Unit Composition
When the Guard comes together it comprises the Public Duties Company, the Headquarters Company and the Band of the Ceremonial Guard, which also includes a full pipes and drums. The total strength is about 420 people.
The uniforms worn represent both infantry guards regiments: the Governor General's Foot Guards (GGFG) and the Canadian Grenadier Guards (CGG). The colours carried on Parliament Hill are also from these regiments.
The Public Duties Company is further broken down into platoons and divisions. The Public Duties Company has eight divisions. A division is about 18–24 soldiers.
The Ceremonial Guard maintains no regimental colour nor has it any battle honours of its own as it is not a permanent unit in the Canadian Forces' order of battle. The only colours flown in the ceremonies are those of the two guards regiments.
The Ceremonial Guard also maintains its own regimental band and pipers that form a separate company, as well as the Headquarters Company for administration and support personnel. Musicians are drawn from military units and colleges or universities across Canada, and applicants must first pass an audition to be considered. The band of the Ceremonial Guard is widely regarded as a superb musical organization, hence the national level application process.
The unit exists with a full composition only from early June to the end of August. During the rest of the year a small administrative corps remains to prepare for next year's public duties season, and beginning in early May the unit stands up partially to allow for the conduct of Basic Military Qualification and Primary Leadership Qualification courses.
The unit also plans and executes the Canadian Forces beating the retreat "Fortissimo". This takes place each year in August.
Read more about this topic: Ceremonial Guard
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