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The Egyptian National Guard was originally created to be Nasser's bodyguard and was known as the National Guard, being mainly a paramilitary force under the command of the Ministry of Defense. After separating the Republican Guard division from it, the National Guard remained a large paramilitary force and numbers about 60,000 personnel, mainly used for ceremonials and parades whose duties are to protect presidential sites and important public buildings in Cairo, providing Honor Guard and security services for the highest national personalities and important foreign guests; and responding to any rebellion, coup, or other threat to Presidential power. Members were (mainly but not exclusively) highly motivated volunteers rather than conscripts. They received bonuses, new cars and subsidized housing, and received greater training than the regular army.

[edit] References

• International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Military Balance 2006, p.183
• Pollack, Arabs at War: Military Effectiveness, 1948-1991, Council on Foreign Relations/University of Nebraska, 2002, p. 14

[edit] See also

• Central Security Forces
• List of countries by number of active troops

v • d • e Military of Egypt Egyptian Army  · Egyptian Navy  · Egyptian Air Force  · Egyptian Air Defense Command  · Central Security Forces  · National Guard  · Egyptian Coast Guard