MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Marine Security Guard screening team visited Iwakuni recently during their annual Western Pacific tour to find Marines with the potential to perform one of the most prestigious jobs in the Corps.
Although the team was only in Iwakuni for one day interviewing interested individuals, the screening process is an important part in the road to becoming an MSG.
Because Marines may not know how to go about becoming an MSG, the screening team provides them with all the guidance they will need for the road ahead.
"We have three objectives," said Maj. Lewis Vogler, officer-in-charge of MSG School, Quantico, Va. "To provide information, provide a road map of their second step of their desires to be an MSG, and to assign a class date and orders."
When Marines get the idea that they may want to take on the challenge of becoming an MSG, the first person they need to see is their career counselor. If a Marine is unsure if they are MSG material, they will find that the criteria are straightforward when they finally talk with the screening team.
"We are looking for mature, self-confident Marines," said Master Gunnery Sgt. Harvey Lee, MSG Battalion, Quantico, chief instructor. "We basically tell the person who wants to be an MSG, this is what we are looking for, and this is what you can expect in school and get out of the program."
Even if a Marine is accepted by the screening team and presented a school seat, it does not mean they will be able to go.
"Even though you are qualified for MSG, it is not guaranteed because your monitor must be willing to release you from your MOS for three years," said Master Sgt. Andre Robinson, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron career planner.
The screening team visits the Western Pacific region annually, including stops in Okinawa, Iwakuni and Hawaii. By the time the team left Iwakuni and headed for Hawaii, they had provided information to 260 Marines, 157 of which were screened and found qualified, while only five were found unqualified. However, those five Marines dream of becoming an MSG does not have to end there.
"Even though they were found not qualified today, that doesn't mean they are going to be found not qualified six months from now," Vogler said. "Hopefully in this process they have found deficiencies that they can improve on and we can sign them up next year."
For some Marines, MSG is a challenge they want to conquer.
"I thought this would be a good move to start my Marine Corps career," said Lance Cpl. Calvin Cotton, postal clerk. "There isn't anything I can't overcome, so I'm looking for a challenge."
It doesn't matter if a Marine spends 20 years in the Corps, or gets out. Either way, they will be better for having served on MSG duty, noted Lee. Those Marines will have outstanding leadership, dependability and pride when they finish.
"Iwakuni's best Marines are my best Marines," Vogler said. "But when I am done with them, and they have completed their MSG tours, they will be even better Marines than they are now. The best of the best are what we take at the MSG program."