Camp guard no ordinary bunch (Marines' measure-everyman a rifleman)

MarineLink ^ | July 18, 2005 | Sgt. Stephen D'Alessio

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The Marines were waiting for their pre-patrol brief in their operations center – flak jackets and helmets bunched against the wall and rifles leaning against them. Some were drinking Mountain Dews and laughing and others were battling on the Sony Play Station. It was an average scene, save for the sergeant leaning in his chair practicing marching tunes on his clarinet. That’s because this isn’t any ordinary guard force the Marine Corps has trained for quick reaction emergencies, this is the 2nd Marine Division Band.

The Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based band, normally accustomed to the business of playing ceremonial military music for changes of command and the Marine Corps birthday ball, changed their focus more than a year ago when they found out they would become headquarters battalion’s main defense against insurgent attacks.

“These guys adapted really well,” said band master and staff non-commissioned officer of the guard force, Master Gunnery Sgt. Mark Michielsen. “And it all started with just a handful of them.”