Australia's Federation Guard: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Revision as of 12:45, 26 January 2006 edit Rstt (talk \| contribs) 184 edits m List services in seniority order ← Previous edit		Latest revision as of 06:17, 25 April 2025 edit undo Knightmare 3112 (talk \| contribs) Extended confirmed users 4,974 edits No edit summary
(135 intermediate revisions by 79 users not shown)
Line 1: {{Short description\|Australian ceremonial military unit}} ~~[[Image:Adf.jpg\|right]]~~ {{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2019}} The '''Federation Guard''' is a tri-service ceremonial unit made up of members from the [[Royal Australian Navy]], [[Australian Army]], and [[Royal Australian Air Force]]. Formed in 2000 for [[Australia\|Australia's]] Federation Centenary, it is the first purely ceremonial unit in the history of the [[Australia]]n armed forces, and has since represented Australia in various roles both at home and around the world, including providing the [[Queen's Guard\|guard]] at [[Buckingham Palace]] in 2000. In performing this duty, the Federation Guard was responsible not only for providing the first naval sentries (although the [[Royal Marines]] have in the past provided the guard, never had the [[Royal Navy]]), but also the first women to serve. The Guard alternated with the 1st Battalion, [[Coldstream Guards]], with each service providing a detachment on each day.▼ {{Infobox military unit \| unit_name = Australia's Federation Guard \| image = ADF Australia's Federation Guard - Logo.png \| image_size = 200px \| caption = \| country = {{flag\|Australia}} \| allegiance = \| branch = \| dates = 7 March 2000 – present \| command_structure = [[Australian Defence Force]] \| type = Ceremonial unit \| size = One augmented (tri-service) Company \| current_commander = \| garrison = [[Canberra]] \| ceremonial_chief = \| ceremonial_chief_label = \| colonel_of_the_regiment = \| nickname = The Guard \| motto = \| equipment = [[L1A1 SLR]], [[M101 howitzer\|M101 105mm Howitzer]] \| colors = Green & Gold \| colors_label = Colours \| march = \| identification_symbol = [[File:AFG UCP.svg\|75px]] \| identification_symbol_label = Unit Colour Patch \| mascot = \| battles = \| notable_commanders = \| anniversaries = }} ▲~~The~~ '''Australia's Federation Guard''' (AFG) is a tri-service ceremonial unit made up of members from the [[Royal Australian Navy]], [[Australian Army]], and [[Royal Australian Air Force]]. Formed in 2000 for the centenary celebrations of [[Federation of Australia~~\|Australia's~~]] ~~Federation Centenary~~, it is the first purely ceremonial unit in the history of the [[Australia]]n armed forces, and has since represented Australia in various roles both at home and around the world, including providing the [[Queen's Guard~~\|guard~~]] at [[Buckingham Palace]] in 2000. InSince ~~performing~~its ~~this~~inception ~~duty,~~AFG ~~the~~has ~~Federation~~supported ~~Guard~~many ~~was~~notable responsible not only for providing the first naval sentries (although the [[Royal Marines]] have in the past provided the guard, never had the [[Royal Navy]]), but also the first women to serve. The Guard alternated with the 1st Battalion, [[Coldstream Guards]], with each service providing a detachment on each day.events; The "Guard" has a total of 159 members from all three services. Every member enlists into a specific trade in either the army, navy or air force, but puts those trades on hold for the duration of their service in the Guard. Although formed initially for the celebrations of the centenary, the standard of the Guard was such that it was kept on as a showcase for the ceremonial capabilities of the [[Australian Defence Forces]], serving in various [[public duties]] capacities.▼ The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoos held in Australia 2005, 2010 and 2019. ~~[[Image:Guardmounting.jpg\|thumb\|right\|250px\|The [[Australia's Federation Guard\|Federation Guard]] mounting the Guard at Buckingham Palace]]~~ The ANZAC commemorations in Western Europe 2014 to 2018. The Queen Elizabeth II Silver and Platinum Jubilee's in the UK. The Queen Elizabeth II's Funeral in the UK 2022. The King Charles III Coronation in the UK 2023. ==Composition== Primarily a [[foot guards]] unit, equipped with the [[FN FAL\|L1A1 SLR]], the Guard also provides [[21 gun salute\|gun salutes]] from various saluting stations, including the top of [[Mount Pleasant, Australian Capital Territory\|Mount Pleasant]] in [[Canberra]]. 26 members of the Guard are assigned to gun salutes, from all three services, under the commander of personnel from the [[Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery]]. [[File:Barack Obama reviews Australias Federation Guard.jpg\|thumb\|U.S President [[Barack Obama]] reviews Australia's Federation Guard in the forecourt of Parliament House during his visit to Australia in November 2011.]] The posting strength of AFG varies, although the unit's authorised strength is around 170 personnel of all ranks.<ref name=AFG>{{cite web \|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/afg/About/mission.html \|title=Australia's Federation Guard \|publisher=Department of Defence \|access-date=17 April 2014}}</ref> A Royal Guard consists of 32 members from each service, one left marker, one right marker, two flag bearers and one parade officer. The Navy contingent of the Guard always appears on the left hand side of a parade, with [[Australian Army\|Army]] in the centre and [[RAAF]] on the right. This reflects the seniority of the services. ▲~~The "Guard" has a total of 159 members from all three services.