Honour Guard Company (Armenia)

Honour Guard Battalion Պատվո պահքի գումարտակը
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev inspecting the battalion during his visit to Yerevan in 2017.
Active	January 18, 1993–present
Country	Armenia
Allegiance	President of Armenia
Branch	Armed Forces of Armenia
Type	Honor Guard
Role	Ceremonial duties
Size	72
Part of	Armenian Army
Garrison/HQ	Yerevan
March	Quick: Military March No. 2 Slow: Armenian Slow March
Anniversaries	January 18
Equipment	SKS, AK-47
Commanders
Supreme Commander	Armen Sarkissian (de jure) Nikol Pashinyan (de facto)
Commander of the Battalion	Lieutenant Colonel Sokrat Vardanyan
Notable commanders	Ashot Hakobyan Vardan Khanferyan
Insignia
Emblem of the Armenian Army

The Honour Guard Battalion of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia (Armenian: Հայաստանի Պաշտպանության նախարարության Պատվո պահքի գումարտակը) is a military unit of Armed Forces of Armenia that performs protocol tasks for high-ranking officials at the Presidential Palace, the Prime Minister's Residence and the Defense Ministry. The unit is under direct command of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia. Most members of the battalion are graduates of the Vazgen Sargsyan Military University.

History

The battalion was established on January 18, 1993. The battalion's first major event was the funeral of Monte Melkonian in June 1993. The first official welcoming ceremony that the battalion took part in was for the visit of Russian Defense Minister Pavel Grachev in 1994. The battalion has taken part in the annual military parade in Yerevan in 1996, 1999, 2006, 2011, and 2016. In 2015, the battalion took part in the Moscow Victory Day Parade and was considered by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as one of the best marching contingents. Members of the drill team of the battalion has also participated in events involving the Russian 102nd Military Base based in Gyumri.

Requirements

In order to serve in the battalion recruits must have a height of between 180 centimeters (5 ft 9 in) to 187 centimeters (6 ft 1 in). They are also required to maintain good health and have to have a college education.

Organizational Structure

• Honours Company
• Wreath Laying Company
• Drill Team Company

Weapons

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian President Robert Kocharyan inspecting the battalion during Putin's visit to Yerevan in 2001. Notice that they are presenting arms using AK-47 assault rifles with was used in the battalion from 1991 to 1998.

• AK-47 (1991–2008)
• SKS (2008–Present)

Commanders

• Colonel Ashot Hakobyan (1993–2005)
• Lieutenant Colonel Vardan Khanferyan (2005–2009)
• Lieutenant Colonel Sokrat Vardanyan (2009–Present)

Gallery

• 
  Members of the Wreath laying group.
• 
  Members of the Honours group.
• 
  During the 2010 Moscow Victory Day Parade.
• 
  Russian President Dmitry Medvedev inspecting the battalion in August 2010.
• 
  The battalion in front of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.
• 
  Lieutenant Colonel Sokrat Vardanyan

See also

• SKS
• AK-47
• Guard of honour
• Band of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia
• Armed Forces of Armenia
• Yerevan Drums

External links

• «Պատիվ ունեմ» փոխգնդապետ Սոկրատ Վարդանյան
• The battalion performing during an Armenian independence day parade in 2016
• The battalion performing an Exhibition drill in 2011
• TIGRAN BAGDASARYAN PPV