US Marine Corps: Proposed Homeland Security Brigade
v.1.0 September 30, 2001
Ravi Rikhye
The Washington Post (September 29, 2001) reports that as the US military begins redefining its missions to include a closer focus on Homeland defense, the US Marine Corps has already proposed a new security brigade.
Such quick action is typical of the Corps, which always keeps a close eye on Congress to assure its budget is not reduced.
The new brigade would incorporate existing units; these would be expanded and reequipped to deal with the extra duties in addition to their already-assigned missions.
The brigade would be at Camp Lejeune, NC and would include:
Includes two elite counter-terror companies to deployed warships
Provides security to US diplomatic missions overseas
The Corps has already worked out costs: $21 million for additional equipment for the rifle battalion, and $10 million annually for additional operations and maintenance costs.
One company could deploy in 24 hours, and the entire brigade in 72.