FMFLANT is under operational control of the Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet Forces Command, when deployed.

In the early 1920s, the Marine Corps began developing the advanced base doctrine from a defensive posture to one that included offensive amphibious operations.

[1] As the expeditionary warfare concept developed, in December 1933 the Fleet Marine Force was established,[2] with one brigade at Quantico, Virginia, and one in San Diego, California.

[8] In the early 1990s, the post also became the designated commander of Marine Corps Forces South (MARFORSOUTH).

[9] These were both "designate" headquarters, meaning they only had a minimal staff during peacetime that would become a larger full service component command only during operations.