On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, the Guard’s command was handed over to Colonel Georg Frischeis in front of Schönbrunn Palace in the presence of Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner. Colonel Georg Frischeis takes over command from Brigadier Stefan Kirchebner. Since July 8th, Frischeis has been entrusted with the leadership of the representative and operational unit of the Armed Forces and is officially taking over command today. The guard music provided a worthy musical accompaniment to the ceremony.
Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner: “With Colonel Georg Frischeis, an extremely experienced and committed officer is taking command of the Guard. With his many years of experience, including in the context of international assignments, he has the best qualifications to take on this demanding position. My thanks also go to Brigadier Stefan Kirchebner, who led the Guard with great success for many years. I wish Colonel Frischeis every success in his new role and am convinced that he will successfully continue the traditional work of the Guard in the service of the Republic.”
The military commander of Vienna, Brigadier Kurt Wagner, handed over the flag of the Guard and thus symbolically responsibility for the association to Colonel Georg Frischeis. Brigadier Stefan Kirchebner said goodbye as the long-time commander of the guard and wished the new commander all the best in his role. Representing the Mayor of the City of Vienna, Member of the Vienna State Parliament and City Councilor Marcus Schober wished Colonel Frischeis good luck and all the best.
Colonel Georg Frischeis was born in Vienna in 1968 and moved to Neusiedl am See in 1986 as a one-year volunteer. In 1991 he signed up as a temporary officer in the Guard. From 1994 to 1997 he completed the military academy and re-enlisted into the guard as a hunter officer. There he was employed in a variety of functions, including as deputy commander of the guard. After training as a battalion commander, he moved to the army school in Eisenstadt as a planning officer. Frischeis has served in the Ministry of Defense since 2012 and contributed his experience, for example, in military strategic deployment preparation and in the General Staff Department. Colonel Frischeis was able to gain experience in numerous foreign missions, EU and NATO training courses as well as in large-scale international exercises. Previously, he was Head of Military Protocol in the Military Diplomacy Department of the Ministry of Defense and Chairman of the Officers’ Ball Committee. Colonel Georg Frischeis lives in Vienna and is the father of an adult daughter.
The Guard supports the Federal President, representatives of the federal government and public authorities in their protocol obligations, state visits and receptions of foreign ambassadors or heads of general staff. All year round, honorary formations and guard music form the ceremonial setting for state ceremonies and festive events. In addition to representative tasks, all guardsmen are well-trained infantrymen and can be deployed like any hunter battalion in the Federal Army. In the event of an operation, the guards primarily take on tasks in the area of space, escort and property protection. The Guard’s military music is also an essential part of the association and is known at home and abroad.
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