relinquished his duties as sergeant major of III Marine Expeditionary Force, and sergeant major of Marine Forces Japan to Sgt. Maj. Joy M. Kitashima. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Diana Jimenez)
  • U.S. Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force embark the high-speed transport vessel USNS Guam (T-HST 1) at Naha Military Port, Okinawa, Japan, March 3, 2023. The USNS Guam will transport Marines to the Republic of Korea for exercise Freedom Shield 23. Freedom Shield is a defense-oriented exercise designed to strengthen the ROK-U.S. Alliance, enhance our combined defense posture, and strengthen security and stability on the Korean peninsula. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Andrews)

 

III MEF Unit News