10 Diplomatic Posts to Receive Marine Guards in New Pact

Marine security guards will be assigned to 10 additional U.S. diplomatic posts and the entire force will be augmented by 100 troops, under an agreement signed Monday by Secretary of State George P. Shultz and Marine Commandant Paul X. Kelley.

The agreement, which supplants a 9-year-old set of regulations, governs the conditions under which Marine guards are employed at diplomatic posts at a time of heightened U.S. concern about terrorist threats against U.S. installations and envoys.

“Through the years, the Marine security guards have shown great bravery; they have been wounded, killed, defending our embassies and our diplomats. They have paid a great price for the role in our country’s foreign policy, and we can never forget that,” Shultz said at a signing ceremony at the State Department. “They are true patriots.”