Kuwait National Guard
Kuwait National Guard الحرس الوطني الكويتي | |
---|---|
Active | 1967 |
Country | Kuwait |
Type | Paramilitary Defense Force |
Role | Primary Tasks: • Direct Action • Special Reconnaissance • Counter- Terrorism • Foreign internal defense Other Roles: • Special Operations • Border Guards • Humanitarian Missions • Information Operations |
Size | Approx. 70,000 personnel |
Part of | Military of Kuwait |
Garrison/HQ | Kuwait |
Nickname(s) | His Highness Elite |
Motto(s) | الله والوطن والامير God, Country & The Emir |
Colors | Green & Yellow |
Anniversaries | National and Liberation Day (25 and 26 February) |
Engagements |
|
Commanders | |
His Highness National Guard Commander | Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah |
The Kuwait National Guard or National Guard (KNG) (Arabic: الحرس الوطني الكويتي) is an independent combat institution tasked mainly with the defense of the country and its territories.[1] The National Guard traces its heritage directly to the cavalrymen and infantrymen that defended Kuwait's three mounted defensive walls.[2][3] Since its inception, the Kuwait National Guard under the guidance of the respective leadership; executed, participated and supported in carrying all conflicts in which the Military of the State of Kuwait engaged since 1967.[1]
Creation and patron[]
The founding of the Kuwait National Guard was first conceived during the Six-Day War and following the outcomes of Operation Vantage when Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah[4] was the Crown Prince of Kuwait through the 2nd decree of 1967 on June 6 during the reign of the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah.[1] A mission for this purpose was led by Sheikh Salem Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah,[5] who was the driving force in forming the various tasks forces within the National Guard and who has remained at the head of the institution since its enacting in 1967.[6][7]
Leadership[]
National Guard Commander[]
# | Name | Title | Tenure | Note |
1 | Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah[6][7][8] | His Highness Commander of Kuwait National Guard | 1967–present | Most senior serving member and Chieftain dean of the House of Sabah |
Deputy National Guard Commanders[]
# | Name | Rank | Tenure | Note |
1 | Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah[6][9][10] | His Excellency Deputy National Guard Commander | 1994–2003 | His Highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait (2006–2020) His Highness the Emir of Kuwait (2020–present) |
2 | Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah[6][11] | His Excellency Deputy National Guard Commander | 2004–2020 | His Highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait (2020–present)[6][11] |
3 | Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah [6][11] | His Excellency Deputy National Guard Commander | 2020–present |
History[]
50th Anniversary of the Kuwait National Guard[]
In June 2017, the Kuwait National Guard commemorated their 50th Anniversary Golden jubilee under the leadership of the Commander-in-chief, the Emir of Kuwait, and directives of Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah.
Equipment[]
Armored Fighting Vehicles[]
Name | Type | Quantity | Country of origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pandur | Armoured Personnel Carrier | 150 | Austria | 70 in 6 versions.some with 90mm cockerill turret First entered service 1997 ( produced by AV Technology )
80 Pandur II with a 25mm Bushmaster turret |
Desert Chameleon | Armoured Personnel Carrier | 155 | United States | 6×6 APC with 30 mm cannon. First entered service 2011 |
Condor (APC) | Armoured Personnel Carrier | 200 | West Germany | Kuwait owns the advanced version (Condor II) |
Shorland S600 | Armoured Personnel Carrier | 187 | United Kingdom | 22 in 5 versions (APC, CPV, ambulance, crowd control and mortar carrier) |
Véhicule Blindé Léger | Armoured Personnel Carrier | 97 | France | |
Humvee | Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle | 2,300 | United States | Vehicles sold via the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program. |
Sherpa light Scout | Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle | 3,000 | France | 1,000 Sherpas sold to Kuwait National Guard in 2015 Sherpa Scouts sold to the Kuwaiti military in 2016 under a €270 m contract. |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c [1] Archived 4 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine Kuwait National Guard Mission Statement and History; (Arabic Read)
- ^ [2] Kuwait National Guard Archives, Early Defense Cavaly & Infantry led by Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah; (Arabic Read)
- ^ [3] Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Kuwait National Guard Archives, Early Defense Cavalry & Infantry led by His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
- ^ [4] Kuwait National Guard Archives; His Highness Sheikh Jaber Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
- ^ [5] Kuwait National Guard Archives, Old and New, His Highness Sheikh Salem Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "- KUWAIT NATIONAL GUARD - الحرس الوطني الكويتي -". Kuwait National Guard. Archived from the original on 16 July 2006. Retrieved 3 March 2015. (Arabic Read)
- ^ Jump up to: a b [6] Archived 3 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine Profile & Accomplishments of Kuwait National Guard Commander; His Highness Sheikh Salem Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah; (Arabic Read)
- ^ [7] Kuwait National Guard Archives, Sheikh Salem Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah and Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
- ^ [8] Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Kuwait National Guard Archives, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah with His Royal Highness Mutaib bin Abdullah in 2001; Retrieved March 7, 2015
- ^ [9] Kuwait National Guard Archives; His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (Arabic Read)
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Profile & Accomplishments of Kuwait National Guard Deputy Commander and acting Minister by Government Protocol; His Excellency Sheikh Meshal Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah" (in Arabic). Kuwait National Guard. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
External links[]
- Military of Kuwait
- Military units and formations established in 1967