Marine expeditionary force

A Marine expeditionary force (MEF), formerly known as a Marine amphibious force, is the largest type of a Marine air-ground task force. ^[1] A MEF is the principal building block of United States Marine Corps combat power. ^[2]

NATO Map Symbol

Structure

A MEF is larger than a Marine expeditionary unit (MEU) or Marine expeditionary brigade (MEB).

Each MEF consists of a MEF Information Group (MIG) as the command element, a Marine division (MARDIV) as the ground combat element, a Marine aircraft wing (MAW) as the aviation combat element, and a Marine logistics group (MLG) as the logistics combat element.

The MEF also contains a Special Operations Training Group (SOTG) and is the training section component for the MEU and MEB. The SOTG oversees the training and evaluation exercises for the MEU's annual Special Operations Capable Certification.

Organization

A MEF also commands several smaller MAGTFs, including MEBs and MEUs.

List of MEFs

I Marine Expeditionary Force

Camp Pendleton, California

Insignia	Name	Location
	1st Marine Division	Camp Pendleton, California
	3rd Marine Aircraft Wing	Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California
	1st Marine Logistics Group	Camp Pendleton, California
	1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade	Camp Pendleton, California
	11th Marine Expeditionary Unit	Camp Pendleton, California
	13th Marine Expeditionary Unit	Camp Pendleton, California
	15th Marine Expeditionary Unit	Camp Pendleton, California

II Marine Expeditionary Force

Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Insignia	Name	Location
	2nd Marine Division	Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
	2nd Marine Aircraft Wing	Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina
	2nd Marine Logistics Group	Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
	2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade	Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
	22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit	Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
	24th Marine Expeditionary Unit	Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
	26th Marine Expeditionary Unit	Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

III Marine Expeditionary Force

Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan

Insignia	Name	Location
	3rd Marine Division	Camp Courtney, Okinawa
	1st Marine Aircraft Wing	Camp Foster, Okinawa
	3rd Marine Logistics Group	Camp Kinser, Okinawa
	3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade	Camp Butler, Okinawa
	31st Marine Expeditionary Unit	Camp Hansen, Okinawa

Marine Forces Reserve

New Orleans, Louisiana

Insignia	Name	Location
	4th Marine Division	New Orleans, Louisiana
	4th Marine Aircraft Wing	New Orleans, Louisiana
	4th Marine Logistics Group	New Orleans, Louisiana

References

1. MCDP 3: Expeditionary Operations. Washington, D.C.: United States Marine Corps. 1998.
2. Expeditionary Operations. Washington, D.C.: United States Marine Corps. 1998. p. 73 – via Internet Archive.