They are an active regiment in the British Army. You’re probably confusing them with the Beefeaters, who wear an entirely different uniform, and are mostly ex-service persons.
Probably should have been more specific. Usually the guards are ones who have already been deployed and are coming to the end of their service. They are veterans, just not ex-servicemen.
I believe the king’s guard only recruits from enlisted veterans. They also have to have been deployed to an active warzone. In those terms, it’s both quite relaxed and an important position. The pomp and ceremony that visitors see is only a small part of their job.
It’s worth noting that their job has zero room for errors. They are expected to be basically invisible, outside of the ceremonial parts. They are also (I believe) authorised for live fire, at their own discretion.
They walk a political tightrope, and the last major fuck up I heard about was decades back now.
Kings Guard is just an assignment given to several regiments of the British Army. They would be doing other duties, training and deployments otherwise.
Not quite, Royal Guards typically know what they were getting into - it’s a little more involved than just joining the military and being tricked into the position.
Is someone forcing them to do that job?
no. They’re army veterans who usually take good pride in it.
They are an active regiment in the British Army. You’re probably confusing them with the Beefeaters, who wear an entirely different uniform, and are mostly ex-service persons.
Probably should have been more specific. Usually the guards are ones who have already been deployed and are coming to the end of their service. They are veterans, just not ex-servicemen.
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If it works like the recruiting works the same way in the US they where probably lied to/tricked.
I believe the king’s guard only recruits from enlisted veterans. They also have to have been deployed to an active warzone. In those terms, it’s both quite relaxed and an important position. The pomp and ceremony that visitors see is only a small part of their job.
That actually sounds like a much nicer option for veterans than the homelessness or underemployment they can experience in other countries.
It’s worth noting that their job has zero room for errors. They are expected to be basically invisible, outside of the ceremonial parts. They are also (I believe) authorised for live fire, at their own discretion.
They walk a political tightrope, and the last major fuck up I heard about was decades back now.
Kings Guard is just an assignment given to several regiments of the British Army. They would be doing other duties, training and deployments otherwise.
The King’s Guard is a rotation of one of 5 active front-line infantry regiments in the British Army.
Not quite, Royal Guards typically know what they were getting into - it’s a little more involved than just joining the military and being tricked into the position.