Marine Corps Security Force Regiment

Marine Corps Security Force Regiment
unit logo
Active	1920–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Role	Expeditionary Security
Garrison/HQ	Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Virginia
Nickname(s)	Gunslingers
Motto(s)	Deter, Detect, Defend
Commanders
Current commander	Col James Bright

The Marine Corps Security Force Regiment is a dedicated security and anti-/counter-terrorism unit of the United States Marine Corps. It provides security forces to guard high-value naval installations, most notably those containing nuclear vessels and weapons. It also provides Fleet Antiterrorism Security Teams (FAST) and Recapture Tactics Teams (RTT). Marines who complete Security Force training are assigned a secondary Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 8152 (Marine Corps Security Force Guard), while instructors can earn 8153 (Marine Corps Security Force Cadre Trainer).

History

The unit was initially organized as the Marine Detachment, Naval Operation Base in 1920. It was redesignated as Marine Barracks, Norfolk in 1939. During World War II, Marines from the Norfolk Barracks provided security for several commands in the Tidewater area, including the Naval Station, Naval Air Station, and Naval Fuel Annex at Craney Island, and what is now Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek. In addition, the Barracks acted as the processing center for transient Marines on the East Coast. In addition to providing gate security for the Norfolk Naval Base Complex and a security force for a nearby Service Storage Facility, Barracks Marines also served as ceremonial troops and provided security at the headquarters of United States Atlantic Fleet and provided administrative support to Marines stationed in various Naval commands in Norfolk area.

The Barracks was redesignated as Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, Atlantic, on 1 April 1987, and exercised administrative control over security force companies and detachments afloat in the Atlantic region. The first FAST companies were established that same year to provide a more mobile force. On 16 December 1993, the Battalion was again redesignated as Marine Corps Security Force Battalion and assumed control of all security force companies and detachments globally. In 1998, numerous companies and detachments were deactivated due to force reductions and realignments; two FAST companies were established to take their place.

Units

Active

• Headquarters, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Yorktown, Virginia
• Training Company, Naval Security Group Activity Chesapeake, Chesapeake, Virginia
• Battalion at Naval Base Kitsap, Bangor Trident Base, Washington
• Battalion at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Kings Bay, Georgia
• Company at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba
• Alpha FAST Company, Camp Allen, Norfolk, Virginia
• Bravo FAST Company, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Yorktown, Virginia
• Charlie FAST Company, Camp Allen, Norfolk, Virginia
• FAST Company Central, Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Manama, Bahrain
• FAST Company Europe, Naval Station Rota, Rota, Spain
• FAST Company Pacific, United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Yokosuka, Japan

Inactive

• (Naval Station Mare Island California FAST Company PACIFIC)
• Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Lexington Park, Maryland
• Naval Air Station Keflavik, Keflavík, Iceland
• Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Naples, Naples, Italy
  • Detachment to Naval Support Activity Suda Bay, Crete, Greece
• Naval Activities United Kingdom, London, United Kingdom
• Naval Security Group Activity Sábana Seca, Puerto Rico
• Naval Station Subic Bay, Olongapo, Philippines
• Naval Weapons Station Earle, Coltsneck, NJ

Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team

Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team
Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team logo
Active	1987–present
Nickname(s)	"Gunslingers"
Motto(s)	Anytime, Anyplace
Engagements	USS Cole bombing, Operation Just Cause,Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm American Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, Iraq, Afghanistan

The Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) is capable of rapidly deploying to immediately improve security at United States Government installations worldwide.

Established in 1987, FAST companies provide a limited-duration, expeditionary security force to protect vital naval and national assets. FAST maintains forward-deployed platoons at various naval commands around the globe, and possesses U.S.-based alert forces capable of rapidly responding to unforeseen contingencies worldwide. Each FAST company is equipped and trains with some of the most state-of-the-art weaponry and currently consists of around 500 Marines.

FAST maintains a high degree of readiness in order to conduct these short-notice, limited-duration contingency operations, as seen in the port security mission following the attacks on the USS Cole (DDG-67) in October 2000 and the American Embassy reinforcements in Liberia and Haiti. FAST participated in several embassy reinforcements during the Arab Spring, from Cairo, Egypt to Sana'a, Yemen. FAST Marines provided additional security to allow the embassies to continue normal operation. On 12 September 2012 a FAST team was sent to Libya in response to the 2012 U.S. Consulate attack in Benghazi. The FAST Marines were from Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Company Europe from Rota, Spain.

Recapture Tactics Team

Recapture Tactics Team
Active	1987–present
Nickname(s)	RTT, Close Quarters Battle Team, CQB Cowboys
Motto(s)	Speed, Surprise, and Violence of Action

The Recapture Tactics Team (RTT) is also known as the Security Force Close Quarters Battle Team. RTTs specialize in SWAT procedures without having to be military police special reaction team trained. RTT units are attached to Personal Reliability Commands around the globe located at select naval installations. Whereas FASTs deploy to areas in need of naval security operations, a RTT doesn't deploy because they are already placed in strategic locations.

RTTs receive the same training as FASTs, though FAST goes through training at the platoon level, and RTT goes through training at the squad level. RTT units attend the following training schools:

• Basic Security Guard (Marine Corps Security Guard Anti-Terrorism Training)
• High Risk Personnel also known as executive protection, similar to protective services detail, the military version of Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
• Close Quarter Battle School
• Designated Marksman Course
• Methods of Entry or MOE, (small unit demolition and door breaching tactics)
• Interservice Nonlethal Individual Weapons Instructor Course and other riot control techniques

However, this is not in the pipeline fashion, as it is with other specialty units. RTT receives the "on job training" needed after going to CQB school, before going to the others schools listed. Once formally trained, they receive the MOS 8154.

The Marine Corps Security Force Close Quarters Battle Team go to various installations as Mobile Training Teams to teach CQB to units such as Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team, military police special reaction teams, other military branches (both foreign and domestic), and law enforcement organizations (federal, state, and local).

See also

• 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines

References

•  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

External links

• profile at GlobalSecurity.org
• MCO P1326.6D SELECTING, SCREENING, AND PREPARING ENLISTED MARINES FOR SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENTS AND INDEPENDENT DUTIES
• Marine Corps Enlisted Job Descriptions: MOS 8154—Marine Corps Security Force (MCSF) Close Quarters Battle (CQB) Team on About.com
• Special Operations.Com's USMC Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) page
• FAST Company entry at GlobalSecurity.org
• Rowe, Charles W. "F.A.S.T. is the Way to Go!" The Gun Digest Book of Assault Weapons, 3rd Edition. Jack Lewis, ed. Northbrook, Illinois: DBI Books, 1993. ISBN 0-87349-139-4.