Australia's Federation Guard

Values and Traditions

Australia's Federation Guard incorporates and embodies the traditions and values of all three services. Our values are based on the Australian traditions of mateship, loyalty and a fair-go and are employed as we strive to be professional masters of drill and ceremony.

Personnel serving at the Guard come from a variety of backgrounds, corps and categories. All of these qualities are fostered and nurtured at the Guard and it is this diversity of characters that give Australia's Federation Guard its flair and uniqueness.

Australia's Federation Guard has adopted unique customs which enable the unit to stand out from all others. These include:

  • The L1A1 Self Loading Rifle (SLR) is used on all ceremonial occasions. The Guard is the only unit remaining in the Australian Defence Force to utilise this weapon.
  • The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) division always appears on the left hand side of a Tri-Service Guard and marches on and off the parade ground first. Navy is then followed by the Australian Regular Army (ARA) division and then by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) division. This is in accordance with the seniority of the RAN, ARA and RAAF.
  • Navy personnel wear a Royal Australian Navy tally band in place of a unit tally band. Petty officers wear black parade boots with summer uniform when forming part of the main body.
  • Army personnel wear the Vice Chief of Defence Force colour patch on their uniforms as well as a green and yellow lanyard. Additionally, ‘Australia’ shoulder titles are worn instead of Corps shoulder titles and a small ‘Rising Sun’ badge on front of the slouch hat is worn instead of Corps hat badge.
  • All personnel wear white ceremonial belts with single-service broad brass badge with all ceremonial uniforms.
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