Colour guard

The group is followed by a senior NCO carrying the regimental standard, with two junior NCOs (sometimes, privates) as escorts.

In academies and schools, the colors are carried by the student of the senior class with the highest marks, escorted by the two who follow him.

In the Chinese People's Liberation Army, the colour guards include one ensign holding the flag of the People's Liberation Army as the national colour domestically or the flag of China when abroad, and two officers or senior NCOs assisting the ensign holding rifles.

In Taiwan, the colour guard tradition of the Republic of China Armed Forces is modeled on the German, Russian and US practice.

The colour guards of France's military academies tend to wear swords; those of NCO schools, other educational institutions and active units carry rifles instead.

On some occasions, the flag is not lowered unless the guard is in the presence of a dignitary (such as the President of the Republic) or a military leader (such as the Chief of the Defence Staff).

[4] A tradition stemming from the days of empire, the colour guard is made up of an ensign, usually a senior NCO (and historically a lieutenant), and two unarmed escorts.

The Pataka consists of white-uniformed 9 to 12 guardsmen which are present during ceremonial events carrying and escorting the Colour of the institution.

In the Army, the Horse Cavalry Detachment (Detasemen Kavaleri Berkuda) maintains a mounted colour guard unit.

In Mexico these formations are made up of six individuals: the flag party commander and the escort proper of around 5, following the French practice.

In the Mexican Armed Forces, National Guard and state police formations the colour escort squad is made up of: In Mexican schools, during flag ceremonies—or as known in Mexico juramentos a la bandera or honores a la bandera—the school's colour guard march around the schoolyard while the rest of the students and school staff sing the national anthem; once they finish, the pledge of allegiance is recited, even though it's not mandated by law to do so, and finally the colour guard march off.

The Dutch armed forces have similar ranks corresponding to a colour guard, the vaandrig and kornet (aspirant officers who have not been sworn in yet).

Other countries such as Afghanistan, Cuba (replacing the United States practice after 1959), North Korea and Vietnam have adopted this variant of the Soviet system.

From 1949 to 1986 the Army of the Socialist Republic of Romania and Securitate followed Soviet practice in colour guard training and protocols.

Given a shared heritage with Austria and Turkey plus its own traditions, the modern Serbian Armed Forces maintains a colour guard component.

This stems from the time of king Gustavus Adolphus and the Thirty Years' War when all Swedish regiments had eight battalions.

In addition to the flag bearers, who are positioned in the center of the colour guard, there are two or more individuals who carry rifles and or sabres.

[9] Being assigned to the colour guard is considered an honour due to the fact that these individuals present and carry the symbols of their unit and country.

Depending on the circumstance and subject to the orders of their commander, members may wear full dress or less formal uniforms.

Since the National Colors must always be in the position of honour on the right,[10] the colour guard must execute a special movement to reverse direction.

The colour guard renders honours when the national anthem is played or sung, when passing in review during a parade, or in certain other circumstances.

Since recently, veterans are expected to hand salute the colours too, like their military counterparts including personnel not in uniform.

""On Guard: A Story of American Youth" [12][13][14][15][16][17] is 2023 documentary film directed by Allen Otto and executive produced by Jim Czarnecki.

[18] The film follows the journey of an all-female color guard team at Bel Air High School whose goal is to qualify for the 2020 WGI World Championships, which were ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a performance dedicated to the victims of the 2019 El Paso Shooting.

The film was produced as a collaboration between David Byrne, Michael Gottwald, Dan Janvey and Josh Penn.