The Egyptian Republican Guard is a Division

Division (military)

A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...

 level command within the Egyptian Army

Egyptian Army

The Egyptian Army is the largest service branch within the Egyptian Armed Forces and holds power in the current Egyptian government. It is estimated to number around 379,000, in addition to 479,000 reservists for a total of 858,000 strong. The modern army was created in the 1820s, and during the...

, designed to be a heavily armored division with the main responsibility to defend the Capital of the Republic, mainly the major governmental and strategic industrial institutions.

The Republican Guard is under the control of the Ministry of Defense. Its current commander is Major General

Major General

Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...

 Samy Dyab. The Republican Guard Division is the only significant military unit allowed in central Cairo

Cairo

Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...

, apart from the intelligence services’ military branches.

It was created subsequent to the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 by Egypt's second President

President of Egypt

The President of the Arab Republic of Egypt is the head of state of Egypt.Under the Constitution of Egypt, the president is also the supreme commander of the armed forces and head of the executive branch of the Egyptian government....

, Gamal Abdel Nasser

Gamal Abdel Nasser

Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was the second President of Egypt from 1956 until his death. A colonel in the Egyptian army, Nasser led the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 along with Muhammad Naguib, the first president, which overthrew the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan, and heralded a new period of...

, to protect the Presidency, and the national government in Cairo

Cairo

Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...

. Known originally as the National Guard, it was mainly a paramilitary force, but was expanded into a large military force, first at a brigade level in the 1970s and 1980s, then augmented at a division level and incorporated under the Armored Corps.

Secondary duties are to protect presidential sites and important public buildings in Cairo

Cairo

Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...

, provide Honor Guard

Honor guard

An honor guard, or ceremonial guard, is a ceremonial unit, usually military in nature and composed of volunteers who are carefully screened for their physical ability and dexterity...

 and security services for the highest national personalities and important foreign guests; and responding to any rebellion, coup, or other threat to the government of the Republic. Members are (mainly but not exclusively) highly motivated volunteers rather than conscripts, who receive bonuses, new cars and subsidized housing, and received greater training than the regular army.

Organization

The Republican Guard Armored Division is located for administrative purposes under 1st Corps, which has its Field H.Q. in Heliopolis

Heliopolis (Cairo Suburb)

Modern Heliopolis is a district in Cairo, Egypt. The city was established in 1905 by the Heliopolis Oasis Company, headed by the Belgian industrialist Édouard Louis Joseph, Baron Empain, as well as Boghos Nubar, son of the Egyptian Prime Minister Nubar Pasha.-History:The Baron Empain, a well known...

, Cairo, Central Military Region. In turn, 1st Corps is part of First Field Army also with its H.Q. in Cairo.

Field organization

HQ Republican Guard Armored Division (aka 1st Republican Guard Armored Division)

• Armored brigades
  • 2 Armored Brigades (33rd & 35th)
    • 4 Armored Battalions (118th, 119th, 120th, 121st)
      • 16 Armored Companies
      • 4 Command Companies
      • 4 Signal/Recon Companies
    • 2 Mechanized Battalions (41st & 42nd)
      • 8 Mechanized Companies
      • 2 Command Companies
      • 2 Signal/Recon Companies
• Mechanized brigades
  • 2 Mechanized Brigades (510th & 512th)
    • 6 Mechanized Battalions (41st, 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 45th, 46th)
      • 18 Mechanized Companies
      • 3 Command Companies
      • 3 Signal/Recon Companies
    • 2 Armored Battalions (116th & 117th)
      • 6 Armored Companies
      • 1 Command Company
      • 1 Signal/Recon Company
• RG Divisional Artillery
  • 1 S/P Artillery Brigade (10th) Command H.Q. (Brigade level)
    • 4 S/P Artillery Battalions (1st to 4th)
      • 16 S/P Artillery Batteries