Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince

Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince
Patch of the Compagnie des Carabiniers
Active	1817-
Country	Monaco
Branch	Military of Monaco
Type	Foot Guards and Infantry
Role	Close Protection
Size	One company 116 officers and men
Garrison/HQ	Moneghetti, Regional H/Q Monaco-Ville
Motto	"Honor, loyalty, devotion"
Engagements	World War II and the Monegasque Revolution
Commanders
Commander in Chief	HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco
Insignia
Plume	Red over White

The Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince (Prince's Company of Carabiniers) is a military unit of the military force of Monaco and is one of the only militaries that recruit foreigners. Although Monaco's defence is the responsibility of France, it maintains a small force for the protection of the Sovereign Prince of Monaco. It was formed by Prince Honoré IV in 1817 for the protection of the Principality. The company numbers 116 officers and men - while the NCOs and soldiers are local, the officers have generally served in the French Army. With the local fire service, the Caribineers form Monaco's total public forces. In addition to their guard duties, the company patrols the Principality's beaches and coastal waters, as well as other duties around the Palace in Monaco-Ville.

The Palace is guarded by two officers and nine carabiniers around the clock. The guard is changed every day at 11:55 o'clock, announced by the company's section of eight trumpeters.

The military has a band consisting of 26 musicians; within the main band a small variety orchestra and a brass ensemble (for religious music) have been formed. The military band performs public concerts and also plays at official occasions, sports events and international military music festivals.

History

An antecedent of the Palace guards was the company known in the 19th century as the "Papalins", former soldiers of the Papal States who, upon the destitution of the Papacy's temporal authority at the time of the Italian unification, were given a role in the Prince of Monaco's protection. A road in the Fontvieille suburb of Monaco is named after the "Papalins".

Organization

Composed of 116 men of French nationality (3 officers, 15 noncommissioned officers and 98 men of rank), the Prince's Guard company has some special training:

1) Musical training band. 2) A team of scuba divers. 3) Motorcycle Platoon. 4) Bodyguard and protection unit. 5) SWAT division. 6) A division who helps the Monegasque Red Cross.

There is also civilian employes, which currently number 14 working for the corps.

Head of the Corps

• 2007–present Commandant Philippe Rebaudengo
• 2005 - 2007 Lieutenant-colonel Jacques Morandon
• 1993 - 2005 Lieutenant-colonel Luc Fringant
• 1978 - 1993 Commandant Maurice Allent

Prince Albert II of Monaco is the Colonel of the Company since 11 November 1986.

Dress and equipment

The Corps has started the century with, equipment and materials upgraded at the pace of new technology. Security has been strengthened by the introduction of modern means. The mobility of men has increased the allocation of vehicles adapted to different missions and armaments such as 4 new MOWAG Piranha, 6 new Humvee, BMW (motorcycles), old rifles and revolvers have been replaced by modern weapons such as M16A2 and the Glock 17 .

Career development

At the time of its incorporation, a young rifleman signs his first contract for five years which is validated after a period of instruction and confirmation period in which ability and motivation are verified. This confirmation is usually after one year but may be extended for one or even two years probation.

The rifleman can pursue her career and commitments by successive five years until age 55, subjecting to meet all the conditions of fitness.

The advancement on merit allows a number of riflemen to access the various grades of noncommissioned officers.

However, the very low turnover rate of these men implies that 50% finish their military career as a rifleman first or second class

Recruitment

The Prince's Guard are recruited from among candidates who meet the following conditions:

   1)Being a French or Monégasque citizen and have completed military service or have a military background;
   2)Be between 19 and 27 years old;
   3)Being single (marriage license after the confirmation of the first contract);
   4)Measuring a size of 1.80 m (minimum strictly required);
   5)Owning a very good condition and excellent physical condition;
   6)Showing good intentions and an intellectual level appropriate school;
   7)Be licensed to conduct LV (minimum);
   8)can swim. 

Applications may be valued if they involve special skills in one or more specialties relevant to the Company: music (band instruments), transmission, computer, first aid, scuba diving, and auto body mechanics, combat sports, etc. .

The Band

The Palace Guards of the Prince have a musical band consisted of twenty-six rifle-musicians under the command of a sergeant-Chief. Since 1978, their training took the name "Band of the Prince's Guard Corps." Part of the Unit, the band is not trained in hand with the sole purpose of music. The Carabinieri who compose, receive the same training as their comrades. They participate in all services granted to the Company. The diversity of the repertoire of the band allows it to perform at official ceremonies and sporting events and public concerts. Since 1989, HSH the Sovereign Prince does not hesitate to send them abroad: Saumur , Nîmes , Albertville , Lugano , Düsseldorf , Turin , Lisbon , Seville , Geneva , Hanover , etc..

Missions of the Guard of Monaco

Since its inception, the Prince's Guard has and have had missions to guard the Palace and to ensure the security of the sovereign and his family, to provide services to honor, to ensure the enforcement of laws and to participate maintaining public order. The Palace is guarded at all times, twenty-four hours a day, with two sub-officers, one sergeant and eight riflemen. Changing of the Guard, performed daily at 11.55 am and announced by a musical element (two drums, two trumpets).

The Prince's Guard company provides services in honor. To "requisition", the corps escorts the judiciary, participates in official ceremonies, civil and religious, and ceremonial parades and processions .

The corps also performs various missions of public service. With the creation within the unity of military aid, the company of Prince's Guard implements ambulances for the Monegasque Red Cross.The corps participates as such, the security of major sporting events or arts that take place in the Principality, requiring emergency supplies and evacuation. The corps would participate as appropriate in the implementation of emergency plans,plan ORMOS Red Plan (Monaco relief organization) which also includes the Corps des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Monaco.

The corps provides daily collection of young children on behalf of the nursery "Foyer Sainte-Devote" and is requested to transport people with disabilities in the behalf of the Monegasque Red Cross.

The team of scuba divers is regularly asked to integrate with security devices and participate in various rescue missions during the sailing competitions in numerous Monegasque waters. These staff members also participate in scientific observations underwater environment for the study of pollution in the Mediterranean.

A motorcyclist platoon is responsible for daily missions for the Price's of Monaco on his daily schedule and escorts sovereign heads of state visiting Monaco.

And a SWAT division which provides security and protection to the prince his family and members of judiciary. They also help police in major crack downs.

See also

• Military of Monaco

External links

• Government's webpage
• Palace's website (Most all info can be found on this page)