III Marine Expeditionary Force

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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
Motto(s)	Forward, Faithful, Focused
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
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 the Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps. It is forward-deployed and able to rapidly conduct operations across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) to amphibious assault and high-intensity combat.

It maintains a forward presence in Japan and Asia to support the Treaty 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.

The Marines and sailors of III MEF engage in more than 65 combined, bilateral and multilateral training exercises annually throughout the Asia-Pacific region, in countries including treaty allies Japan, Thailand, South Korea, the Philippines, and Australia. 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 major combat operations to humanitarian 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 of Japan during Operation Tomodachi after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. III MEF also conducted HA/DR missions in Thailand in October 2011, the Philippines in October 2010, and Indonesia in October 2009.^[1] Most recently in response to the resulting humanitarian crisis from Typhoon 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]