~~ Every member enlists into a specific trade in either the ~~army~~Royal Australian Navy, ~~navy~~Australian Army or ~~air~~Royal ~~force~~Australian Air Force, but puts those ~~trades~~services on hold for the duration of their ~~service~~tenure inof ~~the~~2–3 ~~Guard~~years in AFG. Although formed initially for the celebrations of the centenary, the standard of the Guard was such that it was kept on as a showcase for the ceremonial capabilities of the [[Australian Defence ~~Forces~~Force]], serving in various [[public duties]] capacities. Those task range from domestic to international Royal Guards, Half Guards, Credential Guards, Stair Guards, Catafalque parties, Military Funerals, Military parades and Precision Drill Team displays. The Guard has a '''Precision Drill Team''' consisting of 30 members. The drill movements performed by the PDT are a combination of mobile and static movements in accordance with Australian Defence Force Drill Standards. As with other drill teams, such as the [[Queen's Colour Squadron]] and [[Hans Majestet Kongens Garde]], all the movements are performed without a single word of command. For administrative purposes the unit is divided into four sub-units, a headquarters element and three mixed service "divisions". Each division is commanded by an officer from a different service.The Guard Commanding Officer is on a rotation of the services. Whilst the Guard Sergeant Major is Australian Army, ~~The physical security of the [[Governor-General of Australia]] is entrusted to the [[Australian Protective Service]].~~ ==Roles== ~~[[Category:Australian military units]]~~ Although it is primarily a [[guard of honour\|ceremonial guard unit]], equipped with the [[FN FAL\|L1A1 SLR]], the Guard also provides [[21 gun salute\|gun salutes]]. These salutes can be performed anywhere, although for practical reasons are usually only utilised in the [[Canberra]] district. Depending on the situation personnel from all three services, operate up to six guns, with four to six personnel servicing each gun under the command of personnel from the [[Royal Australian Artillery]]. [[Category:Guards Regiments]]▼ AFG also contains a Drum Corps. Made up from volunteers from all three services posted to the unit, Drum Corps members participate in additional training with the majority having no previous musical experience with percussion instruments. Drum Corps members perform their drumming duties in addition to their traditional Guard duties and will often support the Precision Drill Team in their training and performances. In 2000, AFG provided the [[Queen's Guard]] at [[Buckingham Palace]]. In performing this duty, AFG was responsible not only for providing the first naval sentries (although the [[Royal Marines]] have in the past provided the guard, the [[Royal Navy]] have not), but also the first women to serve. The Guard alternated with the 1st Battalion, [[Coldstream Guards]], with each service providing a detachment on each day.<ref name="bbc">{{cite web\|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/814684.stm\|title=BBC News \| UK \| Female soldiers guard the palace: Captain Cynthia Anderson led the Buckingham Palace detachment in the morning parade and formally asked permission for the new guard to relieve the old guard\|website=news.bbc.co.uk\|access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/352367.queens-oz-guard-at-the-ready/?ref=arc \|title=Queen's Oz Guard At The Ready \|author=<!--Not stated--> \|date=6 July 2000 \|website=News Shopper \|access-date=31 July 2019 }}</ref> ==Precision Drill Team== [[File:US Navy 110709-N-CZ945-602 Australia's Federation Guard performs at the opening ceremony for Talisman Sabre 2011.jpg\|thumb\|Members of Australia's Federation Guard during a display in 2011.]] Within AFG is a smaller group who form the Precision Drill Team (PDT). The PDT travel all over Australia performing for events like Careers Expos, charity functions and sporting events. The drills performed by the PDT are a combination of over 300 specific movements without any words of command being given to the Guardsmen. The Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen that make up the PDT require a high level of skill, concentration and teamwork which is perfected through many hours of practice.<ref name="Australian Defence Force">{{cite web\|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/afg/About/PDT.html\|access-date=15 June 2012\|title=PDT}}</ref> ==Uniforms== [[File:Australian sailor and soldier wearing formal uniforms 2011.jpg\|thumb\|An Australian sailor and soldier wearing formal uniforms.]] Members of the [[Royal Australian Navy]] and [[Royal Australian Air Force]] posted to the unit perform their ceremonial duties in the standard ceremonial uniforms of their service as the variance between trades is minimal. A notable addition to the uniform is the white "airman's belt" worn by all other ranks. For members of the [[Australian Army]] uniforms vary significantly between corps with embellishments differing between silver, gold and black. All corps have unique hat badges with some corps having individual unit hat badges, for example the [[Royal Australian Armoured Corps]]. The Guard is considered a "non-corps posting" by the Australian Army and wears "non-corps" generic army embellishments for the sake of uniformity. These generic embellishments consist of miniature [[Rising Sun (badge)\|Rising Sun]] badges worn in place of corps badges on the hat and collars, complemented by gold jacket buttons and rank insignia. A generic tri-service colour patch is worn by all Army members of the AFG as the [[unit colour patch]]. A number of submissions have been made in relation to approving an official unit badge that would be worn on the hats of serving members but at this stage, none have been approved. However, an approved unit badge has been adopted by the unit and features the ADF tri-service crest in silver against a gold federation star. ==Musical support== The Guard has the Australian Defence Force's only dedicated drum corps. However, the Guard does not have its own band. The majority of musical support for ceremonial duties within the Canberra region is provided by the [[The Band of the Royal Military College, Duntroon\|Band]] of the [[Royal Military College, Duntroon\|Royal Military College]], [[Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory\|Duntroon]]. When performing in other parts of Australia, other Defence bands such as the [[Royal Australian Navy Band]], the [[Australian Army Band Corps]] or the [[Royal Australian Air Force Band]] are tasked for musical support. ==See also== * [[Household Division]] ==References== {{reflist\|30em}} ==External links== {{commons category\|Australia's Federation Guard}} * [http://www.defence.gov.au/afg/ Australia's Federation Guard website] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XBX0xPlr78 PDT Performance] [[Category:2000 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Military units and formations of Australia]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 2000]] ▲[[Category:Guards ~~Regiments~~of honour]]