 It consists of seven active companies (see list below) and belongs to the "Streitkräftebasis" (Joint Service Support Command) of the Bundeswehr.The soldiers of the Wachbataillon often refer to themselves as "Protter" or "Protokollsoldaten", meaning protocol soldiers.The primary mission of the Wachbataillon is to perform the military honours for the German president, the German Chancellor, the Federal Minister of Defence and the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr during state visits or on comparable occasions.