History of the Marine Embassy Guard Association (MEGA)

Robert “Big Bob” Kienietz founded the Marine Embassy Guard Association in 1997 with the intention of connecting Marine Security Guards – Past, Present and Future. His vision lives with us to this day as we strive to fulfill his mission. Bob served as a Marine Security Guard (MSG) at the U.S, Embassy in Geneva, Switzerland, from 1956-1957. Read Big Bob’s full bio.

Born in Harvey, Illinois, on Feb. 12, 1936, Big Bob graduated from Danville High School in Danville, Illinois. He served in the Marine Corps from 1953 to 1959 where he undertook tours of duty in the Amphibious Reconnaissance Command in Hawaii and as a Marine Security Guard (MSG) in Geneva, Switzerland.

History MEGA and the Marine Security Guard (MSG) Program

Archives Site: MSG Historical Archives

Announcement:   MEGA MSG Archives are Live!

Historical Archives Committee

Chairman: Jack McGarry
Contact: (jackmcgary@embassymarine.org / history@msghistory.com
Archivist:  Mary Tracy
Archivist:  Joe Mitchell
Archivist:  Josh Schenkler
(Volunteer Archivists needed for all posts, regions, MCESG/MSGBN/F Co)

Updates to the Archives

MEGA Volunteers maintain a real-time archive of MSG & MEGA History.  The site is a work-in-progress, constantly updated with new information sourced from current / former MSGs, news and encyclopedia sites. 

 Help is needed, and new volunteers are encouraged to send information and/or join the team: history@msghistory.com

Becoming an "Archivist" you'll take responsibilty for building up a Detachment historical timeline, collecting notes and photos and passing them on to the Web team for integration into the Archives display on-line.

MCESG Historical Reference

The following content was provided by Marine Corps Embassy Security Group (MCESG) Headquarters:

The Marine Security Guard (MSG) Program, in its current form, has been in place since December 1948, but the Marine Corps has a long history of cooperation and distinction with the U.S. Department of State (DOS) going back to the early days of the nation. From the raising of the United States flag at Derna, Tripoli, and the secret mission of Archibald Gillespie in California, to the 55-days at Peking, the United States Marines have served many times on special missions as couriers, guards for embassies and delegations and to protect American officials in unsettled areas.

The origins of the modern MSG Program began with the Foreign Service Act of 1946 that stated the Secretary of Navy is authorized, upon the request of the Secretary of State, to assign enlisted Marines to serve as custodians under the supervision of the senior diplomatic officer at an embassy, legation or consulate. Using this Act, the DOS and U.S. Marine Corps entered into negotiations to establish the governing provisions for assigning MSGs overseas. These negotiations culminated in the first joint Memorandum of Agreement signed on 15 December 1948. Trained at the DOS’s Foreign Service Institute, the first MSGs departed for Tangier and Bangkok on 28 January 1949. The authority granted in the Foreign Service Act of 1946 has since been replaced by Title 10, United States Code 5983, and the most recent Memorandum of Agreement was signed on 13 March 2008. The Marine Corps assumed the primary training responsibility of its MSGs during November 1954.

MCESG is a tenant organization located on Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia, and is responsible to the Deputy Commandant, Plans, Policies and Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. Specially screened Marines assigned to MCESG are trained at the Marine Security Guard School and processed for duty overseas under the operational control of the DOS as MSGs. These Marines currently serve at 182 embassies and consulates around the world. MCESG also coordinates the personnel assignment, provides logistics support, and ensures threat-related training of the Marines is kept up-to-date for mission accomplishment and currency.

MCESG’s mission is to exercise command, less operational control of the MSG’s, in that it is responsible for their training, assignment, administration, logistics support, and discipline. Regional Commanders provide operational oversight through the use of semi-annual inspections and command visits. The MSGs’ primary mission is to provide internal security services at designated U.S. Diplomatic and Consular facilities to prevent the compromise of classified information and equipment that is vital to national security of the United States of America. The secondary mission of the MSG is to provide protection for U.S. citizens and U.S. Government property located within designated U.S. Diplomatic and Consular premises/facilities during exigent circumstances that require immediate aid or action.