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Castle Guard expands participation with Ceremonial Unit at this year's NATO Days

Visitors to this year’s NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days can look forward to a double dose of skills showcased by the Castle Guard. In addition to the ever-popular motorcycle unit, this year’s Saturday program will, for the first time, also feature the ceremonial unit.

The Castle Guard performs a wide range of tasks. One of its most important roles is providing escort and protection services for top domestic and foreign dignitaries — a duty carried out by its motorcycle unit. This team will once again demonstrate their riding expertise in a captivating choreography, using eight modern, specially modified BMW 1250 RT motorcycles.

This year marks the NATO Days debut of the Castle Guard's ceremonial unit. Audiences will be treated to a display of formal marching drills and weapon-handling routines using historical rifles, including precisely timed rifle spins and tosses. The aim of the performance is to present the public with a broader understanding of ceremonial weapon handling — not only standard movements for protocol events like welcoming foreign heads of state or granting ambassadorial audiences. The Castle Guard incorporates historical elements into the performance and has considerable creative freedom in their sequence and combination, making each show unique and reflective of the style of the commanding officer in charge of the routine.

“The motorcycle unit has long been a crowd favourite at NATO Days, always receiving enthusiastic applause,” says Zbyněk Pavlačík, Chairman of the Jagello 2000. “We are very pleased that after many years of Castle Guard participation, we can now offer spectators a compelling new addition in the form of the ceremonial unit. However, due to the units’ demanding service schedules, both will be present only on Saturday, so we strongly encourage visitors not to miss them.”

In addition to their main program performances, the ceremonial unit will also appear at Area D02, where spectators can observe their choreography up close. Outside of dynamic displays, visitors will also have the opportunity to meet members of both units at the Castle Guard’s booth. There, personnel will be available to answer questions, provide tours of the motorcycles used in demonstrations, and showcase one BMW 1300 GS and three historic BMW motorcycles, illustrating the tradition and evolution of the unit’s vehicle fleet.

The Castle Guard is one of the three independent branches of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. What makes it unique is that it is organizationally subordinate to the Military Office of the President of the Republic. Though it may appear small at first glance, the unit is brigade-sized, comprising nearly a thousand soldiers. As a prestigious force with a rich history, all members are carefully selected and undergo rigorous training.

See you at
the NATO Days in Ostrava
& Czech Air Force Days!