Marine Forces Central Command (MARCENT) commands all United States Marine Corps

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...

 forces assigned to United States Central Command

United States Central Command

The United States Central Command is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense...

. They do not have any actual combat units but do command units that are attached from other Marine Commands. In the CENTCOM region (see Unified Combatant Command

Unified Combatant Command

A Unified Combatant Command is a United States Department of Defense command that is composed of forces from at least two Military Departments and has a broad and continuing mission. These commands are established to provide effective command and control of U.S. military forces, regardless of...

), 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) are responsible for any Marine operations in the area. In fact, the shore establishments and any support group are directly attached to the U.S. Central Command, while the combat elements mentioned above are attached to the U.S. Pacific Command, and therefore to the Marine Forces Pacific.

The Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, headquartered at Camp Pendleton, California is dual-hatted as Commander, U.S. Marine Forces Central Command (COMUSMARCENT), the Marine Corps component commander to the Commander, U.S. Central Command (CDRUSCENTCOM). The Deputy Commanding General (DEPCOMUSMARCENT) is headquartered in a complex adjacent to USCENTCOM at MacDill AFB, Florida.