III Marine Expeditionary Force

Definition/Scope: The III Marine Expeditionary Force is a descendant of the I and III Marine Amphibious Corps activated on Oct. 1, 1942. On April 15, 1944, I MAC was redesigned to III MAC and was subsequently paired with the Navy’s III Amphibious Force for joint operations. III MAC took part in some of the most significant battles in the war against Japan: the invasions of Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. III MEF units have supported a host of contingency operations, and routinely participate in joint, combined and bilateral exercises with Asian and Pacific countries like Thailand, Korea, Australia, and the Philippines. III MEF units were instrumental in the success of Operation Sea Angel in Bangladesh, and during disaster relief operations in the Republic of the Philippines following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. III MEF Marines provided disaster relief in the wake of the earthquake in Kobe, Japan, in 1995.

Acronym:

III MEF

Broader Terms:

Marine Air-Ground Task Force
Marine Expeditionary Force
US Marine Corps

Narrower Terms:

1st Marine Aircraft Wing
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
3rd Marine Logistics Group
Jungle Warfare Training Center

Related Terms:

11th Marine Expeditionary Unit
13th Marine Expeditionary Unit
15th Marine Expeditionary Unit
1st Marine Division
22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
Camp Butler
I Marine Expeditionary Force
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler
Marine Expeditionary Force
Marine Expeditionary Unit
Okinawa
United States Marine Corps Forces Command