Marine Security Guard
Marine Security Guard
Collateral Duty/Out of Rate Assignment Description
The Marine Security Guard (MSG) will be assigned to duty to one of 140 plus MSG detachments around the world. The MSG will provide armed internal security to designated U.S. diplomatic and consular facilities to prevent the compromise of classified information and equipment vital to the national security of the United States. As part of the MSG detachment, the detachment member's secondary mission is to provide protection for U.S. citizens and U.S. government property located within designated U.S. diplomatic and consular premises during exigent circumstances, which require immediate aid or action. The detachment member will be physically and mentally capable of enduring a direct counter-intelligence and combat environment, master interior guard procedures, be proficient with security, anti-terrorism, and counter espionage tactics. The MSG member must also be knowledgeable in law enforcement techniques, small arms handling and employment, emergency first aide, force continuum, less than lethal application, and entry and access control procedures.

National Certifications
You selected Early Career—this applies to Marines in paygrades E1-E3. To help you focus on the credentials most appropriate for early in your career, the National Certifications list below has been filtered to only show COOL-funded certifications that are related to Most or Some of the skills and training gained in your MOS. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.
Obtaining credentials related to your MOS helps improve your professionalism and help prepare you for civilian employment when you do transition out.
Once you have found a credential you want to pursue and are eligible for, you can apply for a voucher for COOL funding to pay for the exam. Make sure to check to see that you meet the eligibility requirements for a voucher before you apply.
You selected Mid-Career—this applies to Marines in paygrades E4-E5. To help you focus on credentials most applicable to this phase in your career, the certification list has been filtered to only show COOL-funded certifications that are related to Most or Some of the skills and training gained in your MOS. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.
Obtaining credentials related to your MOS helps improve your professionalism and helps prepare you for civilian employment when you do transition out.
Once you have found a credential you want to pursue and are eligible for, you can apply for a voucher for COOL funding to pay for the exam. Make sure to check to see that you meet the eligibility requirements for a voucher before you apply. The Marine Corps will not pay for exams if you have less than six months of service left so you'll want to plan accordingly.
You selected Late Career-- this applies to Marines in paygrades E6-E9. To help you focus on credentials most applicable to this phase in your career, the certification list has been filtered to only show COOL-funded certifications that are related to Most or Some of the skills and training gained in your MOS. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.
Obtaining credentials related to your MOS helps improve your professionalism and help prepare you for civilian employment when you do transition out.
Once you have found a credential you want to pursue and are eligible for, you can apply for a voucher for COOL funding to pay for the exam. Make sure to check to see that you meet the eligibility requirements for a voucher before you apply. The Marine Corps will not pay for exams if you have less than six months of service left so you'll want to plan accordingly.
You chose Transitioning-- this applies to Marines who are not reenlisting and are planning their next steps. To help you focus on the most applicable credentials, the certification list has been filtered to only show in-demand credentials that are GI Bill approved. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.
Obtaining a credential can help prepare you for civilian employment, and can demonstrate knowledge and skills in a way civilian employers understand. The Marine Corps will not pay for exams if you have less than six months of service left so you'll want to plan accordingly. If you are already within that six-month timeframe, you can still choose to pursue the credential yourself or explore other funding options to pay for credentials.
As a transitioning Marine, you may also want to visit the Marine Corps' Transition Readiness Program for other guidance regarding reentering the civilian workforce.
You chose Promotion-Seeking-- this applies to Marines who plan to stay in the Corps and who are actively working on advancement. To help you focus on the most applicable credentials, the certification list has been filtered to only show COOL-funded certifications that are related to Most or Some of the skills and training gained in your MOS. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.
Obtaining credentials related to your rating helps improve your professionalism and help prepare you for civilian employment when you do transition out.
Once you have found a credential you want to pursue and are eligible for, you can apply for a voucher for COOL funding to pay for the exam. Make sure to check to see that you meet the eligibility requirements for a voucher before you apply. The Marine Corps will not pay for exams if you have less than six months of service left so you'll want to plan accordingly.
You chose Veteran-- veterans are any former Service member who has been discharged from active duty military service. To help you focus on the most applicable credentials, the certification list has been filtered to show in-demand credentials that are GI Bill approved. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.
COOL does not pay for credentialing exams for veterans, but you may be able to get your credential funded through the GI Bill. Explore your funding options to see what funding may be available to you. Also, visit our page of Related Sites and expand the Resource Sites For Veterans section to see what other resources may be available to you
The following civilian credentials are related to Marine Security Guard . These credentials may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about these credentials, click on the credential title below.
