Prague Castle

Organizational structure

The Castle Guard is a military unit with a brigade structure. Since July 1, 2004 it has employed a total of 660 persons (86 officers, 110 warrant officers, 412 sergeants, 52 civil employees).

It is organised into:

• Headquarters (Castle Guard headquarters, personnel headquarters, logistics)
• 1st battalion (battalion headquarters, 3 guard companies)
• 2nd battalion (battalion headquarters, 3 guard companies)
• Castle Guard Orchestra
• Security company (motorcycle platoon, dog-handing platoon, transport platoon, storage platoon)

Guard companies

The guard companies of the 1st and 2nd battalions are designated for the performance of outside surveillance of the Prague Castle complex, the complex of the Lany Chateau and other buildings which are temporary seats of the President of the Republic and his guests, for securing their defence in crisis situations. They are also designated for securing representative and protocol events.

Castle Guard Orchestra

The Castle Guard Orchestra performs to accompany military honours at protocol and representative events and at piety acts. It also performs every day to commence the opening of Prague Castle and accompanies the ceremonial changing of the Guard on the 1st courtyard of Prague Castle.

Security company

The security company is a special unit which fulfils tasks for the benefit of the President of the Republic and his guests, and for the benefit of the Castle Guard. Its tasks are fulfilled in the area of:

• performance of security inspections and outside surveillance of the Prague Castle complex, the Lany Chateau and other buildings, performed by the dog-handling platoon;
• securing of honorary escorts of the President of the Republic and the highest state representatives of foreign states welcomed by the President of the Republic or the Prime Minister, performed by the motorcycle platoon in co-operation with he Protection Service of the Czech Police;
• securing of logistical support of the Castle Guard, performed by the transport and storage platoons

A re-dislocation of certain units has occurred within the framework of restructuring the Castle Guard. The training centre at Dobra Voda u Breznice was closed and the Honorary Guard Company at the Lany barracks was detached. A part of the barracks in Cinska street in Prague was taken over from the Army of the Czech Republic, for housing the headquarters and guard companies of one battalion.

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