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United States Marine Corps Forces, Korea

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United States Marine Corps Forces Korea
Founded1 June 1995
Country United States
Branch United States Marine Corps
Part of Marine Corps Forces Pacific
Garrison/HQCamp Humphreys
Pyeongtaek, South Korea
Commanders
CommanderMaj Gen William E. Souza III
Sergeant MajorSgt Maj Hector J. Soto-Rodriguez

The U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea (abbreviated MARFORK) is the Marine Corps service component of United States Forces Korea and the United Nations Command. MARFORK is responsible for commanding Marines assigned to the USFK and the UNC, advising the two commands on the proper support and employment of Marine forces, and contributing to the defense of the Republic of Korea with the deployment of Marines. The head of MARFORK is also the representative of the U.S. Marine Corps to the Commandant of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps. It is headquartered at Camp Humphreys, South Korea.

History

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Marines were present during the U.S. Expedition to Korea in 1871.[1] During the Korean War in 1950, the 1st Marine Division participated in the U.S. campaign. Marines were deployed to Korea at the request of General Douglas MacArthur, the U.S. Commander-in-Chief in the Far East, and fought in the Battle of Inchon and the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.[2]

Headquarters Marine Corps Forces Korea was activated on 1 June 1995 as part of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (FMFPAC).[2] MARFORK is tasked with coordinating and planning all operational, training, and logistical issues related to Marines in South Korea during peacetime. In the event of a war, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC) will provide Marine Forces Korea with a full staff for military operations, and MARFORK would oversee the Korean theater of operations. The Commander of MARFORK is also the Commander of the Combined Marine Forces Command (COMCMFC), and is the U.S. Marine Corps representative to the head of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC), as well as representing the Commander of MARFORPAC. MARFORK assists and provides Marine capabilities to the Commander, U.S. Forces Korea and United Nations Command.[3]

Between 1995[4] and at least 2001,[5] the commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC) was also the commander-designate of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Korea (MARFORK). The title was nominally held by the commander of MARFORPAC, and he was represented in South Korea by a small staff.[4] In the event of a war, the MARFORPAC commander and much of his staff would relocate to South Korea and would form the Combined Marine Forces Command, together with the ROKMC leadership.[6]

List of commanders

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Commander, MARFORPAC; Commanding General, FMFPAC; Commander, MARCENT (designate); and Commander, MARFORK (designate):

Commander, MARFORK:

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Bauer, K. Jack (February 1948). The Korean Expedition of 1871. Proceedings of the United States Naval Institute, Vol. 74/2/540.
  2. ^ a b About – History. U.S. Marines. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  3. ^ Organization of the United States Marine Corps. U.S. Marines – p. 2-7. Published August 2015, amended July 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Current Operations. Headquarters Marine Corps. 6 April 1998.
  5. ^ a b c MarForPac changes command. Hawaii Marine, Vo. 30, No. 32. Published 16 August 2001.
  6. ^ Howell, Jefferson D. (1996). U.S. Marines in the Pacific. Asia Pacific Defense Forum. Summer 1996. Vol. 21, No. 2-4.
  7. ^ Hodge Seck, Hope (9 December 2014). Committee approves third star for two Marine generals. Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  8. ^ Major General Christopher Owens. Naval Postgraduate School. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  9. ^ Hodge Seck, Hope (18 June 2015). 2-star leaves Cherry Point to lead Marines in South Korea. Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
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