At 12 noon today, the Guardia Civil commemorated the 178th anniversary of its founding, in an emotional ceremony that took place in the parade ground of the Almeria Headquarters and which was presided over by the acting Government Subdelegate Juan Ramón Fernández.
With this commemoration, the Guardia Civil has recognised the work of the Civil Guards, who have recently passed to the status of Retired, in appreciation of their years of service to society, with a heartfelt tribute to 13 colleagues who have passed to that status.
This emotional ceremony was intended to recognise a Commander, a Second Lieutenant and 12 Civil Guards, who have recently completed their working lives, after years of dedication and service to society, which in most cases exceeded 40 years of service.
Likewise, a Commander, two Sergeants, a Corporal and 13 Civil Guards have been decorated with the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Civil Guard with white badge, in recognition of their services rendered and rewarded with such distinction.
During the ceremony, the Chief Colonel of the Guardia Civil Command in Almería, Mr. Jorge Montero Llácer, and the Secretary General of the Government Subdelegation, Mr. Juan Ramón Fernández Imbernón, gave speeches, in which they highlighted the work and activity of the members of the Guardia Civil who have retired.
The Colonel Commander-in-Chief of the Almeria Command stressed that «the Civil Guards present here, not only had to learn by heart the articles of that civil guard booklet, but throughout their many years of service they have put it into practice on countless occasions (…) many of them were unknowingly the embryo of the SIVE, walking night after night along the kilometres of the province’s beaches».
He also stressed that «we cannot lower the standards set by our founder, which have now been included in a new code of conduct for Civil Guard personnel».
The Secretary General of the Government Sub-delegation stated that «Throughout 178 years of uninterrupted service to all Spaniards, the Civil Guard has been characterised by unwavering loyalty to governments, service to society and the fulfilment of duty, for which it has not hesitated to sacrifice the lives of its members».
He also highlighted the «recognition of the more than 5000 women belonging to the Guardia Civil Corps, more than 100 of them in Almeria, who form part of the different scales and jobs of the Benemérita (…) It is also desirable that their presence is reflected in the higher echelons, making professional promotion a reality».
In the same way, Retired Second Lieutenant Sebastián López García offered some heartfelt words to the rest of his colleagues who, like him, have recently left the Guardia Civil.
The ceremony of the 178th Foundation of the Guardia Civil in Almería concluded with the singing of the Guardia Civil Anthem and a parade of the Honours Company.
The Civil Guard was created on 28 March 1844, by royal decree, as a special armed force of infantry and cavalry under the name of Guardia Civil. The responsibility for organising this corps was entrusted to Field Marshal Francisco Javier Girón y Ezpeleta, second Duke of Ahumada.
In response, on 20 April, the Duke of Ahumada presented a report on the organisation of the corps which immediately repealed the first royal decree, which did not even come into force, and the publication of a new one on 13 May 1844.
Today, the Guardia Civil is present throughout the national territory and has more than 77,000 troops and 2,000 barracks and posts.
In addition to guaranteeing compliance with the law, ensuring the free exercise of rights and freedoms and preserving public safety, the Guardia Civil’s mission is also to provide assistance and aid to citizens through collaboration with the Civil Protection services; rescue and aid in the mountains and territorial sea, and in general any action that leads to the relief, aid and protection of citizens.
Specific missions
The Guardia Civil also has a series of specific missions such as the control of arms and explosives; the fiscal protection of the State; traffic on interurban roads, except in those autonomous communities that have assumed this role; security in ports and airports, and the protection of nature, among others.
To carry out all these missions, the Guardia Civil is structured into 25 specialities, including the Traffic Group and services such as the Seprona, Air, Cynological, Explosives Disposal and Nuclear Defence, Radiological, Biological and Chemical (NRBQ), Maritime and Underwater Activities, Mountain or the Prosecution Service, as well as different Investigation (Information Service and Judicial Police) and Intervention (UEI, UAR and ARS) units.
Currently, the Guardia Civil is also present abroad, deployed in the different international missions in which it participates, as well as in advisory and collaboration tasks with police forces from other countries.