Colour guard

United States Joint Service color guard on parade at Fort Myer, VA.

In the military of the United States and other militaries, the color guard (where the word color is referring to the national flag) carries the National Color and other flags appropriate to its position in the chain of command. Typically these include a unit flag and a departmental flag (Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard). In addition to the flag bearers, who are positioned in the center of the color guard, there are two or more individuals who carry rifles and or sabres.

History

Since early history, flags and banners have been used by many armies in battle. They served several purposes: to identify units, for signaling and to be a common point of reference for the movements of the soldiers in the unit, enabling them to keep formation. The flag was also a symbol of the unit. The loss of a unit's flag was not only shameful, but losing this central point of reference could make the unit break up. To protect the flag, a detachment of soldiers was assigned to guard it.

The Swedish military rank of fänrik (and the corresponding cavalry rank of kornet) was originally intended for the holder of the company flag. This duty was so prestigious that an officer was necessary to carry it out, but it required no officer training. Today, it is a regular officer rank.

Composition of the US color guard

In the U.S., traditionally, the unit's sergeant major is responsible for the safeguarding, care, and display of the organizational colors. The sergeant major is also responsible for the selection, training, and performance of the members.^[1] The color guard consists of enlisted members and is commanded by the senior (color) Sergeant, who carries the National Color and gives the necessary commands for movements and rendering honors during drill exercises or parade ceremonies.^[2]

Being assigned to the color guard is considered an honor due to the fact that these individuals present and carry the symbols of their unit and country. Depending on the circumstance and subject to the orders of their commander, members may wear full dress or less formal uniforms. It is mandatory for all members of the color guard to wear headgear, for example, a garrison cap, beret, or service cap. On occasion, certain color guards can be horse-mounted.

Maneuvering

The color guard is formed and marched in one rank at close interval (shoulder-to-shoulder). Since the National Colors must always be in the position of honor on the right,^[3] the color guard must execute a special movement to reverse direction. It does not execute rear march, nor does it execute about face. Rather, it performs a maneuver derived from the standard countercolumn command, generally known as counter march or colors reverse march, in order to keep the precedence of flags in order.

Other drill movements performed by the color guard include presenting arms, left and right wheel (turns) marches, eyes right (upon passing the reviewing stand during a parade), casing/uncasing the colors, and fixing/unfixing bayonets (by the arms bearers).

Rendering honors

By the color guard

The color guard renders honors when the national anthem is played or sung, when passing in review during a parade, or in certain other circumstances. In these cases, the unit and departmental flags salute by dipping (leaning the flag forward). However, with the exception of a response to a naval salute, the United States national flag renders no salute. This is enshrined in the United States Flag Code and U.S. law.

To the color guard

In the U.S. military, individuals or units passing or being passed by uncased (unfurled) colors render honors when outdoors. Individuals who are not part of any formation begin the salute when the colors are six paces distant and hold it until they have passed six paces beyond the colors.^[4]

Civilians are expected to stand at the position of attention with their right hand placed over their heart for the same period. Since recently, veterans are expected to salute the colors too like their military counterparts.

Other color guards formations

Britain and the Commonwealth

Colour guards in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth are also composed of the same members as in the American units, but tend to have a colour sergeant major behind the colours carrying a pace stick. So, the formation (when the colours are combined on parade) is as follows:

Colour Sergeants carrying rifles
Ensigns
Sergeant of the Guard
Colour Sergeant Major behind the colour

Since in the British Army, the Royal Air Force, the Royal Marines and the Royal Navy there are several types of colours, there are also colour guards for these colours and these colours and their CG's are as follows:

British Army (line and guards infantry, and other units save for rifle units)

Queen's Colour - Union Flag (Crimson with insignia and the honors for the Guards Division)

Colour Sgts. and Ensign, CSM

Regimental Colour - Union Flag on the canton with the Regimental Arms and honors
- Royal Regiments (navy blue)
- Royal Irish Regiment (green)
- Foot Guards regiments (Union Flag)
- other regimental colours

same as in the Queen's Colour

Combined Colour Guards (units)

Colour Sgts., Ensign, Guard Sergeant of the Colours, CSM

British Army (Cavalry)

In the cavalry, the Queen's Standard or Guidon and the Regimental Standard or Guidon are the equivalents to the Queen's and Regimental Colours.

Queen's Standard/Guidon - Crimson with the Royal coat of arms, the Royal Cypher and the regimental honors

Color Sgt./Corporal of Horse, Warrant Officers

Regimental Standard/Guidon - Crimson or scarlet with the regimental insignia and honors (only guidons are swallow tailed)

same as in the Queen's Standard/Guidon

Combined Colour Guards (units)

Colour Corporals/Sergeants, Warrant Officers, Guard Corporal of the Colours, Colours Corporal Major

Colour guards in the artillery units are technically the lead gun's crew and leader (except in the Honourable Artillery Company which uses both guns and Colours) and there are no colour guards in the rifle regiments (nowadays The Rifles), the Royal Gurkha Rifles (which use the Queen's Truncheon) and in the Royal Hospital in Chelsea.

Royal Navy

All of the RN's Queen's Colours are identical.

Queen's Colour - White Ensign defaced with the Sovereign's cypher and inscribed with honors

Ensigns and Escorts

White Ensign

Same as Queen's Colour

Royal Marines

Queen's Colour - Union Jack with the Sovereign's cypher and the RM emblem and motto with the "Gibraltar" battle honor

Ensigns and Escorts

Regimental Colour - Union Jack on the canton and dark blue with HM King George IV's cypher and the unit name, and the Sovereign's cypher on the other corners

Enisgns and Escorts

Combined Colour Guards for the RM

Colour Sgts., Ensigns, Guard Sergeant of the Colours, CSM

Royal Air Force

Queen's Colour - Royal Air Force Ensign with the Sovereign's cypher and the RAF roundel

Ensign and Armed escorts

RAF Ensign