National Guard (Egypt)
Encyclopedia
The Egyptian National Guard was originally created to be Gamal Abdel Nasser
's bodyguard and was known as the National Guard, being mainly a paramilitary force under the command of the Ministry of Defense. After separating the Republican Guard
division from it, the National Guard remained a large paramilitary force and numbers about 60,000 personnel, mainly used for ceremonials and parades whose duties are to protect presidential sites and important public buildings in Cairo
, providing Honor Guard
and security services for the highest national personalities and important foreign guests; and responding to any rebellion, coup, or other threat to Presidential power. Members were (mainly but not exclusively) highly motivated volunteers rather than conscripts. They received bonuses, new cars and subsidized housing, and received greater training than the regular army.
The National Guard was disbanded before or after Nasser left office. It no longer exists.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was the second President of Egypt from 1956 until his death. A colonel in the Egyptian army, Nasser led the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 along with Muhammad Naguib, the first president, which overthrew the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan, and heralded a new period of...
's bodyguard and was known as the National Guard, being mainly a paramilitary force under the command of the Ministry of Defense. After separating the Republican Guard
Republican Guard (Egypt)
The Egyptian Republican Guard is a Division level command within the Egyptian Army, designed to be a heavily armored division with the main responsibility to defend the Capital of the Republic, mainly the major governmental and strategic industrial institutions.The Republican Guard is under the...
division from it, the National Guard remained a large paramilitary force and numbers about 60,000 personnel, mainly used for ceremonials and parades whose duties are to protect presidential sites and important public buildings in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, providing Honor Guard
Honor guard
An honor guard, or ceremonial guard, is a ceremonial unit, usually military in nature and composed of volunteers who are carefully screened for their physical ability and dexterity...
and security services for the highest national personalities and important foreign guests; and responding to any rebellion, coup, or other threat to Presidential power. Members were (mainly but not exclusively) highly motivated volunteers rather than conscripts. They received bonuses, new cars and subsidized housing, and received greater training than the regular army.
The National Guard was disbanded before or after Nasser left office. It no longer exists.
See also
- Central Security ForcesCentral Security ForcesThe 350,000 strong Central Security Forces CSF organization is an Egyptian Paramilitary force which is responsible for assisting the Egyptian National Police for the security of governmental fixed sites, foreign embassies & missions, riots & crowds control, publicly crowded events, high risk...
- List of countries by number of active troops