III Marine Expeditionary Force

Commanded by a lieutenant general with its headquarters at Camp Courtney, III MEF's mission is to provide forward based and deployed forces to the commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, to conduct Phase 0 engagement and theater security cooperation events, support contingencies and emergent requirements, and prepare to rapidly execute existing operations plans in support of the theater and national military strategies. III MEF is organized as a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) to provide a rapidly deployable, flexible self-contained fighting force. The Marines combine air, ground, and logistics forces to operate as a coherent, self-sufficient force. Each mission dictates the MAGTF's scale and structure, giving the Marine Corps the flexibility to respond to any crisis and making a "force in readiness." A MEF is the largest of all MAGTFs. ==History==

III Marine Expeditionary Force was activated as I Amphibious Corps 1 October 1942 in Camp Elliott, San Diego, California. Later that month, they were deployed to Noumea, New Caledonia. The unit was redesignated as III Amphibious Corps 15 April 1944. III Amphibious Corps was deactivated on 10 June 1946. III Marine Expeditionary Force was activated 6 May 1965 at Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam. III MEF was re-designated to III Marine Amphibious Force (III MAF) 7 May 1965. III Marine Amphibious Force deployed to Camp Courtney, Okinawa April 1971. III MAF was redesignated to III Marine Expeditionary Force 5 February 1988. ==Structure==

III Marine Expeditionary Force, together with I Marine Expeditionary Force, makes up Marine Forces, Pacific. Units • Ground combat element: 3rd Marine Division • Aviation combat element: 1st Marine Aircraft Wing • Logistics combat element: 3rd Marine Logistics Group • Command element: III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group (MIG) • III MEF Support Battalion • 3rd Intelligence Battalion • 3rd Radio Battalion • 7th Communication Battalion • 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) • 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade • 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit ==III MEF Band==

As the Eastern Hemisphere’s sole musical representative of the United States Marine Corps, the III MEF Band enjoys a busy schedule filled with performances across Okinawa and the Indo-Pacific region each year. The band capitalizes on this unique position by making it a priority to present community outreach performances and by participating in bi-lateral engagements with partner and allied nations throughout Asia and the Pacific. Consisting of musicians trained in a variety of musical styles, the III MEF Band is able to provide a number of small ensembles for civilian events, including brass and woodwind quintets, jazz combo, rock band, and brass band. The band was awarded the title of 2018 Marine Corps Band of the Year in February 2018. The III MEF Band was most recently award the 2023 Colonel George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence for Military Concert Bands. The following comprises the leadership of the band: • Band Officer – Captain Randel Metzinger • Enlisted Bandleader – Master Sergeant James Holt • Instrument Repair Technician – Gunnery Sergeant Mathew Medina • Enlisted Conductor – Gunnery Sergeant Martin Arreola Jr • Drum Major – Staff Sergeant Peter Yurkovich • Production Manager – Gunnery Sergeant Joshua W. Waldie Uniquely, the band used to have its own mascot. The history of the use of a mascot dates back to 1974, when the Commanding General of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing presented a Golden Retriever to the 1st MAW Band. Since then, the 1st MAW and 3D MARDIV Bands combined to form the III MEF Band and five mascots have served the unit. Since November of 2012, Sgt Chopper V continued this unique tradition and retired in 2024 after serving the Marines of the III MEF Band faithfully and honorably. Gallery ==Locations and units==

Japan Okinawa • Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler • Marine Corps Air Station Futenma • III Marine Expeditionary Force Command Element (III MEF CE) • III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group (III MHG) • III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters and Service Company (III MEF HQSVC) • 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (3rd MEB) • 3rd Marine Division (3rd MarDiv) • 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW) • 3rd Marine Logistics Group (3rd MLG) • 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) Honshu • Camp Fuji • Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni • Marine Aircraft Group 12 • Combat Logistics Company 36 United States Hawaii • Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay • 3rd Marine Regiment • Marine Aircraft Group 24 • Combat Logistics Battalion 3 • Combat Logistics Company 33 • Combat Logistics Company 35 South Korea • Camp Mujuk ==List of commanders==

==Notable former members== • William R. Collins, commanding general in the Vietnam War 1965 • Robert E. Cushman Jr., commanding general in the Vietnam War 1967–1969 • Leo J. Dulacki, served as chief of staff in the Vietnam War 1969–1970 • Roy Geiger, commanding general in World War II • Carl W. Hoffman, commanding general in the Vietnam War 1974–1975 • William G. Joslyn served as chief of staff in the Vietnam War 1970–1971 • Keith B. McCutcheon, commanding general in the Vietnam War 1970–1971 • Herman Nickerson Jr., commanding general in the Vietnam War 1969–1970 • Earl S. Piper, served as logistics officer in North China 1945–1946 • Jonas M. Platt, served as chief of staff in the Vietnam War 1965–1966 • Herman Poggemeyer Jr., commanding general in the Vietnam War 1973–1974 • Donn J. Robertson, commanding general in the Vietnam War 1970–1972 • Michael P. Ryan, commanding general in the Vietnam War 1973 • Lawrence F. Snowden, served as operations officer in the Vietnam War 1966–1967 • Rathvon M. Tompkins, served as deputy commander in the Vietnam War 1968 • William J. Van Ryzin, served as deputy commander in the Vietnam War 1968 • Lewis William Walt, commanding general in the Vietnam War 1965–1967 • Herbert L. Wilkerson, served as operations officer in the Vietnam War 1970 • Carl A. Youngdale, served as deputy commander in the Vietnam War 1968–1969 == Gallery ==

File:III MEF LOGO.jpg| File:USMC III Phib Corps Large.png == See also ==