An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


III MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

III MEF Logo
FORWARD. FAITHFUL. FOCUSED.
Okinawa, Japan

Who we are

III MEF is the nucleus of a joint and coalition Stand-In Force within the First Island Chain. In competition, III MEF assures and expands access for the joint force across the Indo-Pacific. In crisis, it provides in-place response forces to secure allies and partners while deterring adversary aggression. In conflict, III MEF fights from advanced naval bases as part of a naval expeditionary force and enables Joint Force objectives in the Indo-Pacific.


 

01

31st MEU | Loading HIMARS

U.S. Marines with Hotel Battery, 31st MEU, ready an M142 HIMARS during a loading exercise at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, Aug 27, 2025.

02

MWSS 174 | Toxic Swell 25

U.S. Marine Corps PFC. Noah Carver with MWSS-174, scans an aircraft for contaminates during exercise Toxic Swell 25.

03

31st MEU | VMFA 242

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242, fly over the USS America with 31st MEU.

04

31st MEU | Anti-Submarine

A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, departs the USS George Washington with the 31st MEU.

05

HMLA-169 | Live Fire Maneuvers

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Ethan Cox, a crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter 169 fires a GAU-21 machine gun during a live fire exercise.

06

HMLA-169 | Light Attack Power

UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper helicopters with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, fly off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, July 19, 2025.

 

Featured News

III MEF Underwater Egress Training
III MEF Information Group
Sept. 28, 2022 | 0:39
III MEF Underwater Egress Training
III MEF Information Group
Sept. 28, 2022 | 0:39
Player Embed Code:
Tags
More
III MEF Underwater Egress Training
Under Water Egress Training
3rd Reconnaissance Battalion
Marine Corps Shallow Water Egress Training
U.S. Marines, Sailors Beautify Malabanias Integrated School in Pampanga
Stronger Than Any Storm: Southern Leyte Mudslide
PHIBLEX 33 - Cooperation, Capability, Commitment
Opening Phiblex Ceremony 2016 clean
Opening Phiblex Ceremony 2016
RIMPAC 16: Helo Raid launched from USS America
Fox Company, 2/9, Raid
Marines Train in Scout Swimmers Course
Exercise Ssang Yong 2014
Marines Get a "Crash" Course in the "Helo Dunker"
31st MEU Executes Complex Raid During Integration Training
 
III Marine Expeditionary Force