Saudi Arabian National Guard

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The Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG, also known as the White Army) is one of five branches of the Saudi Arabian Defence Forces. It serves both as defence force against external threats and as a security force against internal threats. Its duties include protecting the royal family, guarding against coups, protecting strategic facilities and resources, and protecting the Holy Places of Mecca and Medina. It is both a standing force of 125,000, with a tribal militia of 25,000. The SANG is the King's private army consisting of personnel drawn from tribes loyal to the King and Royal Family. It is always commanded by a high ranking member of the royal family. The force was extensively reorganized and retrained by the Vinnell Corporation (using over a thousand US Vietnam War veterans) in the 1980s and performed well in the Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm especially in the battle for Khafji.

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[edit] History

The SANG was founded as the successor to the Ikhwan, the tribal army of Abdul al Aziz ibn Saud. The Ikhwan had helped Abd al Aziz conquer the Arabian peninsula and take it from Ottoman Turkey in World War I. However, the Ikhwan committed many excesses and atrocities not just on Turks but on other Arabs as well. The various tribal groups of the Ikhwan also had a tendency to go off and do their own things and thus needed to be brought under a more centralized control. The SANG was also known as the White Army during this time due to the wearing of traditional Arab dress instead of uniforms.

[edit] Command

The Saudi Arabian National Guard's communications and chain of Command has maintained a separate network from regular Saudi Arabian military channels with a senior member of the royal family as its head. King Abdullah has commanded SANG for three decades since 1962 and three of his sons held high positions within the organization. SANG's Deputy Commander is Prince Badr, who is a senior member of the Al Saud. Its General Headquarters, located in Riyadh, directly controls the three regional sectors and the training facilities and the King Abdul Aziz Independent Mechanized Brigade of four battalions.

The three Regional (Eastern, Central and Western) sectors each command one or more mechanized or motorized brigades, several independent Security and Military Police and logistical battalions, but also the irregular fowj battalions.

[edit] Structure

The SANG has been restructured with the help of the Vinnell Corporation into a light mechanised force equipped with over a thousand Cadillac Gage Commando armored fighting vehicles (now being replaced with LAV-25's). It's mobile force consists of two mechanized brigades and four motorized infantry brigades. The militia portion consists of around 24 battalions of fowj, tribal warriors on "retainer".

Riyadh Regional Headquarter, which is located in Riyadh, controls:

  • Imam Muhammad bin Saud Mechanized Brigade (IMBS), which controls four battalions (1st-4th) as well as the first artillery battalion, and is based in Riyadh.
  • Prince Saad Abdulrahman Mechanized Brigade (PSAR), which controls four combined-armed battalions, and is based in Riyadh.
  • Turki Mechanized Brigade was reported to be in formation in 2002. As of 2006, it remains uncertain as to how developed this unit is.
  • King Khalid Light Infantry Brigade’s strength is unknown.
  • Ceremonial Cavalry Squadron.
  • King Khalid Military College.
  • Military Police battalion.
  • Irregular Fowj tribal forces.

Eastern Regional Headquarter, which is located in Dammam, controls:

  • King Abdulaziz Mechanized Brigade, was in information in 2002, but its strength and organization is still unknown.
  • Prince Mohammad bin Abdulrahman al-Saud Light Infantry Brigade.
  • Irregular Fowj tribal forces.

Western Regional Headquarter, which is located in Jeddah, controls:

  • One light infantry brigade based in Jeddah
  • One light infantry brigade based in Medina
  • Omar bin Kattab light infantry brigade based in Taif

Impendent Battalions:

  • In addition to the battalions under the control of the three regional HQs, SANG has four independent light infantry battalions, which appear to be dedicated to protecting facilities and installations[1]
The Saudi Arabian National Guard Structure (click to enlarge).
The Saudi Arabian National Guard Structure (click to enlarge).

[edit] Equipment

A Saudi V-150 in 1991
A Saudi V-150 in 1991

The SANG is, by tradition, issued equipment not issued to the regular military, it doesn't possess any tanks but does possess several thousand wheeled armored fighting vehicles and Armoured personnel carriers. It does possess its own helicopters and light aircraft and all the remaining types of military hardware including artillery. When in modern uniforms personnel wear a green beret, the Muslim color for purity. Many soldiers wear for everyday use the American desert style uniform (called DCU or Desert Camouflage Uniform), used in Iraq and other desert regions throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions.

[edit] Ranks

Officers (up) Enlisted (down)

[edit] Officers

  • Lieutenant (Arabic:ملازم)
  • First Class Lieutenant (Arabic:ملازم أول)
  • Captain (Arabic:نقيب)
  • Major (Arabic:رائد)
  • Lieutenant Colonel (Arabic:مقدم)
  • Colonel (Arabic:عقيد)
  • Brigadier General (Arabic:عميد)
  • General (Arabic:لواء)
  • First Class General (Arabic:فريق)
  • Field Marshal (Arabic:فريق أول)
  • First Class Field Marshal (Arabic:مشير)

[edit] Enlisted

  • Private (Arabic:جندي)
  • First Class Private (Arabic:جندي أول)
  • Corporal (Arabic:عريف)
  • Vice Sergeant (Arabic:وكيل رقيب)
  • Sergeant (Arabic:رقيب)
  • First Class Segeant (Arabic:رقيب أول)
  • Master Sergeant (Arabic:رئيس رقباء)

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Saudi Arabian National Guard
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