This was still true until 2017, when they needed more watchstanders. Since then they have allowed Marines straight from MOS school (or even SOI/MCT) to go to post.

This is the same path my son is taking. He’s at SOI now.

Congrats! That must be a new thing. You have a huge adventure to look forward to!

Lol same. I’m a DEP and my recruiter is setting me up with MSG

😂

Best of luck to you! Honestly, I'm very ignorant about anything having to do with the officer side. You can be a foreign area officer or a military attache, but that is pretty much it as an active duty officer at an embassy. There may be other ways (like working in the defense attache office with other billets), but there are extremely competitive opportunities. To highlight my point, there may be 10 embassy guards but a single Marine attache at the embassy, and that attache is normally a LtCol.

Great attitude, because you don't have much control over where you'll go! :P

It is overwhelming! Honestly, that would be very hard to do because I'd be going off memory from 7 years ago, and those specifics are hard to remember and likely differ based on your unit. If you need help, DEFINITELY run to your career planner because they can help guide you. Of course, it makes a big difference if your unit is working against you by not giving you enough time off to do check-out and all that stuff.

Thanks! I would say to practice running. I had gone from Camp Pendleton, which already has a lot of hills, and some of the group runs were still challenging. I believe a 1st class PFT was mandatory just to attend, but I still had trouble. It also probably made a difference that some of the instructors would casually run half marathons in the morning before school, lol. Mentally, just prepare yourself for some bootcamp games. It is easier than bootcamp, but if you have gotten used to some freedoms in the fleet, it may be a bit of an adjustment, almost like being a recruit again (but not as bad).

As long as you are open about everything from the very beginning, most people have nothing to worry about. It is when people change their story or flat out lie - and then they discover you did something bad - that it becomes a problem. The idea is if you can't tell the truth in an interview, how can you be entrusted to safeguard classified materiel? Having recent disciplinary problems is also a red flag for them. An NJP can force you to wait a year before even applying. There were plenty of Marines that also seemed like great individuals on the surface, but had significant financial issues and alcohol abuse that was just too recent. MSG school is certainly nerve-racking...everyone always feels like they are on the verge of being disqualified for something! ^_^

Great question! As I remember, Sundays you have off, but Saturdays are spent training with your detachment, studying and reviewing what you learned and preparing for upcoming exams. You'll have a decent idea of what is upcoming ("oh, we got range next week"), but I don't remember if we got a more specific schedule in advance or not. During the week it is safe to say you won't have any time to meet friends/family or doing anything but prepare for the next day. There are a lot of "bootcamp" style games they play, like waking everyone up at 4 am on the first day to take a urinalysis. A lot of things to throw you off guard and keep you from getting comfortable, just like in boot camp. Mental games galore, like having locker inspections and making sure you have your socks and underwear namestamped. Play the game, and you'll survive! Going back into bootcamp mode mentally really helped me.

@@Joshjames1234 Thank you so much for your quick reply! Appreciate all the informations provided. Happy Birthday Marine Corps!

Congrats, and enjoy the ride! That's awesome you were able to get MSG as a guarantee. Does it come with quicker promotions?

@@Joshjames1234 I’m going in as a e1 I haven’t been guaranteed any promotions but I’m pretty sure I’ll have to get e2 to qualify after basic I didn’t even consider or knew much about it I wanted infantry and the lead recruiter at the office called me up and asked if I’d ever heard of embassy guard & said I qualified he asked if I was interested I said I was and he put in for me to get assigned it a hr later he called back and said it was assigned but part of it is that instead of 4 years you have to do 5 and last two you spend in infantry im not totally sure on how everything will play out I’m just figuring it out as I go

@@Joshjames1234 I originally wanted to be a 0311 in infantry or something similar to that mos but after talking to main recruiter he explained everything that embassy guard does and I thought it sounded cool so I went with that

Yes, you can.

The turnaround is very fast. I don't remember waiting very long - what took the longest is getting approval from my own chain of command, which included getting a high enough score on the musical audition. Then I had to get all the signatures from countless offices, including supply, admin, and career planner. There was barely enough time to mentally prepare, especially since it was over the holidays and I wanted to take leave before I left. I want to say I submitted my package in November, and was in the school house by March, but I'm just going off the top of my head. Of course, things could be different now, but I don't think there has ever been a time where the had "enough" MSGs - it seems they are always in short supply, which is great for those of us that want to do the program!

Talked to my career planner. At least 5’4, 90 GT score, 2 years in the Corps, E-3+ 1st class PFT/CFT

Of course! I'd be happy to answer any questions!

Joshjames1234 do you have a email I can email?

