A group of nearly 50 marines specializing in intelligence is being sent to participate in a NATO mission to monitor a network of undersea internet cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea. Marines are drawn to this mission in part because of their experience with unmanned surveillance vehicles and other tactical reconnaissance skills. A US Marine Corps press release quoted a senior Finnish naval officer as saying that the marines will work with the Finnish military and other NATO forces to monitor the Baltic Sea, which is strewn with data cables and gas pipelines. "The experience, skills and capabilities of the US Marine Corps are ideally suited to complement our operational picture and support the monitoring of the Baltic Sea," said the Finnish Navy's Chief of Operations, Captain Johan Tillander. These Marines — about 50 in all — are part of the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, as well as the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's Information Group. Both units are based at the Marine Corps installation Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

A group of nearly 50 marines specializing in intelligence is being sent to participate in a NATO mission to monitor a network of undersea internet cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea. Marines are drawn to this mission in part because of their experience with unmanned surveillance vehicles and other tactical reconnaissance skills. A US Marine Corps press release quoted a senior Finnish naval officer as saying that the marines will work with the Finnish military and other NATO forces to monitor the Baltic Sea, which is strewn with data cables and gas pipelines. "The experience, skills and capabilities of the US Marine Corps are ideally suited to complement our operational picture and support the monitoring of the Baltic Sea," said the Finnish Navy's Chief of Operations, Captain Johan Tillander. These Marines — about 50 in all — are part of the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, as well as the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's Information Group. Both units are based at the Marine Corps installation Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.