Australia's Federation Guard

Mission

Australia's Federation Guard provides a Tri-Service ceremonial capability in order to promote the standards, values, traditions and ethos of the Australian Defence Force and Australia.

About AFG

Australia’s Federation Guard was established in 2000 to provide the Australian Government and Australian Defence Force with a permanent ceremonial capability. The Guard has its home in Canberra and has gained a reputation of being a professional ceremonial unit serving the ADF and Government in Australia and overseas.

The unit is manned by men and women of the Navy, Army and Air Force and as such, the skills they hold are many and varied. All members are full time and have defence trades separate to the ceremonial role they have at the Guard. There are tank drivers, chefs, air defence operators, marine technicians, fire fighters and ship’s bosuns, to name but a few. The Guard is made up of volunteers who have met various selection criteria.

Currently there are approximately 170 men and women posted to the Guard. There are four divisions, one for each service and one for a headquarters element that includes the Guard’s own Supplies Store, Orderly Room and Operations Cell which plans and manages all of the Guard’s deployments. All members are required to fulfil ceremonial duties.

The Guard has a significant role in marking national days of significance such as Australia Day, ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day. For ANZAC Day its members mount a Catafalque Party at ANZAC Cove, Turkey and Villers-Bretonneux, France, and for the first time this year, Menin Gate in Belgium and Martin Place in Sydney. The ANZAC Day Guard at the Australian War Memorial is also currently provided by the Guard.

The Guard plays an important role for the Governor General and the Prime Minister in providing Guards of Honour and Credential Guards for visiting Heads of State and Heads of Government. In 2011 a few of these have included the Presidents of Malta, Cyprus and Seychelles. The Gun Battery constituting of six 105mm Howitzers is used as part of the ceremony to welcome important guests and at events such as the Queens Birthday Celebrations.

The Guard provides support to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) when marking significant historical events. In 2011 AFG assisted in commemorative services overseas; the 65th Anniversary of The Republic of Italy, the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Greece and Crete, the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War, and the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel Medallion Ceremony in Papua New Guinea. The Guard assisted in the burial, with full military honours, of Australian World War II Flight Lieutenant Henry ‘Lacy’ Smith in Normandy, and of the 250 Australian and British soldiers laid to rest in Fromelles, both in France.

For Australian Defence Force events and activities, the Guard has provided a variety of ceremonial support ranging from Guards of Honour for Service Chiefs, Service birthday ceremonies, and guards for high ranking international military visitors. The entire Guard participated in the opening and closing of the Edinburgh Tattoo in Sydney.

Within Australia’s Federation Guard is a smaller group who form the Precision Drill Team (PDT). The PDT travel regularly, performing for events like the Brunei Military Tattoo overseas, and within Australia at Canberra’s Skyfire, Navy Week and the Arafura Games opening ceremony in Darwin, and sporting events around the country.

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