| Marine Corps Embassy Security Group | |
|---|---|
 MCESG logo | |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Country |  United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Marine Corps |
| Type | MarinesSecurity forces |
| Role | Embassysecurity |
| Size | approx. 1,800 at 176 locations[1] |
| Garrison/HQ | MCB Quantico,Virginia, U.S. |
| Nicknames | "Marine Security Guards", "Marine Embassy Guards" |
| Mottos | In Every Clime and Place |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Clifford S. Magee[2] |
AMarine Security Guard (MSG), also known as aMarine Embassy Guard, is a member of theMarine Corps Embassy Security Group (formerlyMarine Security Guard Battalion),[3][4] abrigade-sized organization of theUnited States Marine Corps (USMC) whose detachments provide security atAmerican embassies,consulates, and other official U.S. government offices, such as the United States Mission toNATO inBrussels, Belgium.[a]
The USMC has a long history of cooperation with theU.S. Department of State, which administers the nation's diplomatic posts; Marines have served on special missions ascouriers, guards for embassies and delegations, and security for U.S. citizens in thefrontier. Notable examples includeengagements atDerna andTripoli, the secret mission ofArchibald H. Gillespie in theMexican-American War, and actions during theBoxer Rebellion.
However, the formal and permanent use of Marines as security guards began with theForeign Service Act of 1946, which authorized theSecretary of the Navy, upon the request of theSecretary of State, to assign Marines to serve as custodians under the supervision of the senior diplomatic officer at a diplomatic post; pursuant to the act, the first jointMemorandum of Agreement between the Department of the Navy and the Department of State was signed on 15 December 1948 regarding the provisions of assigning Marines overseas. Initially trained at theForeign Service Institute, the first Marines arrived atTangier andBangkok in early 1949; the Marine Corps has assumed primary training responsibility since November 1954.
The authority granted in theForeign Service Act of 1946 has since been replaced by10 U.S.C. § 8183 and the most recent Memorandum of Agreement was signed in October 2020. The Corps is budgeted to train and maintain a limited cadre of guards to cover over 100 embassies worldwide. Embassy duty has been a crucial and longstanding aspect of the Marines’ mission. In response to the2012 Benghazi attack, Congress ordered a near doubling of Marine Security Guards in the midst of a post-war drawdown in overall USMC numbers.[5] The USMC has responded by redeploying one company from1st Battalion 1st Marines while additional guards are trained.[6]
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The primary mission of the MSG is to provide security, particularly the protection ofclassified information and equipment vital to thenational security of the United States at American diplomatic posts. This is accomplished under the guidance and operational control of a civilian federal agent of theDiplomatic Security Service, known as theRegional Security Officer (RSO) who is the senior U.S. law enforcement representative and security attaché at U.S. diplomatic posts around the world.[7] In addition, MSGs provide security for visiting American dignitaries and frequently assist the RSO in supervising host country or locally employed security forces that provide additional security for the exterior of diplomatic missions. The MSGs fall under operational control of the RSO and are administratively controlled by the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group.
Marine Security Guards also provide protection for personnel and classified material located within designated diplomatic missions.[8]
MSGs focus on the interior security of a diplomatic post's buildings. In only the most extreme emergency situations are they authorized to provide special protection to the senior diplomatic officer off the diplomatic compound. MSGs carry a certain level ofdiplomatic immunity in the performance of their official duties.[9]
The Marine Security Guards number approximately a thousand Marines at 174 posts (also known as "detachments"), organized into nine regional MSG commands and located in over 135 countries in 18time zones, as well as its headquarters atMarine Corps Base Quantico.[2] Headquarters Company, along with MSG School, is composed of approximately 100 Marines providing administrative, logistical, legal, training and education support.
The remaining nine regions are commanded by alieutenant colonel, and typically entail a number of detachments in several countries. The companies are as follows:
| Region | Headquarters | Area of responsibility | Detachments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfurt,Germany | Eastern Europe andEurasia | 20 |
| 2 | Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates | South Asia and theMiddle East | 20 |
| 3 | Bangkok,Thailand | East Asia andPacific | 23 |
| 4 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | North America | 13 |
| 5 | Frankfurt, Germany | Western Europe andScandinavia | 20 |
| 6 | Johannesburg,South Africa | East Africa andSouthern Africa | 24 |
| 7 | Frankfurt,Germany | North Africa andWest Africa | 20 |
| 8 | Frankfurt,Germany | Central Europe | 19 |
| 9 | Fort Lauderdale,Florida | Mexico,Central America, and theCaribbean | 21 |
Each Detachment is commanded by aStaff Non-Commissioned Officer, being one of the few instances where an enlisted Marine may hold the title of "commander". Generally between the ranks ofStaff Sergeant andMaster Gunnery Sergeant, Marine Detachment Commanders serve two tours, which generally last 18 months each. Unlike their subordinates, however, Detachment Commanders may be married. The minimum detachment size is seven MSGs (Marine Security Guards) and one detachment commander. This allows for posts to be manned at all times while allowing each of the Marines to conduct other routine training, internal management of the detachment and have some time off.A Marine Security Guard usually serves three 12-month tours of duty. Marine Security Guard "watch standers" are enlisted Marines from the rank ofPrivate First Class to Staff Sergeant.[10]
After every three years as a Marine Security Guard with the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group, any Marine is entitled to theMarine Corps Security Guard Ribbon. According to the Marine Corps Uniform Regulations Order (Section 4-4a Line 24) Marine Security Guards are authorized to wear subsequentservice stars.
Marines of anyMilitary Occupational Specialty may volunteer for a three-yeartour of duty;[11] however, non-Staff NCOs withdependents are not eligible, as well as Marines with potentially offensivetattoos, legal or security restrictions, non–United States citizenship,dual citizenship, significant financial indiscretions, and any other restriction that would prevent atop secretclearance.[12]
Before being assigned to a Foreign Service post, a Marine accepted into the MSG program must successfully complete a training program located at the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group (MCESG), which is located atMarine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. Marine Security Guard duty is one of a few special duty assignments available to qualified Marines. Marine Security Guard duty can be dangerous; there have been instances where Marines have been killed during this duty (most recently,CplSteve Crowley in 1979,Cpl Robert V. McMaugh in 1983,[13] andSgt Jesse Aliganga in 1998). Embassy duty is a crucial aspect of the Marine Corps' mission with a long tradition; the Corps is currently tasked to train and maintain a cadre of guards to cover 181 embassies and consulates worldwide with the ability to augment assigned forces as necessary.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Marine Corps.
Along with NavySeabees assigned embassy duty, an MSG is a rare example of uniformed member of the U.S. armed forces under the operational command of a civilian, albeit law enforcement head.
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