Brigade of the Guards

Brigade of The Guards
Regimental Insignia of the Brigade of The Guards
Active	1949 - Present
Country	India
Branch	Indian Army
Type	Foot Guards
Role	Mechanized Infantry
Size	23 battalions
Regimental Centre	Kamptee, Maharashtra.[1]
Motto(s)	Pahla Hamesha Pahla (First Always First)
War Cry	Garud Ka Hun Bol Pyare (I am the son of Eagle,[2] Say O my Beloved)
Theatre Honours	Jammu & Kashmir - 1947-48, Rajasthan - 1965, Punjab - 1965, East Pakistan - 1971 and Jammu & Kashmir - 1971
Decorations	1 Param Vir Chakra, 2 Ashoka Chakras, 1 Padma Bhushan, 8 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 6 Maha Vir Chakras, 4 Kirti Chakras, 46 Vir Chakras, 18 Shaurya Chakras, 77 Sena Medals, 10 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 3 Yudh Seva Medals, 16 Vishisht Seva Medals, 45 Mention-in-Despatches, 151 COAS's Commendation Cards and 79 GOC-in-C's Commendation Cards
Battle honours	Akhaura, Burki, Gadra Road, Hilli, Naushera, Gurais, Shingo River Valley, Sylhet and Ganga Sagar
Commanders
Colonel of the Regiment	Lieutenant General JB Chaudhari
Insignia
Regimental Insignia	Garuda - A mythological eagle king.
Hackle	Red over Yellow
Flag

The Brigade of The Guards is a mechanised infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was raised as the first "all India", "all class" infantry unit of the Army where troops from all parts of India serve together, as opposed to other regiments that recruit from specific regions, ethnic groups or religions.

The Brigade of The Guards distinguished itself by being awarded the most battle honours after Indian independence in 1947. The regiment was the brain-child of Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa, who was the first Indian commander-in-chief (C-in-C) and Field Marshal of the Indian Army. He raised the Brigade of the Guards and coined the phrase – The Guards, The Elite.

The President of India is the Honorary Colonel-in-Chief and the Chief of Army Staff is the Colonel-in-Chief of The Guards. The Guards Regimental Centre is at Kamptee in Maharashtra. The Brigade of The Guards was the senior most line infantry regiment of the Indian Army before its selection and conversion to the mechanised infantry role. It now holds the title of the senior most infantry regiment in an honorary/ceremonial capacity. Together with the Mechanised Infantry Regiment, they form part of the Mechanised Infantry arm, which along with the Armoured Corps form the Mechanised Forces.