Third Battalion Eleventh Marines was activated 1 May 1943 at Victoria, Australia as the Fifth Battalion, Eleventh Marines, First Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. The Battalion was redesignated Third Battalion, Eleventh Marines on 7 May 1944. During World War II, Third Battalion participated in the Eastern New Guinea, New Britain, Peleliu and Okinawa campaigns. Following World War II, Third Battalion participated in the occupation of North China from September 1945 to January 1947. In December 1946, the battalion was attached to the Seventh Marines. The battalion was relocated to Camp Pendleton, California in January 1947 and was assigned to the Third Marine Brigade. The battalion was deactivated on 30 September 1947.

Third Battalion, Eleventh Marines was reactivated on 20 August 1950 at Camp Pendleton and was assigned to the First Marine Division, FMF. The battalion deployed in September 1950 to Kobe, Japan and participated in the Korean War, operating from Inchon, Seoul, the Chosin Reservoir, the East, Central, and Western Fronts. Third Battalion participated in the defense of the Korean demilitarized Zone from July 1953 to February 1955. The battalion was relocated to Camp Pendleton in February1955.

In May 1965, Third Battalion was attached to Regimental Landing Team Seven and deployed to the Western Pacific. The battalion was assigned to the Third Marine Division in June 1965 and was later reassigned to the First Marine Division in March 1966 to October 1970, the battalion participated in the war in Vietnam, operating from Chu Lai, Da Nang, Dai Loc, and Hoi An. Third Battalion relocated to Camp Pendleton in October 1970 and was assigned to the Fifth Marine Amphibious Brigade.

The battalion was reassigned in April 1971 to the First Marine Division, FMF. Third Battalion relocated to its current home at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California in February 1990. The battalion participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Southwest Asia from August 1990 to March 1991. Most recently, the battalion was deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia for Operation Restore Hope from December 1992 to April 1993.

Today the Third Battalion, Eleventh Marines stand ready to deploy anywhere in the world as part of the First Marine Division's Maritime Prepositioned Force.