Anti-terrorism Marines train locally

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - An elite team of Marines sent internationally to respond to crises such as the embassy attack in Libya are trained in Chesapeake.

"They're the preeminent force in the world for rapid-deployed expeditionary site security," Maj. Jery Willingham said.

The Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST) Marines receive their training at Chesapeake's Naval Security Group Base.

The members of FAST volunteered to join the Marines, volunteered to join the infantry and then volunteered to become members of the security force regiment. Most of them made those commitments before the age of 21.

"They are very young marines but the training they receive is top of the line training," tactics instructor and Staff Sgt. William Loushin said.

Marksmanship is a large part of the FAST Marine's training which includes a live fire exercise. However, they often use non-lethal ammunition in a riot situation similar to those taking place outside American embassies in the middle east.

"[We use the] full spectrum of combat," Loushin said. "We're not told to deploy somewhere and kill somebody in another uniform. We have to go to a place and have to locate the enemy first, which is harder than actually fighting the enemy. The sun never sets on our regiment.  We're always securing something. And the enemy knows that there's nothing more dangerous for them than a Marine with a rifle."