Australia's Federation Guard
Encyclopedia
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 the centenary celebrations of Australian federation, 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 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.
, serving in various public duties
capacities.
For administrative purposes the unit is divided into four sub-units, a Head-Quarter element with three single service "Divisions". Each Division is commanded by an Officer from that service.
The RAN contingent of the Guard always appears on the left hand side of a parade, with Army
in the centre and RAAF on the right. This is a tribute to the seniority of the services, with the Navy considered the eldest of the services and the Air Force the youngest.
unit, equipped with the L1A1 SLR
, the Guard also provides gun salutes from various saluting stations, including the top of Mount Pleasant
in Canberra
. 26 members of the Guard are assigned to gun salutes, from all three services, under the command of personnel from the Royal Australian Artillery.
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.
Australia's Federation Guard 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.
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
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. An unofficial badge has been adopted by the unit and features the ADF tri-service crest in silver against a gold federation star.
Duntroon
. When performing in other parts of Australia, other Defence bands such as the RAN Band or the RAAF Band are tasked for support.
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
, Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
, and Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
. Formed in 2000 for the centenary celebrations of Australian federation, it is the first purely ceremonial unit in the history of the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n armed forces, and has since represented Australia in various roles both at home and around the world, including providing the guard
Queen's Guard
The Queen's Guard and Queen's Life Guard are the names given to contingents of infantry and cavalry soldiers charged with guarding the official royal residences in London...
at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
in 2000. In performing this duty, the Federation Guard was responsible not only for providing the first naval sentries (although the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
have in the past provided the guard, never had the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
), but also the first women to serve. The Guard alternated with the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards
Coldstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
, with each service providing a detachment on each day.
Composition
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 ForceAustralian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
, serving in various public duties
Public duties
Public duties are performed by military personnel, and usually have a ceremonial or historic significance rather than an overtly operational role.-Germany:...
capacities.
For administrative purposes the unit is divided into four sub-units, a Head-Quarter element with three single service "Divisions". Each Division is commanded by an Officer from that service.
The RAN contingent of the Guard always appears on the left hand side of a parade, with Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
in the centre and RAAF on the right. This is a tribute to the seniority of the services, with the Navy considered the eldest of the services and the Air Force the youngest.
Roles
Primarily a foot guardsFoot Guards
-British Army:The Foot Guards are the Regular Infantry regiments of the Household Division of the British Army. There have been six regiments of foot guards, five of which still exist. The Royal Guards Reserve Regiment was a reserve formation of the Household Brigade in existence from 1900-1901...
unit, equipped with the L1A1 SLR
FN FAL
The Fusil Automatique Léger or FAL is a self-loading, selective fire battle rifle produced by the Belgian armaments manufacturer Fabrique Nationale de Herstal . During the Cold War it was adopted by many North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries, with the notable exception of the United States...
, the Guard also provides gun salutes from various saluting stations, including the top of Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant (Australian Capital Territory)
Mount Pleasant in Canberra overlooks the Australian Defence Force Academy and Royal Military College at Duntroon, Australia.On the top of the hill is a memorial to all ranks of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery....
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. 26 members of the Guard are assigned to gun salutes, from all three services, under the command of personnel from the Royal Australian Artillery.
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
Queen's Colour Squadron
The Queen's Colour Squadron is the unit of the Royal Air Force charged with the safe-keeping of the Queen's Colour for the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom. Since its formation, it has been manned exclusively by officers and men of the RAF Regiment...
and Hans Majestet Kongens Garde
Hans Majestet Kongens Garde
Hans Majestet Kongens Garde is a battalion of the Norwegian Army. The battalion has two main roles; it serves as the Norwegian King's bodyguards, guarding the royal residences and Akershus Fortress in Oslo, and is also the main infantry unit responsible for the defence of...
, all the movements are performed without a single word of command.
Australia's Federation Guard 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.
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 "Airmans Belt" worn by all Other Ranks.For members of the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of 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
Rising Sun (badge)
The Rising Sun badge, also known as the General Service Badge or the Australian Army Badge, is the official insignia of the Australian Army. The badge is worn on the brim of a slouch hat or the front of a peaked cap and is readily identified with the spirit of ANZAC, the legend of the Australian...
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. An unofficial 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 Band of the Royal Military CollegeRoyal Military College, Duntroon
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...
Duntroon
Duntroon
Duntroon may refer to:* Royal Military College, Duntroon, in Canberra, Australia* Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory, Robert Campbell's property in the suburb of Campbell, Canberra* Duntroon, Ontario, Canada* Duntroon, New Zealand* Duntroon, Scotland...
. When performing in other parts of Australia, other Defence bands such as the RAN Band or the RAAF Band are tasked for support.