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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

Batanes Island | NMESIS

U.S. Marines with 3d Marine Littoral Regiment load the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System into a KC-130J Super Hercules May 25, 2025.

02

MASS-2 | M240B Live Fire Range

Marine with MASS-2 changes an M240B machine gun barrel in the Central Training Area, Okinawa, Japan, May 13, 2025.

03

VMFA 211 | Deploys to Japan

Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 lands at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 10, 2025

04

31st MEU | TRAP during MEUEX

U.S Marines conduct on and off drills out of a LAV while conducting a TRAP simulation as a part of MEU Exercise at Camp Hansen, Japan, May 3, 2025.

05

31st MEU | Mechanized Raid

A U.S. Marine gives commands to surrendering adversary forces during a simulated force-on-force mechanized raid at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan.

06

31st MEU | Fast Rope

Marines with Maritime Raid Force fast-rope from a CH-53E Super Stallion during alternate insertion and extraction training.

 

Featured News

Raising the Bar
III Marine Expeditionary Force
March 20, 2018 | 3:07
Raising the Bar
III Marine Expeditionary Force
March 20, 2018 | 3:07
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Raising the Bar
KAMANDAG 9: 2nd Lt. Trant Interview
III MIG | Kaiju Rain 25
Balikatan 25: 3d LCT and PMC participate in MKTSO
HMLA-169 supports 3rd Recon Bn. helocast training
MEUEX 25.2: Col. Chris P. Niedziocha and Maj. James Hurton Interviews
MASS-2 Marines train with M240B machine guns during live fire range
Balikatan 25: 3d MLR
31st MEU | Patrol 25.2 MEUEX
HMLA-169 provides close-air support for 5th ANGLICO
JTACs in the Indo-Pacific: Precision in the Next Fight
Balikatan 25: Counter-Landing Live-Fire event reel
Martial Arts Instructor Course 64-25
Balikatan 25: Staff Sgt. Zyble Interview
Under Water Egress Training Reel
 
III Marine Expeditionary Force