The unit's main function is the perform the changing of the guard every half-hour at the
José Marti Mausoleum inside
Santa Ifigenia Cemetery. In addition to providing honors related to protocol (funeral honors,
presentation of credentials, the delivery of national medals, welcoming of foreign naval fleets, wreath laying ceremonies, street lining for
military parades on the
Plaza de la Revolución). The unit represents the revolutionary armed forces during arrival ceremonies at the
Palace of the Revolution for
state visits to
Havana, with musical accompaniment provided by the
Band of the Ceremonial Unit. In recent years, the unit has taken part in the welcoming of
Barack Obama,
the Prince of Wales and
Felipe IV of
Spain. During the honors for Soviet leader
Leonid Brezhnev in 1974, the unit's color guard carried the branch colors of the
Soviet Army,
Navy, and
Air Force. Outside of the country, the unit has most notably taken part in the
2015 China Victory Day Parade. During the rehearsals for the parade, the 82 member formation was often noted for being the last ones on the drill field and the few to use
chinese martial arts such as
Tai chi in their exercises. The unit also played a large role in the
death and state funeral of Fidel Castro in November 2016. ==Gallery==