Dedicated and versatile, Marine Security Guards have proven themselves invaluable, and the need for them continues to grow. Marines are standing post at 149 embassies and consulates in 133 countries, and detachments are set to commence operations at 10 additional posts in the coming decade.

Overarching this global array of detachments is the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group. MCESG works closely with the Department of States Diplomatic Security Service at every level, with both their training and operational arms, to ensure that each embassy guard is ready and equipped for the challenges they are likely to face.

MCESG evolved from the Marine Security Guard Battalion, which first provided Marines to diplomatic facilities in 1949 with the primary mission of safeguarding our nation’s classified information. The primary mission has not changed, but the ‘can-do’ spirit that prepared embassy guards for their mission at the programs’ outset was augmented by a formal training program in the 1950’s, and further refined with a comprehensive candidate screening program in the 1980’s.

It was not until the Global War on Terrorism began that MSG Bn. (as MCESG was still designated) accelerated its transformation to meet the threat of sudden attack by terrorists’ intent on wholesale execution of Americans.

As a result, in 2004, when a team of al Qaeda terrorists assaulted the United States consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a lone MSG sergeant barred their entry, reacted his detachment then, between exchanges of Beretta, shotgun and Kalashnikov fire, assisted his team in shepherding embassy personnel to safety and protecting them until the terrorist threat was eliminated. That Marine, Sgt. Manual Matos, was awarded the Bronze Star with combat ‘V’ for his demonstrated courage and quick-thinking under fire.

The re-designation of MSG Battalion to Marine Corps Embassy Security Group this year was an overdue acknowledgement the battalion had not only outgrown battalion size - consisting at the time of nine ‘‘companies” each commanded by a lieutenant colonel – but also required diverse and specialized functions – as demonstrated by their heavily tasked behavioral science, legal, comptroller and other special staff sections. MSG Bn. evolved into MCESG through the expanding number of detachments, and through the diverse and complex international challenges overcome in the past decades.

Today, United States citizens and sensitive diplomatic information remain valuable targets for foreign intelligence agents, criminals and terrorists. Embassy guards have always been skilled in protecting against foreign intelligence collection, but now they must also be well-schooled in anti-terrorism and internal defense.

By necessity, Embassy detachments remain small, and so when assaults occur, Marine Security Guards expect to be outnumbered by their opponents. Through teamwork, technology, training and leadership, however, the small detachment acts with a single mindset. Intimately familiar with the building they must defend; the Marine Security Guard Detachment is a formidable adversary to any foe, and an asset to United States diplomacy.