However, the loyalty of many PDF units is not always true. Whenever required, the best soldiers in a PDF are transferred into the regiments of the Imperial Guard, receiving further training as they are shipped to their destined locations elsewhere in the galaxy. Also important is the PDF's role as the primary source of recruits for the Imperial Guard. Thus, although rarely respected within the broader Imperial military due to their relative lack of experience, the PDF are widely considered crucial to the Departmento Munitorum as the first line of defence for Imperial worlds against any form of invasion or rebellion. When facing any internal or external threat, it is the responsibility of the PDF to engage the enemy until Imperial reinforcements such as the Astra Militarum or Space Marines can be mustered by the nearby Sector Command. The PDF, as essentially the local military of an Imperial world, has no standardisation and can take any form some, such as the PDF of Hive Worlds, may be no more than legitimised gangs supported and armed by the local planetary government to keep down the more anarchic elements.

According to Imperial law, all Imperial planets must maintain a standing army in order to maintain the planetary government's (and thus the Imperium's) control over the world against any possible invasion or insurrection. The PDF is under the control of the local planetary government rather than direct Imperial control the raising, training, arming, leadership, etc., of such units is entirely in the hands of the world's Planetary Governor. Imperial icon used to designate Planetary Governors, who serve as the commanders-in-chief of their local Planetary Defence Force.Ī Planetary Defence Force (usually abbreviated to PDF) is the primary military force of an individual Imperial world.

Vladimir Rex, Castellan of Hellhive Crag ' The skies themselves burn, and we burn with them, yet we fight.

Space marines vs imperial guard