Marine Corps Security Force Battalion [MCSFBn]
The Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, the Marine Corps' largest and most mission-diverse Battalion, provides antiterrorism and physical security trained Marine Corps Security Force (MCSF) personnel to designated naval installations. It is headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia provides armed, anti-terrorism and physical security trained personnel to high value naval installations or units. The battalion maintains a worldwide presence at 14 different locations from Keflavik, Iceland to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Bahrain in the Arabian Gulf. The Marines protect key naval assets to include strategic weapons, command and control facilities and naval support activities.
In addition to its fixed installations, Marine Corps Security Force Battalion maintains two Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST) companies for deployments as directed by the Chief of Naval Operations.It maintains Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) companies and deploy platoons to support fleet commanders as directed by the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. It also performs other security functions as directed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Marine Corps Security Force Battalion consists of thirteen companies located on various Naval Bases world-wide. Traditionally, all of the companies have been staffed with Personnel Administrators maintaining their own service records, and performed their own Personnel Administrative functions. As a result of TFAS initiatives and the associated mandated consolidation of Personnel Administrative functions above the traditional battalion/squadron levels, MCSFBn has established a Consolidated Personnel Administration Center with the capability of supporting all of its remotely located companies (to include Marine Corps Cadre Duty Personnel) from a single location at the Battalion Headquarters in Norfolk Virginia.
Security force duty is extremely challenging. The purpose of this organization is to provide a highly trained and capable force to respond to Navy and Marine Corps security requirements. We train Marines in basic and advanced security procedures. Companies are deployed worldwide. Cadre personnel are assigned to assist naval installation commanders in formulating their security and training plans. This is a career broadening experience and one that strengthens the special bond that Marines share with the US Navy.
Service with the fleet is the oldest and original duty of Marines, dating from the Athenian fleets of the fifth century BC, carrying on through Roman times when separate legions of "milites classiarii" (soldiers of the fleet) were assigned to duty afloat. In the seventeenth century, the British and Dutch organized the first modern Corps of Marines in the western world for duty as ship's detachments and naval security ashore.
The Headquarters and Service Company for Marine Corps Security Force Battalion provides command and administrative support to the command element and headquarters staff sections of Marine Corps Security Force Battalion. Additionally, they provide support to Marines assigned to several local Navy organizations - Commander Naval Forces Atlantic, Naval Safety Center, Fleet Home Town News Center, and the Damneck Rifle Range.
The 2,200 Marines and Sailors of this Norfolk-based battalion now serve 72 U.S. Navy bases around the globe. Additionally, within the battalion's structure is a training establishment that produces the most deadly multi-weapon, small arms marksmen in the Marine Corps, as well as the nation's only dedicated military anti-terrorism forces, the First and Second Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST) companies. FAST platoons deploy overseas in support of the FAST Deployment Program (FDP). The two Personnel Reliability Program (PRP) companies within Marine Corps Security Force Battalion (at Kings Bay, Georgia and Bangor, Washington) have a fully staffed Administration Section and performs its own General and Personnel Administration.