For more supervisory and managerial credentials, please refer to the LEADER summary page.Compare | Credential | Agency | Related As | Attainability | COOL$ | GI Bill® | Accreditation | ID | |
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Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) Is Not In Demand | International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) | ![]() |
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Project Management Professional (PMP)
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Project Management Institute (PMI) | ![]() |
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Professional Certified Investigator (PCI) Is Not In Demand | ASIS International | ![]() |
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Physical Security Professional (PSP) Is Not In Demand | ASIS International | ![]() |
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Certified Corrections Supervisor (CCS) Is Not In Demand | American Correctional Association (ACA) | ![]() |
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IC3 Digital Literacy Certification (IC3) Is Not In Demand | Certiport | ![]() |
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Certified Corrections Officer/Provisional (CCO/P) Is Not In Demand | American Correctional Association (ACA) | ![]() |
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Industrial Security Professional (ISP) Is Not In Demand | NCMS Society of Industrial Security Professionals | ![]() |
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Security Program Integration Professional Certification (SPIPC) Is Not In Demand | Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE) | ![]() |
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Security Fundamentals Professional Certification (SFPC) Is Not In Demand | Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE) | ![]() |
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Security Asset Protection Professional Certification (SAPPC) Is Not In Demand | Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE) | ![]() |
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Adjudicator Professional Certification (APC) Is Not In Demand | Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE) | ![]() |
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Physical Security Certification (PSC) Is Not In Demand | Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE) | ![]() |
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Special Program Security Certification (SPSC) Is Not In Demand | Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE) | ![]() |
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Intelligence Fundamentals Professional Certification (IFPC) Is Not In Demand | Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USD(I)) | ![]() |
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Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Office 2013 Is Not In Demand | Microsoft Corporation | ![]() |
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Certified Correctional Trainer (CCT) Is Not In Demand | American Jail Association (AJA) | ![]() |
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Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Associate (Office 365 and Office 2019) Is Not In Demand | Microsoft Corporation | ![]() |
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Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Excel Associate (Excel and Excel 2019) Is Not In Demand | Microsoft Corporation | ![]() |
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Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Excel 2016 Is Not In Demand | Microsoft Corporation | ![]() |
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Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Excel 2016 Expert Is Not In Demand | Microsoft Corporation | ![]() |
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Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Excel Expert (Excel and Excel 2019) Is Not In Demand | Microsoft Corporation | ![]() |
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Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Access 2016 Is Not In Demand | Microsoft Corporation | ![]() |
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Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Outlook 2016 Is Not In Demand | Microsoft Corporation | ![]() |
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Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft PowerPoint 2016 Is Not In Demand | Microsoft Corporation | ![]() |
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Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Word 2016 Is Not In Demand | Microsoft Corporation | ![]() |
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Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Word 2016 Expert Is Not In Demand | Microsoft Corporation | ![]() |
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Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Word Associate (Word and Word 2019) Is Not In Demand | Microsoft Corporation | ![]() |
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Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Word Expert (Word and Word 2019) Is Not In Demand | Microsoft Corporation | ![]() |
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Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): PowerPoint Associate (PowerPoint and PowerPoint 2019) Is Not In Demand | Microsoft Corporation | ![]() |
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Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Outlook Associate (Outlook and Outlook 2019) Is Not In Demand | Microsoft Corporation | ![]() |
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Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Microsoft Access Expert (Access and Access 2019) Is Not In Demand | Microsoft Corporation | ![]() |
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Department of Defense (DoD) Certifications
Some of these credentials may be funded thru the Marine Corps COOL program. To find out, search for these credentials in the "National Certifications" tab and look for the icon.
Security Professional Education Development (SPeD) Program
The SPeD Certification Program is part of the Department of Defense's (DoD) initiative to professionalize the security workforce. This initiative is intended to ensure that there is a common set of competencies among security practitioners that promotes interoperability, facilitates professional development and training, and develops a workforce of certified security professionals.
For additional information related to the SPeD Certification Program please visit the website.
- Security Program Integration Professional Certification (SPIPC)
- Security Fundamentals Professional Certification (SFPC)
- Security Asset Protection Professional Certification (SAPPC)
- Adjudicator Professional Certification (APC)
- Physical Security Certification (PSC)
- Special Program Security Certification (SPSC)
The Intelligence Fundamentals Professional Certification (IFPC) Program
The Intelligence Fundamentals Professional Certification (IFPC) program is sponsored by the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USD(I)) to professionalize the defense intelligence workforce by establishing a common standard of the fundamental knowledge and skills expected of all who serve and support, and those who hope to serve and support, in the Defense Intelligence Enterprise (DIE).
The genesis of the IFPC program is based on the Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General Report (No. DoDIG 2015-015), “Evaluation of DoD Intelligence Training and Education Programs for the Fundamental Competencies of the DoD Intelligence Workforce”. This report indicated the presence of critical skill gaps and a lack of knowledge and skill standards for entry-level/developmental intelligence professionals. To address these gaps and fulfill the recommendations of the report, a DIE Subject Matter Expert (SME) Working Group and the Certification Governance Council (CGC) collaborated to develop standards based on work and knowledge requirements common to the DIE components. Following a very successful pilot with volunteers from across the DIE, the IFPC Program Management Office (CPMO) was formally established to manage candidates and the testing and conferral processes.
The IFPC was designed as a complementary program to all other intelligence tradecraft certification programs. It is not a replacement for those programs, but instead serves as a foundation upon which the other DIE certifications are built.
State Licenses
Some states have specific licensing requirements for the following related civilian occupations. These state licenses may require additional education, training or experience. Click on the occupation below to get more information on state requirements from the U.S. Department of Labor. For more supervisory and managerial occupations, please refer to the LEADER summary page.
Related Civilian Occupations
The following civilian occupations are similar to the duties performed by Marine Security Guard . These occupations may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about these occupations, click on the civilian occupation below. For more supervisory and managerial positions, please refer to the LEADER summary page. To search for related civilian job opportunities, go to the Veteran’s Employment Center.
Civilian Job | Duties Matched | Bright Outlook | Registered Apprenticeship | Local Salary Info | |
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Business Continuity Planners |
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Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts |
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Information Security Analysts |
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Intelligence Analysts |
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Retail Loss Prevention Specialists |
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Security Guards |
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Security Management Specialists |
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Security Managers |
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Continuing Education
In addition to obtaining certifications in your field, advanced education is another way to enhance job performance.
For help in making informed choices on schools and education programs when using tuition assistance, see: