Maximum physical and virtual interaction between the Armed Forces and society at Armed Forces Day 2016

“Maximum interaction between Spaniards and their Armed Forces”: Such is the objective of the Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Fernando García Sánchez, for Armed Forces Day 2016 next 28 May. To that end, 306 activities have been organised throughout the country – and internet resources such as Twitter will used to inform about them.

Just like last year, the main events will take place in Madrid, at Plaza de Colón and Plaza de la Lealtad. At the former the Flag will be hoisted during a formal ceremony presided over by the Chief of the Defence Staff at 10:00. At the latter, there will be a tribute to those who have given their lives for Spain presided over by His Majesty the King at 12:30. The tribute will also include a parade of five companies, one of them from the Army – specifically, from the 1st Infantry Regiment ‘Immemorial of the King’.

Another of the main attractions of this festivity will be the third edition of the activities organised by the Army at Madrid Río from 27 to 29 May, which will include the exhibition of materiel and vehicles used by the different military units.

Over 300 activities are scheduled. 62 are strictly military, while the rest comprise exhibitions, visits to units, sporting challenges, conferences, concerts, displays, etc. Times and locations can be found at the website created for that purpose (http://www.diadelasfuerzasarmadas.es) and at the hashtags #DIFAS16 and #graciasMILitares. The website will also feature videos of the different activities, 38% of which (i.e. 117) organised by the Army.

Soldiers deployed abroad – more than 1,200 from the Army – will also celebrate Armed Forces Day, with open doors days and initiatives to advance the relationship with local authorities.

Other activities scheduled for the days around the festivity include the 2nd Conference on Cyber Defence organised by the Joint Command (http://jornadasciberdefensa2016.es/en), which will discuss “Military Operations in Cyberspace” from 23 to 26 May at Kinépolis (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid). And the race “Run with the Forces”, organised by the Spanish Armed Forces and the Civil Guard for the third consecutive year, and which will take place on 5 June in Recoletos-Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid, starting at 9:00.