Guardsman is a rank used instead of Private in some military units that serve as the official bodyguard of a sovereign or head of state. It is also used as a generic term for any member of a Guards unit of any rank.
The British Army's Foot Guards Regiments have used the rank since 1920, when it was adopted instead of Private.
In the Canadian Forces, the rank is used by Privates in the Governor General's Foot Guards and the Canadian Grenadier Guards. The rank is considered non-gender specific and therefore applies equally to female soldiers. The rank badge is identical to that of Private, a single chevron.
Guards units in Scandinavia all use the rank. This includes the Danish Army's Gardehusarregimentet (Guard Hussar Regiment) and Den Kongelige Livgarde (Royal Life Guards), the Norwegian Army's Hans Majestet Kongens Garde (His Majesty's Royal Guard), and the Swedish Army's Livgardet (Life Guards).
In the Singapore Armed Forces, the rank is used by the elite Singapore Guards.
It is also used to refer to members of the National Guard of the United States, a US military reserve force.