United States Marine Corps

===Operating Forces===
The Operating Forces are divided into three categories: Marine Corps Forces (MARFOR) assigned to unified combatant commands, namely, the [[Fleet Marine Force]]s (FMF); [[Marine Corps Security Force Regiment|Security Forces]] guarding high-risk naval installations; and [[Marine Corps Security Guard|Security Guard]] detachments at [[list of American embassies|American embassies]]. Under the "Forces for Unified Commands" memo, in accordance with the [[Unified Command Plan]], Marine Corps Forces are assigned to each of the combatant commands at the discretion of the secretary of defense. Since 1991, the Marine Corps has maintained component headquarters at each of the regional unified combatant commands.<ref>{{cite book|title=Marine Corps Operations |author =United States Marine Corps|page=19|publisher =Cosimo, Inc|year=2007 |isbn =978-1-60206-062-3}}</ref>

Marine Corps Forces are divided into [[United States Marine Corps Forces Command|Forces Command]] (MARFORCOM) and [[United States Marine Corps Forces, Pacific|Pacific Command]] (MARFORPAC), each headed by a [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] dual-posted as the commanding general of either [[Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic|FMF Atlantic (FMFLANT)]] or [[Fleet Marine Force, Pacific|FMF Pacific (FMFPAC)]], respectively. MARFORCOM/FMFLANT has operational control of the [[II Marine Expeditionary Force]]; MARFORPAC/FMFPAC has operational control of the [[I Marine Expeditionary Force]] and [[III Marine Expeditionary Force]].<ref name="ChenowethNihart"/>

====Marine Air-Ground Task Force====
{{main|Marine Air-Ground Task Force}}

The basic framework for deployable Marine units is the [[Marine Air-Ground Task Force]] (MAGTF), a flexible structure of varying size. A MAGTF integrates a [[ground combat element]] (GCE), an [[aviation combat element]] (ACE), and a [[logistics combat element]] (LCE) under a common [[Command element (United States Marine Corps)|command element]] (CE), capable of operating independently or as part of a larger coalition. The MAGTF structure reflects a strong preference in the Corps toward self-sufficiency and a commitment to [[combined arms]], both essential assets to an [[Expeditionary warfare|expeditionary force]]. The Marine Corps has a wariness and distrust of reliance on its sister services and towards joint operations in general.<ref name="Warren"/>