The Bureau of Diplomatic Security, the security and law enforcement resource of the Department of State, is dedicated to providing a secure working environment for the conduct of Foreign Affairs.
The Regional Security Office (RSO) is comprised of five Diplomatic Security Special Agents, an Engineering Services Office, the Marine Security Guard Detachment, Local Guard Force, the Pass and Identification Section and the Foreign Service National Investigations Section.
The RSO is responsible for providing security services to all US Missions, personnel and facilities in France. Facilities are locations in Paris, Marseille, Montpellier, Nice, Strasbourg, Lyon, Bordeaux, Lyon, Rennes, and Toulouse.
Marine Security Guard Detachment
The mission of the Marine Security Guards is to provide internal security at designated United States Diplomatic and Consular facilities to prevent the compromise of classified material and equipment which, if compromised, would cause serious damage to the national security interests of the United States; and to provide protection for U.S. citizens and property within the principal buildings of the Mission.
Under certain situations, Embassy Marines provide special personal protective services to the Chief of Mission or the principal officer-in-charge, to other senior State Department diplomatic personnel, visiting members of the United States Congress, the President and the Vice President of the United States.
The constant reference of many American Ambassadors to “My Marines” is a source of great pride to the Corps. The State Department/Marine Corps team continues in their cooperative effort to best serve in the interests of the United States abroad.