King and Queen of Spain presided over the main event of the Armed Forces Day

USPA NEWS - The King and Queen of Spain presided on the Saturday over the main event commemorating "Armed Forces Day 2025," which was attended by military personnel from the three Armed Forces and the Civil Guard. The day before, King Felipe presided over a naval review in the waters of Gran Canaria and witnessed a dynamic demonstration on the beach of Las Alcaravaneras.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia presided over the main event commemorating "Armed Forces Day 2025" in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This event began with their Majesties' arrival at Avenida de la Constitución, where they were received by the President of the Canary Islands Government, Fernando Clavijo, and the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles. King Felipe and Queen Letizia were then greeted by the Mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Manuel Bermúdez Esparza, and the Chief of the Defense Staff, Admiral General Teodoro Esteban López Calderón.

Following the Honors by a Battalion of the Royal Guard, while the Royal Battery fired the corresponding salutes, the King reviewed the Forces present, after which, King Felipe and Queen Letizia greeted the civil and Defense authorities from the platform.

The events began with the Air Force Parachute Acrobatic Patrol (PAPEA), which carried out a jump over the area carrying the Spanish flag. The flag was subsequently raised to the strains of the National Anthem by three Royal Guards, representatives of each of the Armed Forces and the Navy, and a Civil Guard from the Household of the King. This year, the PAPEA also flew the National Ensign, along with the Flag of the 10th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the King.

Following the wave of banners, pennants, and the laurel wreath bearers, the tribute to those who gave their lives for Spain began. It consisted of the performance of "Death is Not the End," the presentation of a laurel wreath by the King before the monolith, a prayer service, followed by a rifle volley by the "Plus Ultra" Squadron of the Royal Guard, and a flyover by the "Águila" Acrobatic Patrol, drawing the colors of the national flag in the sky above Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The King then returned to the rostrum, and an air and ground parade began, in which units from the three armies and the Civil Guard with their mobile units participated. Following the parade, King Felipe and Queen Letizia proceeded to the César Manrique Maritime Park, where a reception took place.

The air parade was made up of 15 formations: The Parade Command and Fighter Group, with two C/CE-16s (Eurofighters) from the 14th Wing; four C/CE-15s (F-18s) from the 46th Wing; four C/CE-15s (F-18s) from the 12th/15th Wings; four C/CE-16s (Eurofighters) from the 11th Wing; four AV-8Bs (Harriers) from the 9th Squadron of the FLOAN; the Helicopter Group, with one HT/D-21 from the 46th Wing and two HD-29s from the 48th Wing; a training group, with five HE-25s (Colibrí) from the Aspa Patrol of the 78th Wing; Army helicopters, two HU-21s from BHELMA VI and three HU-18s from BHELMA VI; The Navy's Aircraft Fleet provided three SH60Fs, one SH60B, and one H-135; the Civil Guard's Air Service participated with three EC-135s, and the parade was closed by the Eagle Patrol, made up of seven E-25 (C-101) aircraft from the General Air Force Academy.

The ground parade was composed of the Motorized Echelon, composed of a Royal Guard motorcycle section, the commander-in-chief of the 5th SUIGE and EM, a unit of Veterans of the Armed Forces and the Civil Guard, a Unit for the Disabled of the Armed Forces and the Civil Guard, and a unit of Volunteer Reservists. Second, the Motorized Group, composed of the commander of the 16th Sapper Battalion; the mechanized, armored, and motorized echelons of Army units; Navy units; Air Force and Space Force units; units of the Military Emergency Unit; and units of the Civil Guard.

The foot units were composed of the commander of the 49th Tenerife Regiment; the Command Staff; a Royal Guard Battalion composed of a Spending Squadron, Band and Music, Command and Staff, the Monteros de Espinosa Company, National Flags and Banners, the Mar Océano Company, and the Plus Ultra Squadron.

The parade then continued with a Navy group composed of the Spending Squadron of the Tercio de Armada, the Band and Music of the Madrid Group; Command and Staff, a Marine Infantry company, a mixed company of sailors, and a company of students from the Military Naval Academy. It continued with a group from the Air Force and Space Force, composed of a Spender Squadron from the Security Group, the Music Unit of the Canary Islands Air Command, Command and Staff, a Squadron from the Canary Islands Air Command, a Squadron from the Paratrooper Sapper Squadron, and an Honor Squadron from the Security Group.

This was followed by a group from the Military Emergency Unit and the Civil Guard, composed of a Spender Squadron, a Music Unit, Command and Staff, a Civil Guard Company from the Teaching Headquarters, a Reserve and Security Group Company, a Spender Squadron from the Military Emergency Unit (UME), and a UME Intervention Company with six dog handlers.

This was followed by a parade of an Army group composed of the Command and Command Staff, a Squadron of Spenders, a War Band, Command and Staff, two companies of the Canary Islands Brigade, and a mixed company of the Land Force. This was followed by a parade of an Army group composed of the Command and Staff of the 2nd Legion Tercio "Duque de Alba," the Legion Flag, composed of a Squadron of Spenders, a War and Music Band, Command and Staff, two Companies of the TERLEG; A Regulars Tabor, made up of the 52nd Regulars Group's Spending Squadron, Nuba, Command and Staff, and two Companies of the 52nd Tabor.

The Eurocorps Flag also participated in the foot parade, carried by a Spanish officer and escorted by non-commissioned officers from six countries: Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Luxembourg, and Poland.

Armed Forces Day is a day of meeting between Spaniards, civilians, and military personnel, with the aim of enhancing society's understanding of its Armed Forces, in accordance with the provisions of the Spanish Constitution and the spirit of the Royal Ordinances. This day also recognizes the work of military personnel deployed far from home in operations abroad, those who are integrated into permanent surveillance, security, and presence operations in areas of interest, demonstrating values ??such as the spirit of service, discipline, and a sense of duty.

Military personnel demonstrate Spain's commitment to international peace and security every day, participating with our allies in deterrence and security efforts, and projecting stability in countries experiencing conflict or whose capacities are exceeding their limits, in order to achieve the security necessary for their societies to develop their full potential with complete freedom and normalcy. Armed Forces Day dates back to 1978, when an institutional event was established to serve as a tribute to the Army and Navy and to promote awareness and their integration into society.