Michael the Brave 30th Guards Brigade
The Michael the Brave 30th Guards Brigade is a primarily ceremonial, as well as combat unit of the Romanian Land Forces. History. The unit was established on 1 July 1860 through a decree issued by Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza as the 1st Honor Guard battalion of Tiraliori, which ensured the security of Royal palaces. It was renamed 10 years later to the Battalion of Hunters and was reassigned to the War Ministry It was abolished by the communist government in 1948. From then on until 1990, ceremonial duties were served by the Honor Guard  Unit of the Romanian People's Army ("Garda de Onoare a Armatei Populare Române"). The general staff of the armed forces revived the unit as a battalion on 23 February 1990 following the Romanian Revolution. On 25 July 2001 the battalion was upgraded to the level of a brigade, and has been named after Mihai Viteazul ("Michael the Brave") since 2006. The unit was awarded with the National Order of Faithful Service in 2015 on the occasion of the brigade's 155th anniversary. Mission. Honor Guard Company. The primary mission of the brigade is to perform the required military honours  for the President of Romania, Minister of Defence and foreign leaders. It also takes part in events such as the inauguration of a president, military parades, state funerals and military tattoos, as well as the Guard Mounting ceremony at the Mormântul Soldatului Necunoscut in Bucharest. Ceremonies for state visits usually involve more than 100 soldiers of the brigade and the regimental band. The company has taken part in ceremonies in Romania, and has represented the country in the 2007 Bastille Day military parade in France, and the 2016 Chișinău Independence Day Parade in Moldova. It has two different tunics. Regimental  Band. The regimental band ("Muzica Regimentului") provides musical support to the ceremonial activities of the honor guard. The band, which is currently made up of 60 musicians, is led by Lieutenant Colonel Marian Constantin. Special Purpose Unit. The brigade maintains a special purpose unit that engages targeting threats to the Bucharest Garrison as well as acts as security and military police in the city. During the Romanian Revolution in December 1989, 15 soldiers from the brigade's special purpose unit were killed while in duty.