 Founded as a military academy, the institution was transformed into a state-sponsored civilian post-secondary school in 1970, although still operated by the French Ministry of Defence.The Republican Guard of the National Gendarmerie is the last unit to wear dress uniform as service uniform, as guard of honour detachments are required to wear it while on duty.The cavalry regiment wear a 19th-century dragoon uniform, with metal helmet and white riding trousers, while the infantry regiments use a high-collared traditional gendarmerie uniform.