Public Services (Monaco)

A member of the armed forces of Monaco on guard duty at the Prince's Palace.

The Principality of Monaco, the world's second-smallest sovereign state, after the Vatican City State, has a very limited military capability and depends almost entirely upon its larger neighbour, France, for defence. Altogether, there are 255 soldiers serving in Monaco's military (excluding civilian employees, who total 35), making its military the third-smallest in the world (after Antigua and Barbuda and Iceland).

Department of the Interior

The Minister of the Department of the Interior is appointed by the Prince of Monaco for one five-year term, and is mainly responsible for both policing and military activity within Monaco.

Ministers of the Department of the Interior (conseiller de gouvernement pour l’Intérieur):

• Philippe Deslandes (2001−2006)
• Paul Masseron (2006–2011)

Border patrol and patrol boats

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. Patrol boats, which currently number four (see below), are also operated by both the Corps des Sapeurs-Pompiers (fire-fighters) and the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince (Prince’s bodyguards).

Military and civil defence

Two full-time militarised armed forces exist under the control of the Department of the Interior. One is the Corps des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Monaco, and the other is the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince. Both units are key to the "ORMOS Red Plan" which makes provision for the evacuation of Monaco in case of natural disaster, or civil emergency.

Corps des Sapeurs-Pompiers

Fire appliance of the Monégasque firefighters

Describing itself as a military force, the Corps consists of 10 officers, 26 non-commissioned officers and 99 other ranks, for a total force of 355 military personnel (with 25 civilian employees) providing fire, hazardous materials, rescue, and emergency medical services. 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 in La Condamine and one in Fontvieille), 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.

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 have paramedic training.

An enlisted soldier (left) and a commissioned officer (right) of the Prince's Carabiniers.

Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince

Of a similar size to the Corps des Sapeurs-Pompiers, the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince has a total force of 116, consisting of 3 officers, 15 non-commissioned officers and 19 enlisted men (with another 14 civilian employees). Each officer has trained and served with the French military. Its primary duty is the defence of the Prince and the Prince's Palace in the Monaco-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 des Carabiniers 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; a military first-aid unit that provides first aid and ambulance cover at public and sporting events; and a military band, which includes state trumpeters, a brass ensemble and a small orchestra, as well as serving as a marching band for ceremonial purposes.

The ceremonial "changing of the guard" at 11:55 a.m. each day attracts large numbers of tourists. The ceremony is more than just tourist spectacle, as this small military force is the front line of defence of the Monegasque princely family.

Rank and insignia

File:Nel van Vliet en Hannie Termeulen poseren met een Monegaske militair, Bestanddeelnr 902-3524.jpg

A Monegasque soldier posing with two Dutch Olympic swimmers (Nel van Vliet and Hannie Termeulen) at the 1947 European Aquatics Championships

The rank structure of the armed forces of Monaco is based largely upon the rank structure of the French army.

Enlisted soldiers and non-commissioned officers rise through a series of eight ranks:

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

Commissioned officers rise through a series of six ranks (in English translation): Sub-Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Captain, Commandant, Lieutenant-Colonel, Colonel. As can be seen, in the French/Monegasque system the title 'Commandant' replaces the title 'Major' as used in the British/Commonwealth/American system.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Army of Monaco
	Commandant en Chef										Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Commandant		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-Lieutenant

External links

• Department of the Interior official site
• Corps des Sapeurs-pompiers Official site