Marines on Okinawa looking for a few good embassy guards

Marines on Okinawa looking for a few good embassy guards
Screening program coming to island in October
By Fred Zimmerman, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Wednesday, September 14, 2005

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Marines wishing to serve at U.S. embassies throughout the world soon will have their chance to meet face-to-face with those who can make it happen.

The Marine Security Guard screening team is coming to Okinawa from Oct. 19 to Oct. 26 to find qualified Marines to serve at various U.S. diplomatic and consular facilities worldwide. While the team’s visit is more than a month away, Gunnery Sgt. Timothy Lucas, a career retention specialist with Camp Foster’s Headquarters and Service Battalion, says now is the time to begin the application process.

“If [interested Marines] start their package now, it gives us time to sit down and brief them, and let them know what they’ve got to do,” Lucas said. A typical MSG screening package takes about three weeks, on average, to complete, he added.

Some of the lengthier parts of the application process, Lucas said, are the medical and dental screenings, and applying for a “secret” security clearance. Those interested also must undergo a commanding officer interview, he said, which is a prescreening performed locally before the team arrives.

Marines eligible for MSG assignment are those in the ranks from private first class to gunnery sergeant, Lucas said. While staff sergeants and gunnery sergeants can be married, applicants of other ranks must be single, Lucas said.

“Sergeants and below can’t be married, and they have to agree that they won’t get married while on the duty,” he said.

One benefit from becoming a Marine Security Guard, Lucas said, is being more competitive for promotions. He said the junior enlisted members — corporal and below — automatically receive 100 points toward their “cutting” score once they graduate from MSG school. Sergeants and above, he said, become “highly qualified for promotion” if they complete a successful stint.

Tour lengths are 36 months — 18 months at two posts — for staff sergeants and gunnery sergeants, and 30 months — 15 months at two posts — for sergeants and below.

To guarantee being screened by the team, Lucas said, packages must be submitted by Sept. 30. He said completing the packages before the team gets here could help get orders to the school.

“When the MSG monitors come here, they can cut orders on the spot,” he said.

For more information on the MSG screening team visit, contact your career retention specialist or the Headquarters and Service Battalion office on Camp Foster at DSN 645-5166/2548.

Ellie

This article is incorrect. Sgt's and below do a 36 month, 3 embassy tour. The thing you have to be careful about with the MSG program, is that you get treated like a 15 yr old. 3 AM curfew, you aren't able to drive, and that is just the tip of the ice berg. They are even starting to try and take away the Marine Bars from the marine houses around the program. Everything that used to make this program great, is being slowly taken away from the marines. I suggest that unless you like having no life, stay in the fleet. If you really want to do a "B" billet, become a recruiter or instructor.