Marine Forces Pacific

Marine Forces Pacific. It is the largest of the United States Marine Corps's component commands, serving as the service component for the United States Indo-Pacific Command. The command provides combat-ready forces for operations across the vast Indo-Pacific region and is headquartered at Camp H. M. Smith in Hawaii. With a history dating to World War II, it commands the majority of the Fleet Marine Force and is central to United States strategy in the Asia-Pacific.

History

The command traces its origins to the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, established in 1944 under commanders like General Holland Smith during the Pacific War. It played a pivotal role in major campaigns including the Battle of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Okinawa. After the war, it was involved in the Korean War, with units like the 1st Marine Division fighting at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. During the Vietnam War, forces under its purview conducted operations such as the Battle of Hue. The command was redesignated in 1992, integrating forces from the former Marine Forces Atlantic and aligning under the United States Pacific Command, later renamed United States Indo-Pacific Command.

Organization

The command is organized under a headquarters element at Camp H. M. Smith and exercises administrative and operational control over two major subordinate commands. These are Marine Forces Japan, headquartered at Camp S. D. Butler on Okinawa, and Marine Forces Korea, located at Camp Humphreys in South Korea. It also maintains a close coordinating relationship with I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton and III Marine Expeditionary Force on Okinawa, which are under the operational control of United States Indo-Pacific Command for deployments and exercises.

Area of responsibility

Its area of responsibility spans over half the Earth's surface, encompassing the entire Indo-Pacific region as defined by United States Indo-Pacific Command. This vast area includes critical waterways like the South China Sea and the East China Sea, and extends from the west coast of the United States to the western border of India, and from the Arctic to Antarctica. The command focuses on maintaining stability, ensuring freedom of navigation, and strengthening alliances with nations such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines.

Component units

Major operational forces include the III Marine Expeditionary Force, forward-deployed in Japan and a key element of the U.S.-Japan Alliance. The I Marine Expeditionary Force, based in California, is a primary crisis-response force. These forces comprise major subordinate elements like the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine Division, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Key supporting establishments include Marine Corps Base Camp Butler in Okinawa and Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Commanders

Notable former commanders include General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., who later served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; General Robert B. Neller, who became the Commandant of the Marine Corps; and General David H. Berger, the current Commandant of the Marine Corps. The commander also traditionally serves as the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. The current commander is General Stephen M. Sklenka, who previously served as Deputy Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command.

Operations and exercises

The command routinely conducts major bilateral and multilateral exercises to ensure readiness and strengthen partnerships. These include Exercise Keen Sword with the Japan Self-Defense Forces, Exercise Foal Eagle with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, and the large-scale Exercise Rim of the Pacific. It has provided forces for contingency operations such as Operation Tomodachi following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and maintains a continuous rotational presence in Australia under the Force Posture Initiatives agreement.