Their Royal Majesties chaired the parade on Spain’s National Day

Tribute to those who gave their lives for Spain (Photo:Iván Jiménez/DECET)

31st RIMZ Company parading (Photo:Iván Jiménez/DECET)

Spanish Army HQ open its doors to the public (Photo:Iván Jiménez/DECET)

Their Royal Majesties chaired the main events of Spain’s National Day in the pouring rain in Madrid, on October 12th. As usual, a broad representation of the Spanish Army attended, led by General of the Army Jaime Domínguez Buj −Chief of Staff of the Spanish Army (JEME in Spanish)−.

At their arrival to Cánovas del Catillo Square, King Felipe (uniformed as field marshal) and Queen Letizia with her daughters (Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía) were welcomed by Mariano Rajoy −the acting President of the Spanish Government−. Next to him were: the Defense Minister, Pedro Morenés; Madrid´s government’s President,  Cristina Cifuentes; the General Admiral Fernando García Sánchez –Chief of the Defense Staff− (JEMAD in Spanish); and the Madrid’s Parlament´s president, Paloma Adrados.

The Royal Guard Honors’ Batallion made up of the “Monteros de Espinosa” (Army); the Company “Mar Océano” (Navy); and the Squadron “Plus Ultra” (Air), paid military honors to Their Royal Majesties with the National Anthem. Following, Felipe VI inspected the formation, carrying a ‘Command Cane’ (in Spanish ‘bengala’, which is a symbol of the Highest Command of the Armed Forces) he greeted the States’ authorities and the joint province´s presidents.

After, the Spanish National Flag’s raising and the tribute to those who gave their lives for Spain took place. King Felipe VI deposited a laurel wreath by the Spanish Flag. 
The poor visibility forced to reduce the fly-past in which the Army Helicopter Force did not take place even though they planned to do so with three EC-135 helicopters, 2 Tigers, 2 Caimán (recently acquired) plus 3 Chinook.

The parade went smoothly. General José Conde, Head of the BRIAC, 7th Guadarrama was scorted by his Staff.
The first group paraded the Flags of the 13 Units of NATO VJTF; the first flag was 3rd Príncipe from the Light Infantry Regiment. Following, the flags and the banners of different units of the Armed Forces such as 31st Asturias RIMZ (Mechanized Infantry Regiment); the Military General Academy (AGM) and 4th “Alejandro Farnesio” battalion (Tercio in Spanish) of ‘La Legion.’ Army students made of Military General Academy cadets and NCOs General Academy.
 

The third group led by Colonel Martín-Rabadán (Chief of the RIMZ 31st ‘Asturias’); paraded a 12th BRIAC battalion; VJTF Battalion (made up of personnel from 7th ‘Galicia’ Light Infantry Brigade and the 6th ‘Almogávares’ Light Infantry Paratroopers Brigade) and a combined battalion (with 2 companies: one of the 1st King´s Immemorial Infantry Regiment and a battery of the Artillery Antiaircraft.
The fourth group paraded by the lead of Colonel Salom –chief of the battalion (Tercio in Spanish) “Alejandro Farnesio” (from La Legion). Different units with different pace rhythm (faster or slower than usual): “Millán Astray”, 10th of the La Legion and el Tabor “Tetuán” of the 54th Ceuta Regulares group.

Open Gates
Once the parade was over, the ‘Buenavista Palace’ at the Army HQ held an open doors’ day to commemorate Spain’s National Day. The events planned included a paintings’ exhibit by José Manuel Esteban devoted to the 10th anniversary of the Spanish military presence in Lebanon.