Organization and Roles
It is not part of the Saudi Arabian Defence Forces, due to its specific role as a counterbalance to the regular military. It serves both as defence force against external threats and as a security force against internal threats. Its duties include protecting the royal family, guarding against coups, protecting strategic facilities and resources, and protecting Mecca and Medina.
It is both a standing force of 200,000, with a tribal militia of 60,000 people. The SANG is the King's private army consisting of personnel drawn from tribes loyal to the King and royal family. It is always commanded by a high-ranking member of the royal family. The force was extensively reorganized and retrained by the Vinnell Corporation (using over a thousand U.S. Vietnam War veterans) in the 1980s and performed well in the Persian Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm especially in the battle for Khafji.
The United States' support continues, delivered both through private contractors and the U.S. Army's Office of the Program Manager Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program.
Read more about this topic: Saudi Arabian National Guard
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