Marine Times reported new Marine Commandant General Dunford is making a move “back to the future.”

In an effort to return to regionally aligned forces and create mission overlap between Marine Expeditionary forces I – III, the three MEF’s are assigned specific areas of the world and missions.   I MEF based on the west coast will focus on major operations and campaigns.  East coast based II MEF, will focus on crisis response at the Marine expeditionary brigade level first.  Japan-based III MEF remains “regionally oriented” as a first response force for all operations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Former deputy commandant for Marine Corps Plans, Policies and Operations.Lt. Gen. Jan Huly observed, “Back before 9/11 … that’s kind of the way MEFs were oriented.”

The realignment refocuses the Marines on regional crisis response,