The White Falcon - 19.02.1971, Blaðsíða 9

February 19, 1971
THE WHITE FALCON
Page 9
^^lite Marine force guards
U.S. Embassy in Reykjavik
An elite five-man security force is tasked with maintaining secur-
ity at the American Embassy in Reykjavik, As embassy guards, they
are trained in both proper security measures and protocol during a
six-week course at Arlington, Va»
IWiC
13011
Although they are part of an
elite corps of embassy guards,
whose central headquarters is lo-
cated in Frankfurt, Germany, their
duty has basically been on a vol-
unteer basis. Currently,however,
the Corps plans to offer two-
year embassy duty as _ a reenlist-
ment bonus, providing the appli-
cants can meet certain require-
ments.
Embassy duty is not affiliated
with IDF policy or any policy
maintained by bases situated in
foreign countries. Its command
>licy is bi-lateral between the
rps and the State Department in
ington0 Duty is usually for
years, with a one-year tour
at two different embassies. How-
ever, extensions are often con-
sidered in order to remain at one
embassy for the entire program.
Currently, the officer-in-
charge at the embassy is SSgto
Vincent M. Andrade, and there are
four regular duty Marines that
stand a four-day on, four-day off
duty bill. Their job is to main-
tain evening and weekend security
when the 31 member staff is off.
The Marines are exempt from the
normal curfew regulations and have
their own quarters which are gov-
ernment furnished. They also re-
ceive a daily $2.75 BAS allowance
and are allowed unlimited com-
misary rights.
Embassy duty can be considered
an ideal type of duty. However,
every six months there is an in-
spection held by the Corps com-
mand that tours each embassy in
its jurisdiction. Physical fit-
ness tests are taken and severe
personnel and house inspections
also take place because of the
infrequency of command visits.
The American Embassy, located in
Reykjavik proper, is a place
where everyone would like to
stand their duty. Currently, five
Marines fill the billets there.
Weekend sports schedule set for radio and television
American Forces Radio will
broadcast two basketball games
this weekend.
On Saturday, college basketball
will feature a Big Ten scrap with
Indiana facing Illinois at 9 p.m.
Pro basketball Sunday finds the
Chicago Bulls taking on the De-
troit Pistons at 5 p.m.
Channel 8 will have two sports
features. Saturday, the National
Football League All-Star game will
be shown at 3:10 p.m. And Sunday,
college basketball is on tap with
USC taking on UCLA at 2:10 p.m.
The cub master and den leader of cub pack
eceive the National Sumner Act Award for the
s participation in activities last summer*
RIGHT: Lt. Col. Matthew R. Thome, U.S. Array, and
Michael Woods (oldest and youngest scouts in Kef-
lavik,respectively) cut the cake at the ceremony.