Prince’s Company of Carabiniers
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1817 Attachment authority: Département de l’Intérieur Workforce: 113 General manager: Commandant Gilles CONVERTINI Address: Caserne des Carabiniers Tél.: (+377) 93 15 64 00 Fax: (+377) 93 50 68 18 Email: carab@gouv.mc Website: http://www.palais.mc/fr/maison-souveraine/la-compagnie-des-carabiniers-de-s-a-s-le-prince 
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History
The principality of Monaco is governed by the Grimaldi Family dynasty since 1297. On February 14th, 1793, the National Convention Decrees, "The former principality of Monaco is combined with the territory of the (French) Republic, and been a part of the department of the Alpes-Maritimes". Renamed "Hercules Fort", the city welcomes French gendarmes. On May 30th, 1814, the first Paris treaty returns the principality to the Prince. The company of the "carabineries" – "Police-customs officers" of the Prince is created on December 8th, 1817 under the reign of Prince Honoré IV (by his son, Honoré Grimaldi, duke of Valentinois, administrator of the Principality) for the protection of the Principality of Monaco. On January 26th, 1904, Prince Albert the 1st signs an order sanctioning the dissolution of the company of the guards. Then, the Prince entrusts the guarding of the palace and his family to the carabineries. The order specifies "The mission made by the Company of the Guards would be executed from now on by the Company of the carabineers which would take the name of the Prince Carabineries Company". In 1952, prince Rainier III creates the motorcycle escort endowed with 1942 Harley Davidson WLA motorcycles. In 1978, the "Prince carabineries Company Brass band" is created. The company has for protective saint Sebastian celebrated each January 20th. Its slogan is "Honour, loyalty, dedication". In 2017, the Prince carabineries Corps will celebrate its bicentenary. In the building of the barracks, a gallery redraws the history of the carabineers of the Princes of Monaco since 1817.
Organization
The command of the company is at the Carabinieri barracks Carabinieri, 5 boulevard de Belgique.
Specialized Training
• A music group composed of twenty six carabineries - musicians supervised by a chief warrant officer. It was called the "Prince carabineries Company Brass band" in 1978, then the "Prince Carabineers Orchestra" in 2014. Being an integral part of the carabineries company, these musicians participate in all the services/missions devolved to the Company and receive the same training as their companions. The wealth and the eclecticism of its repertory allow the orchestra to appear during the official ceremonies and on the occasion of sportive events and public concert public. Since 1989, it represents most serene Highness the sovereign Prince abroad, in particular to Saumur, Nimes, Albertville, Beziers, Heavy, Lugano, Düsseldorf, Turin, Lisbon, Seville, Geneva, Hanover, etc.
• A scuba divers’ team. This team is regularly requested to join and integrate some safety/security devices, and participate in various rescue missions during sailing competitions in Monaco waters. It also participates in scientific observations, in particular for the study the Mediterranean Sea pollution – A motorcycle platoon in charge of daily missions and escorts of the sovereign or heads of state visiting Monaco.
Missions
Although Monaco defence is placed under the responsibility of France, the principality maintains a force of law and order of which the firemen and the Prince carabineries are part of. The latter are more specially in charge of insuring the palace protection. They also watch over the security of the sovereign and those closest to him as well as the execution of the laws. They participate in the maintenance of law and order and provide the public duties of honour. Two non-commissioned officers, a corporal and eight carabineries are permanently guarding the Palace. The changing of the guard, made every day at 11:55 am, is announced by a musical element (two drums, two trumpets). The company of the Prince carabineries are insuring the public duties of honour in full dress uniform. On "Requisition", it escorts the judiciary. It participates in the official, civil and religious ceremonies, in the parades and military shows. It assumes also diverse missions of public service. With the creation within the unit of the military first aid, the Prince’s carabineries company implements the Monaco Red Cross ambulances. It takes part, as such, in the safety & security of the important sportive or artistic events, which take place in the principality, requiring rescue and evacuation services. She would participate, if necessary, in the implementation of backup plans, Red plan or ORMOSE plan (Monaco rescue organization Plan).
Staff
Composed of 119 servicemen, the Unit consists of 3 officers, 19 non-commissioned officers and 97 corporals and enlisted men. The Prince carabineries are recruited among candidates who satisfy the following conditions:
• to be male;
• to be 20-year-old at least and of 30 years at the most;
• to be single;
• to be French speaker;
• to have a good visual acuteness;
• to measure a size of 1,80 m minimum in 2 m maximum;
• to have a body mass index (Cerebral-Motor-Handicapped) lower or = to 25;
• to possess a very good health and a good physical condition;
• to show good intellectual capacities as well as a suitable school level;
• to be a holder of the driving licence;
• to know how to swim.
Candidacies can be valued when they contain particular capacities in one or several specialities useful for the Company: music (Brass band instrument), transmission, computing, first aid, scuba diving, automobile mechanical, combat sports, etc.
At the time of his incorporation, the carabinieri signs a first 5 years contract which is validated only after a training period and a period of confirmation during which capacity and motivation are verified. This confirmation normally intervenes after one year, but can be extended by another one, even two probationary years.
The carabineer can pursue his career by successive 5-year commitments, up to the age of 55 years old, subject to continuing to satisfy all the conditions of capacity. The promotion on merit allows to some carabineers to reach the various ranks of non-commissioned officers. However, the very low rate of renewal of these positions implies that 50% of the servicemen end their career as first or second-class carabineer.
Main equipment
• Armament: Beretta 92 semiautomatic pistols, Sig P210 and Glock 17, assault rifles M16A2, M4A1, SIG SG 510, machine gun MAG FN and LGI rocket launcher Mle F1.
• Vehicles: motorcycles BMW R1200RTP, P4 Peugeot, Master Renault, Scenic Renault, Espace Renault, Mowag Piranha V.
Cooperation
The company of carabineries maintains excellent relations with the French Gendarmerie and in particular with the Gendarmerie Company of Menton.
© The iconography was provided by the concerned gendarmeries