Since 1800 the Marines have been in the forefront protecting American lives and property. In 1835, we can find the first recorded instance of direct protective support of an American diplomatic mission. During the next 70 years, scores of landings were made by Marines to provide this protective support to foreign service missions and American communities in periods of unusual turmoil. Because of the increased intelligence activities of various foreign nations following World War II, it became apparent to Congress that a pressing need existed for around-the-clock protection of United States diplomatic missions abroad by alert and reliable American personnel. This need was enacted into law with the passage of the Foreign Service Act of 1946. "The Secretary of the Navy is authorized, upon the request of the Secretary of State, to assign enlisted members of the Navy and the Marine Corps to serve as custodians under supervision of the Principal Officer at an Embassy, Legation or Consulate". This provision has been incorporated in 10 U.S.C. 713 by the 34th Congress.
Under the legislation, the Secretary of the Navy placed the responsibility upon the Marine Corps to provide enlisted Marines who meet the Department of State's security guard requirements at Foreign Service posts throughout the world.
Marine Corps personnel assigned to the Marine Security Guard program are members of the Marine Security Guard Battalion headquarters at Quantico, Virginia. The Marine Security Guard School is also located there. Upon completion of Marine Security Guard School, Marines are assigned to a Foreign Service post under the immediate command of a Marine Staff Non-Commisioned Officer (Detachment Commander), who is operationally responsible to the ambassador or appointed delegates. In addition to the Detachment Commander, there is assigned to each regional area a Company Commander whose duties are specified by Headquarters Marine Corps.
In addition to wanting to meet and overcome the challenges, physical and mental, of earning the title "Marine," one reason Marines give for joining the Corps is a chance for travel and adventure.
Perhaps no other billet in the Marines, or any service, can live up to this desire more than Marine Security Guard duty.
"Prestige, excitement, pride, worldwide travel, adventure and challenge," said Gunnery Sgt. Tony Stewart, a Marine Corps career planner." You name it, MSG duty has got it."
Marine Security Guards, lance corporal through sergeant, are responsible for providing security at more than 120 U.S. embassies and consulates around the world, and generally serve two 15-month tours at two posts, one of which will likely be a hardship post in a third world country. Sergeants and below cannot be married.
Staff noncommissioned officers may be married and accompanied, and serve two 18-month tours, according to Stewart.
"No matter what rank you hold, you might not ever get a chance to hold such a high level of responsibility as when you serve on embassy duty," said Stewart.
Those on MSG duty are primarily responsible for embassies' interior security, normally the lobby or main entrance. Guards are trained to react to terrorist acts as well as a variety of emergencies such as fires, riots, demonstrations and evacuations.
"The sense of responsibility and the confidence instilled upon each individual Marine far outweigh anything else an enlisted Marine could experience," said Gunnery Sgt. Craig Elliott, who served on MSG duty at the U.S. embassies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Quito, Ecuador.
Representatives for MSG duty generally make yearly visits to Marine Corps installations. For more information on MSG duty, contact your career planner.
"The worse part about MSG duty for me," said Elliott, "was the conclusion of my tour."
