An elite team of Marines at Camp Pendleton is training to respond to threats against the base.
ISIS has threatened local Marines in the past, and there have been several scares at local military bases in recent months.
Staff Sgt. Mark Swindall is the commander of the Special Reaction team, which is similar to a SWAT unit. They are tasked with protecting the base.
"I've been to SERE school, sniper school, intelligence schools …," Swindall explained.
On top of military training, the team members also have law enforcement training.
"That could be an active shooter," Swindall said. "It could be a terrorist attack."
It is not just a job for them -- the team members live on base and do not drink so they can be ready to respond 24/7.
Lance Cpl. Kalyn Buchanan, one of more than a dozen military police on the team, said, "There's never going to be a time that we're not ready to react."
The team handles presidential security and protects those who protect our country.
"They choose this, and they leave their homes to do something better for this country, so I think while they're home they should be able to relax and feel safe," Buchanan said. "There are families out here … there are kids … there are pets. There are things to be cherished out here."
If a bullet is headed for their Marines, it will have to go through them first.
"We're going to do everything we can to stop it and save lives," Buchanan said.
"That's what I do this for … is to protect lives," Swindall said. "I assure you we are prepared."
