Australia's Federation Guard
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| Federation Guard | |
|---|---|
 Australian Tri-Service Insignia | |
| Active | 7 March 2000- |
| Country | Australia |
| Role | Ceremonial |
| Size | One regiment |
| Garrison/HQ | Canberra |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | HM The Queen |
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 Australia's Federation Centenary, it is the first purely ceremonial unit in the history of the Australian 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.
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 Forces, serving in various public duties capacities.
Primarily a foot guards 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 Regiment of 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.
