bodyguard; military escort
Refers to a soldier or unit assigned to protect a person or convoy, often in a military or official context.
The president's bodyguards are always by his side.
The transport unit was accompanied by military escorts.
護衛 is the broader term for escort or protection, while 護衛兵 specifies the soldier performing that duty.
Compound of 護衛 (goei, 'escort, guard') and 兵 (hei, 'soldier').