United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific
Encyclopedia
Marine Forces Pacific are the forces from the United States Marine Corps
that fall under the United States Pacific Command
. It is the largest field command in the Marine Corps. Headquartered at Camp H. M. Smith
in Hawaii
, it commands all Marine Corps bases and stations in the Pacific
and on the West Coast of the United States
.
s (MAGTF): the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) and the III Marine Expeditionary Force
(III MEF). Each MEF comprises a command element (CE), a ground combat element
(GCE), an aviation combat element
(ACE), and a logistics combat element
(LCE). MarForPac is a subordinate command under the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific
(FMFPac).
Marine forces can work in coordination with the other components of the United States Pacific Command
, such as the United States Army Pacific, the United States Pacific Fleet
, the Pacific Air Forces, Special Operations Commands in the area. Marine Forces Pacific area of operations also covers the Middle East
with the subordinate Marine Forces Central Command
.
Longstanding missions for MarForPac include the defense of South Korea
and Japan
and also the U.S. West Coast and Alaska. Marine Forces Pacific also provides combat units to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. They also have Marine Expeditionary Units embarked to counter threats to the interests of the United States of America.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
that fall under the United States Pacific Command
United States Pacific Command
The United States Pacific Command is a Unified Combatant Command of the United States armed forces responsible for the Pacific Ocean area. It is led by the Commander, Pacific Command , who is the supreme military authority for the various branches of the Armed Forces of the United States serving...
. It is the largest field command in the Marine Corps. Headquartered at Camp H. M. Smith
Camp H. M. Smith
Camp H. M. Smith is a United States Marine Corps installation in the Hawaiian town of Aiea on the island of Oahu, near the community of Halawa Heights...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, it commands all Marine Corps bases and stations in the Pacific
Pacific Rim
The Pacific Rim refers to places around the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The term "Pacific Basin" includes the Pacific Rim and islands in the Pacific Ocean...
and on the West Coast of the United States
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
.
Organization
The Marine Forces, Pacific, is composed of two Marine Air-Ground Task ForceMarine Air-Ground Task Force
The Marine Air-Ground Task Force is a term used by the United States Marine Corps to describe the principal organization for all missions across the range of military operations. MAGTFs are a balanced air-ground, combined arms task organization of Marine Corps forces under a single commander that...
s (MAGTF): the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) and the III Marine Expeditionary Force
III Marine Expeditionary Force
The III Marine Expeditionary Force is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps that is forward-deployed and able to deploy rapidly and conduct operations across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to amphibious assault and high intensity combat. III...
(III MEF). Each MEF comprises a command element (CE), a ground combat element
Ground combat element
In the United States Marine Corps, the Ground combat element is the land force of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force . It provides power projection and force for the MAGTF.-Role within the MAGTF:...
(GCE), an aviation combat element
Aviation combat element
In the United States Marine Corps, the aviation combat element or air combat element is the air arm of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force . It provides rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing aircraft, support equipment, pilots, maintenance personnel, as well as command and control assets to the...
(ACE), and a logistics combat element
Logistics Combat Element
In the United States Marine Corps, the Logistics Combat Element , formerly combat service support element, is the portion of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force responsible with providing logistical support...
(LCE). MarForPac is a subordinate command under the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific
Fleet Marine Force, Pacific
The United States Fleet Marine Force, Pacific is the largest maritime landing force in the world. Its units are spread across the Pacific Ocean and reports to the United States Pacific Command. It is headquartered at MCB Camp H. M...
(FMFPac).
Mission
Marine Forces Pacific is responsible for amphibious actions and typical Marine missions in the Pacific Theatre (Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, China, Vietnam, Australia...).Marine forces can work in coordination with the other components of the United States Pacific Command
United States Pacific Command
The United States Pacific Command is a Unified Combatant Command of the United States armed forces responsible for the Pacific Ocean area. It is led by the Commander, Pacific Command , who is the supreme military authority for the various branches of the Armed Forces of the United States serving...
, such as the United States Army Pacific, the United States Pacific Fleet
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
, the Pacific Air Forces, Special Operations Commands in the area. Marine Forces Pacific area of operations also covers the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
with the subordinate Marine Forces Central Command
United States Marine Forces Central Command
Marine Forces Central Command commands all United States Marine Corps forces assigned to United States Central Command. They do not have any actual combat units but do command units that are attached from other Marine Commands...
.
Longstanding missions for MarForPac include the defense of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and also the U.S. West Coast and Alaska. Marine Forces Pacific also provides combat units to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. They also have Marine Expeditionary Units embarked to counter threats to the interests of the United States of America.
Notable former commanders
- LtGenLieutenant General (United States)In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
Keith J. StalderKeith J. StalderLieutenant General Keith J. Stalder is a retired United States Marine Corps general, who last commanded the United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific from August 22, 2008 to September 2, 2010.-Biography:... - LtGen John F. GoodmanJohn F. GoodmanLieutenant General John Floyd Goodman is a retired United States Marine Corps general. He is currently Director of the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance , United States Pacific Command having assumed the directorship on October 17, 2008.-Early life:John...
- LtGen Earl B. HailstonEarl B. HailstonEarl B. Hailston is a retired Marine Corps Lieutenant General. He was Commanding General of United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific, U.S. Marine Forces Central Command, United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific, and U.S. Marine Corps Bases Pacific....
- LtGen Frank LibuttiFrank LibuttiFrank Libutti is a retired United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General who also served as the head of the New York City Police Department's Counter Terrorism Bureau, Deputy Police Commissioner, and oversaw the Department of Homeland Security's intelligence operations as Undersecretary for...
- LtGen Carlton W. Fulford, Jr.Carlton W. Fulford, Jr.Carlton W. Fulford, Jr. is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general who served as Deputy Commander in Chief, United States European Command from 2000 to 2002.-Biography:Carlton Fulford, Jr...
See also
- United States Pacific CommandUnited States Pacific CommandThe United States Pacific Command is a Unified Combatant Command of the United States armed forces responsible for the Pacific Ocean area. It is led by the Commander, Pacific Command , who is the supreme military authority for the various branches of the Armed Forces of the United States serving...
- U.S. Marine Forces Central Command