Public Services (Monaco)
| Public Force | |
|---|---|
| La Force publique(French) | |
| Service branches | |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Albert II |
| Minister of the Interior | Patrice Cellario |
| Superior Commander of the Public Services | ColonelTony Varo[1] |
| Personnel | |
| Conscription | None |
| Active personnel | 250 |
ThePublic Force(French:La Force Publique)[2]are the military force ofMonaco.However, the country has a very limited military capability and depends almost entirely upon its larger neighbour, France, for defence.[3][4]In total, there are over 250 people employed as military personnel in some form.[5][6]There is noconscription in Monaco.
Its branches are theCompagnie des Carabiniers du Princeand theCorps des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Monaco.
Command[edit]
The Public Services are under the joint command of theSupreme Commander of the Public Services(French:Le Commandant supérieur de la Force publique), currently Colonel Tony Varo.[2]
Under the chief commander, each of the two principal military corps is headed by aChief of the Corps,[2]who holds the rank of commandant or lieutenant colonel, according to personal seniority. The military band is commanded by theChief of the Orchestra,with the rank of commandant.[2]
Border patrol and patrol boats[edit]
Some military roles are assigned to the civil police, such as border patrol and border defence, which are the responsibility of a special police unit officially named the "Maritime and Heliport Police Division," and which operates on land and sea using patrol boats and high-speed surveillance boats.[7]Four patrol boats are operated by the Corps des Sapeurs-Pompiers (fire-fighters) and the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince (prince's bodyguards).[citation needed]
Military branches[edit]
 | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(April 2024) |
Two full-time militarised armedcorpsexist under the operational direction of the chief commander, and the political control of the Department of the Interior. One is theCorps des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Monaco,and the other is theCompagnie des Carabiniers du Prince.Both units are part of both military andcivil defenceplans, and are key to the "ORMOS Red Plan" which makes provision for the evacuation of Monaco in case ofnatural disaster,or civil emergency.
Corps des Sapeurs-Pompiers[edit]
Describing itself as a military force,[8]the Corps consists of 10 officers, 26 non-commissioned officers and 99 other ranks (with 25 civilian employees), providing fire, hazardous materials, rescue, and emergency medical services.[9]The officers' ranks (in descending order of seniority) are: Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commandant, Captain, Lieutenant, and Sub-Lieutenant. There are a further nine ranks of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel. Officers generally have served in the French military's fire service. Based at two barracks (one inLa Condamineand one inFontvieille), the Corps is equipped with fire engines, rescue vehicles and a range of specialist vehicles, including a fire boat and sealed tracked vehicles for entering Monaco's railway tunnels during an emergency.
Beyond fire-fighting duties, the Corps has an extensive civil defence brief. Its personnel are trained in the use of firearms, and the Corps has a central armoury. Personnel are trained to handle chemical incidents, and have specialist chemical incident vehicles and equipment. They are also equipped with ambulances and personnel haveparamedictraining.
Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince[edit]
Literally translated "Company ofCarabiniersof the Prince ", the English-language version of the official Government website translates the name as" The Palace Guards ".[10]The force was established in 1817 byPrince Honoré,administrator on behalf of his father,Prince Honoré IV.Originally an infantry unit, in 1904 they replaced the previous (now disbanded) "Guard Company" as the official Palace Guard of the royal family.[10]
The Company is of a similar size to the Corps des Sapeurs-Pompiers. At the summer of 2020 the Government reported the total strength of the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince as 124, consisting of 3 officers, 24 non-commissioned officers, and 97 enlisted men (with another 14 civilian employees).[10]Each officer has trained and served with the French military. Its primary duty is the defence of the prince and thePrince's Palacein theMonaco-Ville(old town) quartier of Monaco. By extension, it also has a role in guarding members of the judiciary, who administer justice in the name of the prince.
There are a number of specialist units within the Compagnie desCarabiniersdu Prince, which include a motorcycle section (for rapid-response and motorcycle outriding); a bodyguard and protection unit; a diving unit with military, rescue and scientific capabilities; and a militaryfirst-aidunit that provides first aid and ambulance cover at public and sporting events.[11]
The ceremonial "changing of the guard"at 11:55am each day attracts large numbers of tourists. The ceremony is more than just a tourist spectacle, as this small military force is the front line of defence of the Monegasque princely family.
L'Orchestre militaire[edit]
Despite its title of "military orchestra", this section, which is attached to the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince, provides a full range of military music, including an orchestra, a ceremonial marching band, and state trumpeters, under the command of a Chef de l'Orchestre, with the rank of Commandant (Major).[2]The band was established in 1978 and consists of 24 soldiers.[10]
Rank and insignia[edit]
|
Commissioned officer ranks[edit]
The rank insignia ofcommissioned officers.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Army of Monaco |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commandant en Chef | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-Lieutenant | Assistant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other ranks[edit]
The rank insignia ofnon-commissioned officersandenlisted personnel.
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army of Monaco |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Maréchal-des-logis-major | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis | Brigadier | Carabinier de première classe | Carabinier de deuxième classe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Department of the Interior[edit]
The minister of theDepartment of the Interioris appointed by the prince of Monaco for one five-year term, and is mainly responsible for both policing and military activity within Monaco.[12]
Ministers of the Department of the Interior (conseiller de gouvernement pour l'Intérieur):
- Philippe Deslandes(2001−2006)
- Paul Masseron(2006–2011)
- Patrice Cellario(2015–)[13][14]
References[edit]
- ^"FORCE PUBLIQUE".cloud.gouv.mc(in French).Retrieved9 October2022.
- ^abcde"Annuaire Officiel - Force Publique".Government of Monaco.Retrieved14 February2020.
- ^Matt Rosenberg."17 Small Countries of Less Than 200 Square Miles".About.Retrieved23 December2014.
- ^"Military in Monaco, Monaco Defense – Allo' Expat Monaco".Archived fromthe originalon 2 December 2014.Retrieved23 December2014.
- ^Les moyens.gouv.mc
- ^Carabiniers du Prince (Compagnie des).gouv.mc
- ^SeePublic Safety PagesArchived14 November 2009 at theWayback Machineof the Monaco Government's official website.
- ^See theofficial website of the Corps des Sapeaurs-PompiersArchived6 December 2013 at theWayback Machinetitle pages.
- ^Seethese pagesArchived25 October 2008 at theWayback Machinefor personnel strength and rank structure.
- ^abcd"The Palace Guards".Government of Monaco.Retrieved22 June2020.
- ^A list of specialist units may be found on theofficial website of the GovernmentArchived24 November 2007 at theWayback Machinein the Dept of the Interior section.
- ^"Google Translate".Retrieved23 December2014.
- ^Brun, Raphael (27 May 2015)."Patrice Cellario:" Une immense responsabilité "".Monaco Hebdo.Retrieved26 December2016.
- ^"Département de l'Intérieur".Gouvernement Princier.Principauté de Monaco.Retrieved26 December2016.
