Republican Guard (Egypt)

The Egyptian Republican Guard is a Division level command within the Egyptian Army, designed to be an armored division with the main responsibility to defend the Capital of the Republic, mainly the major government and strategic industrial institutions, including the Presidential Palace. It is one of the largest Divisional commands in Egypt with a heavy emphasis on Armoured and Mechanized warfare. It is the senior-most Corps in the Egyptian Army.

Organization
The Republican Guard is under the direct command of the Ministry of Defense. Its current commander is Major General Samy Dyab. The Republican Guard Division is the only significant military unit allowed in central Cairo, apart from the intelligence services’ military branches and Central Security.

History
It was created subsequent to the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 by Egypt's second President, Gamal Abdel Nasser, to protect the Presidency, and the national government in Cairo. Known originally as the National Guard, it was mainly a paramilitary force, but was expanded into a large military force, first at a brigade level in the 1950s and 1960s, then augmented at a division level and incorporated under the Armored Corps in 1985.

Secondary duties are to protect presidential sites and important State buildings in Cairo, provide Honor Guard and security services for the highest national personalities and important foreign guests; and responding to any rebellion, coup, or other threat to the government of the Republic.

Members are mainly but not exclusively volunteers on deputation from other Army units, mainly armored and mechanized units, who receive bonuses and subsidized housing, and received greater training than the regular army. The Egyptian Republican Guard, however, doesn't recruit directly from the population, unlike its Syrian, Yemeni, and (former) Iraqi counterparts. The bulk of its troops are recruited from other Army units, mainly on the basis of performance and advanced training in urban warfare.

Generally components of one or more Brigades under the Guard have been deployed to forward divisions on Egypt's eastern and western borders.

It is mainly equipped with M 60 and M1A1 Abrams Tanks, and the BMP-2 and M-1117 armoured vehicles. There are several Anti-Tank infantry platoons as well, equipped with the AT-3 Sagger and BGM-71 TOW anti-Tank guided missiles. The was initially trained by the Soviet Army in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Military Police battalions of the Republican Guard have often been deployed as Riot Police armed with teargas, water cannon and batons, especially during civil unrest targeting key Defence installations and buildings.

Organization
The Republican Guard Division is located for administrative purposes under 1st Corps, which has its Field H.Q. in Heliopolis, Cairo, Central Military Region. In turn, 1st Corps is part of First Field Army also with its H.Q. in Cairo.

Field organization
HQ Republican Guard Armored Division (aka 1st Republican Guard Armored Division)
 * Armored brigades
 * 2 Armored Brigades (33rd & 35th)
 * 4 Armored Battalions (118th, 119th, 120th, 121st)
 * 16 Armored Companies
 * 4 Command Companies
 * 2 Military Police Companies
 * 4 Signal/Recon Companies
 * 2 Mechanized Battalions (41st & 42nd)
 * 8 Mechanized Companies
 * 2 Command Companies
 * 2 Signal/Recon Companies
 * 2 Anti-Tank Companies
 * Mechanized Brigades
 * 2 Mechanized Brigades (510th & 512th)
 * 6 Mechanized Battalions (41st, 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 45th, 46th)
 * 18 Mechanized Companies
 * 3 Command Companies
 * 2 Military Police Battalions
 * 3 Signal/Recon Companies
 * 2 Armored Battalions (116th & 117th)
 * 6 Armored Companies
 * 1 Command Company
 * 1 Anti-Tank Company
 * 1 Signal/Recon Company
 * RG Divisional Artillery
 * 1 S/P Artillery Brigade (10th) Command H.Q. (Brigade level)
 * 4 S/P Artillery Battalions (1st to 4th)
 * 16 S/P Artillery Batteries

Uniform and Insignia
The Republican Guard has a distinctive uniform different from that of the regular Egyptian Army. The service uniform of the Guards is of a tan colour with a distinctive blue-purple beret and epaulettes. A blue-grey parade uniform is worn by honour guard and other ceremonial detachments. The Military Police battalions wear a red beret, with a red coloured helmet when deployed in riot control duties.

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