Guardsman is a rank used instead of

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

in some military units that serve as the official bodyguard of a

sovereign ''Sovereign'' is a title which can be applied to the highest leader in various categories. The word is borrowed from Old French , which is ultimately derived from the Latin , meaning 'above'. The roles of a sovereign vary from monarch, ruler or ...

or head of state. It is also used as a generic term for any member of a guards unit of any rank.

Canada

In the Canadian Forces, the rank is used by privates in the

Governor General's Foot Guards The Governor General's Foot Guards (GGFG) is the senior reserve infantry regiment in the Canadian Army. Located in Ottawa at the Cartier Square Drill Hall, the regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry unit, and the members are part-time soldiers. ...

and the Canadian Grenadier Guards. This honour was awarded by King George V in 1918 to mark the service of regiments of Foot Guards during the First World War. General Order 138 of 1923 promulgated this honour. The rank is considered non-gender specific and therefore applies equally to female soldiers and is inclusive of any person who has earned the rank. The rank badge is identical to that of private, a single chevron.

Scandinavia

Guards units in Scandinavia all use the rank. This includes the Danish Army's ''

Gardehusarregimentet The Guard Hussar Regiment ( da, Gardehusarregimentet, GHR) is a cavalry unit of the Royal Danish Army, whose primary task is to train the Guard Hussars for various functions in the mobilisation force. The Guard Hussar Regiment is one of two acti ...

'' (Guard Hussar Regiment) and '' Den Kongelige Livgarde'' (Royal Life Guards), the Norwegian Army's '' Hans Majestet Kongens Garde'' (His Majesty's Royal Guard), and the

Swedish Army The Swedish Army ( sv, svenska armén) is the land force of the Swedish Armed Forces. History Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1521, when the men of Dalarna chose 16 young able men as body guards for the insurgent nobleman Gustav Vas ...

's Life Guards.

India

In the Indian Army the rank is used by the elite Brigade of the Guards. It is also used by the Indian Home Guards as a rank equivalent to a constable in the Indian Police Service. The rank is used for regular employees and not volunteers.

Singapore

In the Singapore Armed Forces, the rank is used by the elite Singapore Guards.

United Kingdom

The British Army's Foot Guards regiments have used the rank since 1920, when it was adopted instead of private. It is abbreviated Gdsm.

United States

It is also used to refer to members of the National Guard of the United States, a reserve force of the U.S. Army and Air Force.

References

Military ranks Guards Division (United Kingdom) Military ranks of the British Army Military ranks of Canada {{Mil-rank-stub