| 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 | Colonel Tony 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 Prince and theCorps des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Monaco.
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]
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).[8][9]
Two full-time militarised armedcorps exist 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 defence plans and are key to the "ORMOS Red Plan" which makes provision for the evacuation of Monaco in case ofnatural disaster, or civil emergency.[10][11]
Describing itself as a military force,[12] 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.[13] 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 Condamine and 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.[14][15]
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 haveparamedic training.[16][17]
Literally translated "Company ofCarabiniers of the Prince", the English-language version of the official Government website translates the name as "The Palace Guards".[18] 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.[18]
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 commissioned officers, 24 non-commissioned officers, and 97 enlisted men (with another 14 civilian employees).[18] Each officer has trained and served with the French military. Its primary duty is the defence of the prince and thePrince's Palace in 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 desCarabiniers du 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-aid unit that provides first aid and ambulance cover at public and sporting events.[19]
The ceremonial "changing of the guard" at 11:55 am 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.
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.[18]
The rank insignia ofcommissioned officers.[20]
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Army of Monaco |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||
| Général en chef des armées | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Commandant | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Sous-Lieutenant | ||||||||||||||||||
The rank insignia ofnon-commissioned officers andenlisted personnel.[20]
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Département de l’Intérieur (Department of the Interior) of the Principality of Monaco is headed by a Government Counsellor–Minister appointed by the Albert II, Prince of Monaco. The Department is responsible for public security, civil protection and the oversight of the national police (Sûreté Publique) and other internal security services.[21][22]
Ministers of the Department of the Interior (conseiller de gouvernement pour l'Intérieur):
