Marine Security Guard Program at Risk: Can the Marine Corps Continue to Support the Program?
Abstract
The United States Marine Corps has been providing the Department of State with a disciplined, well trained, and highly motivated guard force for more than 57 years. However, providing Marines to the Department of State competes with the Corps' own internal obligations to have those same highly skilled Marines in other "B" billets and within the operating forces, making it difficult for the Marine Security Guard (MSG) Battalion to meet personnel requirements sufficient to adequately staff the MSG Program. For the better part of 15 years, MSG Battalion has been understaffed with personnel shortages that occasionally reached critical levels. This shortage puts national security at risk and compromises the safety of U.S. diplomatic personnel and facilities overseas. Because of these shortages and the perceived personnel drain on the rest of the Corps, the use of Marines in this role has undergone several reviews. Each time, it was concluded that the Marine Corps is the best suited and most dependable force to protect U.S. diplomatic missions overseas. Despite front-end costs and recruiting obstacles, the MSG program provides the Marine Corps with a number of individual and organizational benefits to include cultural awareness, individual leadership, and expansion of the Corps' reputation overseas. Although MSG Battalion has made considerable strides to overcome their recruiting difficulties, more must be done to ensure that MSG Battalion has a steady and sufficient supply of qualified Marines to man its detachments and ensure the Corps retains these valuable benefits.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA503392
Entities
People
- Rory L. Nichols
Organizations
- Marine Corps University