The "de facto" military force of the Vatican City State is the "Pontificia Cohors Helvetica" ("Papal Swiss Cohort"). Popularly know as the Swiss Guard, this 135 strong unit is formed by unmarried Swiss Catholic former servicemen aged between 19 and 30 years, recruited through a special convention with the Swiss Government. While largely performing ceremonial Honor Guard duties with traditional weapons (halberds, partisans and swords), the Swiss Guard in also equipped with modern military light weapons and trained in proper military and security duties.