I Marine Expeditionary Force

I Marine Expeditionary Force
I MEF insignia
Active	8 November 1969 – present
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Marine Air-Ground Task Force
Role	Expeditionary combat force
Part of	U.S. Marine Forces Pacific
Garrison/HQ	MCB Camp Pendleton, California, U.S.
Engagements	Persian Gulf War Operation Desert Storm Global War on Terrorism Operation Enduring Freedom Iraq War Operation Iraqi Freedom Invasion of Iraq First Battle of Fallujah Operation Vigilant Resolve Second Battle of Fallujah Operation Phantom Fury
Commanders
Current commander	LtGen L. A. Craparotta, USMC
Notable commanders	Gen Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., Gen Anthony Zinni, Gen Michael Hagee, Gen James T. Conway, Gen James Mattis, Gen John F. Sattler

The I Marine Expeditionary Force ("I" pronounced "One") is a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) of the United States Marine Corps primarily composed of the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and 1st Marine Logistics Group. It is based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

I Marine Expeditionary Force is the largest of the three MEFs in the Fleet Marine Force and is often referred to as the "Warfighting MEF" for its consistent involvement and contributions in major armed conflicts.

Etymology

Among U.S. Marines, I MEF is pronounced as "eye MEF"

Mission

When directed, I MEF deploys and is employed as a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) in support of Combatant Commander (COCOM) requirements for contingency response or Major Theater War; with appropriate augmentation, serves as the core element of a Joint Task Force (JTF); prepares and deploys combat ready MAGTF’s to support COCOM presence and crisis response; and supports service and COCOM initiatives as required.

Lineage

• Activated on 8 November 1969 at Okinawa, Japan as the I Marine Expeditionary Force
• Redesignated on 18 August 1970 as the I Marine Amphibious Force (I MAF)
• Relocated in April 1971 to Camp Pendleton, California
• Redesignated on 5 February 1988 as the "I Marine Expeditionary Force"

Structure

Structure of I MEF

Units

• Ground combat element: 1st Marine Division
• Aviation combat element: 3rd Marine Air Wing
• Logistics combat element: 1st Marine Logistics Group
• Command element: I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group
  • I MEF Headquarters
  • 1st Intelligence Battalion
  • 1st Law Enforcement Battalion
  • 1st Radio Battalion
  • 9th Communication Battalion
  • 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO)
• 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade
• 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit
• 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit
• 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit

Recent service

• Operation Desert Shield – Southwest Asia – August 1990 – April 1991
• Operation Desert Storm – Southwest Asia – August 1990 – April 1991
• Operation Restore Hope- December 1992 – May 1993
• Operation Southern Watch – Iraq – January 1998 – February 1998
• Operation Desert Thunder – Iraq – February 1998 – June 1998
• Operation Enduring Freedom – Kuwait, Afghanistan – November 2002
• Operation Iraqi Freedom – Iraq – March 2003 – 2010

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to I Marine Expeditionary Force.

• I MEF official website

United States Marine Corps
Leadership	Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Marine Corps generals United States Congress House Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Senate Subcommittee on Seapower
Major commands	Organization of the Marine Corps Headquarters Marine Corps Marine Forces Command II Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Pacific I Marine Expeditionary Force III Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Reserve Fleet Marine Force Atlantic Pacific
Structure	Marine Air-Ground Task Force Bases Battalions Regiments Brigades Divisions MEF/Corps Marine aviation Marine expeditionary unit Special Operations Marine Raiders Marine Raider Regiment Recon Force Division
Personnel and training	Personnel Personnel Rank insignia MOS Notable Marines Historical Marines Marine Astronauts Criminal Investigation Division Judge Advocate Division Chaplain of the Marine Corps Associated organizations Training Training Recruit Training School of Infantry Officer Candidates School The Basic School Martial Arts Program
Uniforms and equipment	Uniforms Awards Badges Weapons Vehicles and aircraft Individual equipment
History and traditions	History Culture Acronyms and terms Birthday Ball Eagle, Globe, and Anchor Marine Band Drum and Bugle Corps Service Numbers Marine Corps War Memorial Flag Marine One Marines' Hymn National Museum Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Rifleman's Creed Semper Fidelis Silent Drill Platoon History of Hispanics in the USMC History of women in the USMC Women's Reserve Honorary Marine Toys for Tots White House Sentries
Portal Category

Major Commands of the United States Marine Corps
Headquarters Marine Corps
Operating Forces
Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic	Marine Corps Forces Command II Marine Expeditionary Force 2nd Marine Division 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing 2nd Marine Logistics Group 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Marine Corps Forces, Europe Marine Corps Forces, South Marine Corps Forces, Strategic
Fleet Marine Force, Pacific	Marine Corps Forces, Pacific I Marine Expeditionary Force 1st Marine Division 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing 1st Marine Logistics Group 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit III Marine Expeditionary Force 3rd Marine Division 1st Marine Aircraft Wing 3rd Marine Logistics Group 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Marine Forces Central Command
Other Operating Forces	Marine Forces Reserve 4th Marine Division 4th Marine Aircraft Wing 4th Marine Logistics Group 3rd Civil Affairs Group 4th Civil Affairs Group others Marine Corps Security Forces Marine Security Guard MARSOC
Support Establishment
Support Establishment	Combat Development Command Recruit Depots Logistics Command Recruiting Command Marine Band
Marine Corps Installations Command	Marine Corps Installations East Marine Corps Installations West Marine Corps Installations Pacific