Savamese Imperial Guard

The Savamese Imperial Guard is an elite corp of the Savamese Armed Forces which functions both as a ceremonial and special operations rapid reaction force, as well as the bodyguard of the Emperor of the Savamese and various dignitaries of the Savamese government.

During peace time, the Imperial Guard's prime duties are the protection of the Emperor and their family, as well as the realm sovereigns and higher federal governmental officials such as the Viceroy and the Chancellors. This covers both the close personal protection of said dignitaries and guarding important public buildings throughout the country, but especially in Quesailles. Some of those duties are shared with the Imperial Militia too, and the realm sovereigns have their own guards.

During armed conflicts the Guard is often used as a last-resort tactical reserve. Over years, it has acquired a fearsome reputation for its skills and esprit de corps. Famously, the Guard was deployed as shock troops during the Winter Counter-offfensive in Animare-Metrial 1893 which almost managed to turn the tide of the Embute War; previously, it had remained stationed away from the front line. In more recent decades the Guard has developed a special operations unit and has been used for rapid reaction when a very reliable force was necessary; an example of the latter is the parachuting of the Guard on Semograd during the operations to retake the city from Lutoborian occupation in early 2001 during the Rastovid War.

The Guard is the only branch of the Savamese armed forces not divided between metropolitan and colonial corps. Membership is restricted to sword nobles, who are often selected on physical traits to maintain what is perceived as an imposing stature, and applicants are vouched by the Argan for the orthodoxy of their reformed Cairan beliefs.

Organisation

The Imperial Guard is a self-standing corp of the Savamese armed forces, completely independent of the other branches or the Militia. Because of its smaller size the Guard does not have divisions, only brigades; it is divided in 4 brigades. The first two brigades are the "regular" brigades that are tasked with the protection of the imperial household, federal officials, and government building. There are two regiments of cuirassiers, one in each brigade, that form the horse-mounted honour guards for official events, and can also be used for riot policing in the federal capital. The third brigade, the Brigade d'intervention, is the Guard's rapid response force that is occasionally used in exterior operations. The Brigade d'intervention has multiple specialised regiments including paratroopers and marines; the "standard" régiments in the brigade are chasseurs à cheval, which in modern Savamese military parlance refers to mechanised infantry (formerly light cavalry). Finally, the fourth brigade manages the Guard's logistic and training, and also includes a helicopters regiment.

The total active personnel is about X,XXX.

Operational structure:

• 1re brigade
  • 1er régiment de cuirassiers de la garde
  • 1er régiment régulier de la garde
  • 2e régiment régulier de la garde
• 2e brigade
  • 2e régiment de cuirassiers de la garde
  • 3e régiment régulier de la garde
  • 4e régiment régulier de la garde
• Brigade d'intervention
  • 1er régiment de chasseurs à cheval de la garde
  • 2e régiment de chasseurs à cheval de la garde
  • 1er régiment parachutiste de la garde
  • 2e régiment parachutiste de la garde
  • 1er régiment d'infanterie de marine de la garde
• Brigade de soutien
  • Bataillon du train de la garde
  • Bataillon de transmissions de la garde
  • Bataillon du matériel de la garde
  • Bataillon du génie de la garde
  • 5e régiment régulier de la garde
  • 1er régiment d'hélicoptères de la garde