Joshjames007[at]yahoo

Joshjames1234 alright I emailed you, lmk if you didn’t get it though

Just sent a response! Btw, I forgot to mention, definitely plan on meeting with the MSG recruiting team when they go to your base. I think it may be a requirement, and they go through the initial screening. They normally have a MARADMIN, like here: www.marines.mil/News/Messages/Messages-Display/Article/2080518/marine-security-guard-screening-team-visit/. Otherwise, definitely give your career planner a call! With the crazy world situation going on right now, they may be doing the screening virtually.

Nice! Where were you assigned?

Any MOS can join MSG! I was a musician, some of my roommates were infantry, and I even served with cooks and admin Marines. The only real restriction is you have to be enlisted to do it. Officers have a completely different job and don't work at a single embassy.

@@Joshjames1234 thank you so much

I imagine you would still be eligible if you only have U.S. citizenship. Dual citizens aren't allowed, and as far as I know, you don't have to be natural born.

@@Joshjames1234 this really helps! Thankyou! Im really want this job and from what i heard they have a lot of openings too cause they kinda strict on the requirements. Much appreciated!

Stability/financial independence is most important. History plays a small role, but not as much. For Marines in debt (car loan, etc), that is totally normal, but what isn't normal is living paycheck to paycheck and not having any emergency fund. That could be a huge security vulnerability that opens people up to potential blackmail or corruption. If someone had a crazy financial situation years ago but has since gotten on stable financial ground, I can't imagine anyone making a big deal about it. Most important thing is acknowledging what you learned and the steps you have taken to get back on track.

@@Joshjames1234 what do people get dropped for the most?

@@MrTealblast I'd say a mix of everything. History of alcohol abuse or financial issues are the biggest ones. Only 1-2 actually get dropped for not being able to pass the course. In my class' case someone failed the range on their third try since they weren't fast enough to draw their weapon.

@@Joshjames1234 i got 9 months left in my contract as a cpl. once i get the package in to i have to 100% sign the re enlistment to be able to go to the school? like will i know if i am accepted to go and then i can sign the paper?

@@MrTealblast Definitely talk to your career planner. It sounds like you would either have to extend your contract or reenlist to have the required 38 months to do MSG.

Not in MSG school, but all Marines have to meet basic swim qualifications. There is a swim week in recruit training, with follow up refresher requalification every other year.

Great question - you first list your top 3 regions, then your top 3 detachments. The "regions" go off of how MCESG is organized. For example, Region 4 is South America, Region 3 is SE Asia/Pacific, etc.

@@Joshjames1234 perfect thanks

No

Nowadays, it seems you basically can. When I was last in (2017), you had to be at your duty station 18 months before going to MSG school, but there were plenty of rumors that things were about to change because of so many new postings opening up. After I got out, I heard that new PFCs were being sent to MSG school before even arriving to their first unit! Sometimes, timing is everything.

In 2014 they released a MARADMIN saying all MSGs had to be a minimum of 64 inches (5' 3"), but that was cancelled, and their website fails to mention any new height requirements. That height requirement seemed kind of arbitrary any way, since the reasoning was that watchstanders would need to be tall enough to see over the desk, but most positions are elevated anyway. Glad they got rid of it. As long as you meet general USMC height/weight requirements, you are golden. www.mcesg.marines.mil/become-a-msg/prerequisites/

Msg is overseas, security forces is state side

Two completely different jobs, responsibilities, and commands. I know next to nothing about security forces, but as I understand that is something that 03s tend to do stateside. Marine Corps Embassy Security Guards have a high profile diplomatic mission, and work directly with the State Department.

@@Joshjames1234 With the new mgpef program, all of em are 03s. If they fail msg, they get a chance at sf, if fails again then its fleet. I cant remember if you were aware of it, are you still in msg or off the program now?

American citizenship is required. All dual-citizen Marines are required to renounce their citizenship before graduation. I'm not as savvy on how that process works, but I did hear stories of Marines giving up their Mexican citizenship (for example), only to not pass the school house and have it all be for nothing.

In the Marines, those who are married and enlisted live more like officers because they are entitled to their own housing. Enlisted Marines are required to live in the same residence together. The only exception is for Detachment Commanders, who have the privilege of being able to marry, but with the added responsibility of being in charge of the entire unit.

When I was a MSG, a minimum rank was Corporal, signed a letter that stated you would remain single or removed from your post and assigned back to the states, was a two year duty but could go longer if your assignment was for an additional duty. Guards were corporal to staff sgt, usually post senior was a master Sargent. School at Henderson Hall, Va. 2:39 most guards had at least two years or more of active duty.