My son signed up for US Marine Security Forces yesterday. Any suggestions for him?

SSgt Stephen Desrosier — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 10:27:38 -0400

His Goal is US Embassy and Recon and he is very athletic.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 29 at 2020 11:07 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 11:07:13 -0400

Start practicing standing at attention for hours at a time...

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Oct 29 at 2020 12:41 PM

SSG Steven Borders — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 12:41:03 -0400

I knew a lot of LCpl's at WHCA who were on the MSF. Great dudes! Worked long hours supporting us at WHCA.

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 30 at 2020 5:13 PM

Maj John Bell — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 17:13:31 -0400

I was the OpsO for Company "F" (1989-91) when it was HQ'd in Nairobi, Kenya. I was there during the time when Company "G" was stood up and Company "F" went from 33 embassies and consulates to 17. Let me start out with dispelling a silly myth. Marines on Embassy duty do not fill ceremonial roles. They do not spend hours standing at attention. They are not props for photo ops, and they don't pass out hors d'oeuvres in their dress blues at diplomatic parties.

That said, they stand security posts and control access into and out of the embassy. For the vast majority of Marines, their actual time on duty will be uneventful. At most they may remove someone from the consular section who wants to "argue" about a visa refusal.

However, should it become necessary, and if the Ambassador allows, they are the last line of active defense. They have the unenviable role of buying time for embassy staff to lock down and carry out plans in the event the host country fails to secure the perimeter and the embassy is breached.

Now to the point of your question. Particularly at small, third world posts, the Marine's may find themselves flying in social circles "well-above their pay grade" and environments rife with temptation. LCpls may find they are tennis buddies with an Ambassador, or going on photo safaris with wives of embassy staff. You name the soap opera dilemma and some Marine on embassy duty has probably probably been tripped up by it.

Career-wise Embassy duty is a high risk tour. The ones that get in trouble, get in trouble because forget they are Marines. Not only are they Marines, but because of security concerns, even the appearance of impropriety will get you sent home. It doesn't matter if you are a single junior Marine "messed about" with a college age daughter of the embassy GSO, or not. The mere rumor may be enough to get you sent home. During my time, about 1 in 5 officers was relieved "for cause" and about 1 in 10 enlisted personnel were relieved "for cause."

The only saving grace was that if that "for cause" would not have raised an eyebrow anywhere else in the Marine Corps, it won't damage your career. But if it was in fact "shady" your career is over. Surviving an MSG tour unscathed is almost always going to go a long way with a promotion board. If your wondering, I survived, intact all the way to the end.

Finally, if he is selected, I highly recommend he chose to go places he would probably never go to otherwise. I had a choice between Bangkok, Nairobi, and Abidjan. I knew if I stayed in the Marines I'd see plenty of SE Asia. They had a DoD approved school in Kenya for my kids.

Response by Cpl Markus Wolff made Nov 1 at 2020 12:25 PM

Cpl Markus Wolff — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 12:25:01 -0500

This is old school. I was 87-93 so bear with me a lot has changed. In my day I was a 8156 at age 18 with a secret clearance. At Concord Marine Barracks, Naval Weapons Station Concord California we guarded "Special Weapons"...nukes. He will stand a 4 hour on 4 hour off duty some days and be assigned to a Platoon. You must give 100% & not get caught sleeping on post. No drugs & dont get a DUI. A few of us went to 1st Force Recon because of our PFT scores & high leadership skills developed. I went to the grunts after MCSFCO, did DS/DS in a scout sniper platoon. Was at 1st FoRecon 91-92, then sent to Intelligence at parent Group called SRIG (Does not exist today) went to Somalia. I was awarded 100% PTSD 28 years later. , TELL YOUR SON TO JOIN THE AIRWING. The training in all units is brutal.