WASHINGTON – Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton does not know that Marines stationed at U.S. embassies are there for security purposes.

Clinton revealed her lack of knowledge about the U.S. embassy security situation at Thursday’s House Benghazi Committee hearing, where she said that Marines stationed at Benghazi “were not there” to protect personnel.

“Certainly it was useful for our security professionals and our diplomats to be partnered in that way with the Defense Department. You know, historically the only presence at some of our facilities has been Marines. And as you know well, Marines were there not for the purpose of personnel protection; they were there to destroy classified material and equipment,” Clinton said.

But the Marine Security Guards at U.S. Embassies do, actually, provide security for personnel, according to the Marine Corps website.

“The primary mission of the Marine Security Guard (MSG) is to provide internal security at designated U.S. diplomatic and consular facilities in order to prevent the compromise of classified material vital to the national security of the United States,” the website states. “The secondary mission of the MSG is to provide protection for U.S. citizens and U.S government property located within designated U.S. diplomatic and consular premises during exigent circumstances (urgent temporary circumstances which require immediate aid or action).”