1st 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 | |
| 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 at 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.
Pronunciation of the Roman numeral designator: As a Roman numeral the capital letter "I", representing one (1), is properly pronounced as "One." However, there are some who erroneously pronounce the number as either "First," or either intentionally, or unknowingly, pronounce it as "Eye," as in the letter "I."
The convention of using Roman numerals to designate a MEF, which is itself the Marine Corps equivalent organization to an Army corps, stems from the U.S. Army practice that began in the American Civil War, and continues today, of numbering corps (two or more divisions with supporting troops, and sometimes including separate brigades, regiments, groups, or battalions, all under a unified corps headquarters, usually commanded by a lieutenant general) with Roman numerals. Corps, themselves being the first-level sub-unit of a "field army," or a numbered, or named, army (e.g., First U.S. Army, or the Army of the Potomac).
During the First World War, the 4th Marine Brigade, as part of the U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Division, came under the U.S. Army I Corps, American Expeditionary Forces. With the expansion of the Marine Corps to six divisions and five air wings during the Second World War, the Marine Corps created two "Amphibious Corps," I Marine Amphibious Corps (later re-designated as III Amphibious Corps) and V Amphibious Corps, continuing the custom began by the Army. Modern Marine Expeditionary Forces, or MEFs (for a time known as Marine Amphibious [italics added] Forces, or MABs) continue the U.S. Marine Corps legacy as corps-equivalent organizations designated by Roman numerals.
...
Wikipedia