When you think of Marine challenge coins you can think of different themes from Marine mascots, mottos, units, insignias as well as the great leaders of the United States Marine Corps. U.S. Challenge Coins never ceases to come up with greatly designed challenge coins to add to your Marine challenge coin collection especially if you are focusing on this niche. The challenge coin authority had come up with diverse Marine Security Guard challenge coins to perk up your collection.
The Marine Security Guard (MSG) primary mission is to protect classified information and equipment that is important to the national security of the United States diplomatic posts. This is done through the guidance and operational control of the Regional Security Officer (RSO), a federal agent of the Diplomatic Security. The MSG also provides security for visiting American dignitaries and assists the RSO in supervising host country or locally employed security forces who provide additional security for the exterior of embassies.
The MSG’s secondary mission is to provide protection for U.S. citizens and U.S. government property located at designated U.S. Diplomatic and Consular premises during exigent circumstances that need immediate aid or action. They mainly focus on the interior security of the diplomatic post’s building except for emergency cases where they are authorized to do their duties outside the building to provide special protection to senior diplomatic officers of the diplomatic compound. They carry a certain level of diplomatic immunity in the performance of their official duties.
Marine Security Guard of the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group is a battalion – sized organization of the U.S. Marines that possess detachments posted at American Embassies, Consulates and other official U.S. Government offices like the U.S. Interests Section in Havana Cuba or the U.S. Mission to NATO in Brussels, Belgium.
Their history goes back to the raising of the United States flag at Derna, Tripoli during the secret mission of Archibald H. Gillespie in California to the Boxer Rebellion in Peking. The Marines had served many times on special missions as couriers, guards for embassies and legations as well as in protecting American citizens in unsettled areas.
The MSG’s formal and permanent uses started with the Foreign Service Act of 1946 that authorized the Secretary of Navy upon request of the Secretary of State to designate Marines to serve as custodians under the supervision of a senior diplomatic officer at a diplomatic post.
On December 15, 1948, the first joint Memorandum of Agreement was signed containing the provisions of designating Marines abroad and are trained at the Foreign Service Institute with the first Marines arriving at Tangier and Bangkok in 1949. The primary training of MSGs was assumed by the Marine Corps on November 1954. The Foreign Service Act of 1946 was replaced by 10 U.S.C. § 5983 and it is the latest Memorandum of Agreement signed last August 2008.
Three notable Marine Security Detachments are represented with three greatly designed challenge coins which are minted exclusively by U.S. Challenge Coins.
One is the 2″ round challenge coin created for the Marine Security Guard Detachment Bogota, Colombia. This token is made of brass with raised painted designs on both sides. It has cut on outs on three sides without any edging or epoxy.
The second one is a 2.25″ round challenge coin made of highly polish brass with raised and painted designs on both sides with twisted diamond edging and coated with full epoxy on both sides. It was created for the Marine Security Guard Detachment Bern, Switzerland.
Lastly is a 1.75″ challenge coin designed for the Marine Security Guard Detachment Damascus Syria. This coin is made of antique nickel cut out coin with painted designs on both sides and a 3 dimensional design on one side without any epoxy or edging.
There are approximately 1,000 Marines assigned in 148 posts or detachments which are organized into seven regional MSG commands and are located in 133 countries around the world and headquartered at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico. The seven companies are under the command of a lieutenant colonel.
