MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- In the civilian world there is Special Weapons And Tactics or SWAT. On Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton there is the Special Reaction Team - a group of Marines attached to the Special Reaction Section of the Provost Marshal's Office. They're specially trained and equipped to handle high-risk situations beyond the basic capabilities of the military police.

"We handle anything that is out of the scope of the military police," said the team leader for SRT, whose name was withheld to preserve his anonymity. "We are trained to handle hostage situations, barricaded suspects, terrorist threats and any other type of situation that is out of the ordinary."


When the team gets the call - for example, to secure a helicopter crash scene or to nab a suspect in base housing - their military pagers go off and so do they.

They move quickly and quietly in two separate sections.

The first group has five Marines. Their role is to enter a structure and secure it.

Before, during and after the entry team goes into a building, two, two-man cover teams act as their eyes and ears, observing and relaying their observations to the team leader. One cover team member is designated a marksman.

It's potentially dangerous work, so each team member wears protective equipment and packs appropriate weapons. Each member wears a flame retardant suit with a head mask that obscures their identities. Knee and elbow pads are worn, along with goggles and Kevlar, which protects against shrapnel or a knife attack.


Entry-team members carry weapons tailored to their role. The cover team uses sniper rifles. The weapon that an individual entry Marine uses depends on his role in the team. Tactical shotguns and laser-sighted pistols are among weapons used.

"SRT training is geared around stressful conditions," said Sgt. Chad Hunt, a former team leader and now a U.S. Marshal. "The more stress that they are faced with, the better it is to handle real-time situations."

The training demands strict prerequisites to become an SRT member. Prequalifiers must undergo a six-month trial period, the team leader said. They must score a minimum of 260 on the physical fitness test and be excellent marksmen. Corporals are preferred as candidates - but lance corporals with one year of operational military police experience can be considered for the team.

"They have to qualify at a minimum of expert with the service rifle and pistol, as well as other assigned SRT weapons," the team leader said. "SRT Marines are required to be well-disciplined and mature."

Moreover, candidates should have clean records - no prior courts-martial or nonjudicial punishments. Their hearing and eyesight should be excellent, and they must be available 24 hours a day, he said.

SRT here is seeking qualified Marines for their team, the team leader said.

They are able to respond in a moments notice - no matter the situation.

According to Master Sgt. Anthony D. Hurst, PMO operations chief, the unit only hand picks Marines in Security Battalion for SRT.
E-mail Lance Cpl. Palmer at PalmerSA@Pendleton.usmc.mil.