Armed Forces Day

29 June 2024

Official Imagery

The images on this page may be used by event organisers arranging events for Armed Forces Day 2022. By using any of the images on this page you agree to the terms and conditions listed below.

Terms and conditions

The images are solely for use in publicising either the national or a local Armed Forces Day event.
The images must not be used for any commercial or merchandising purpose.
Images may be cropped as necessary and darkroom techniques used. No other alteration of the images is permitted.
Images must be credited as “©UK MOD Crown Copyright 2022”.

Personnel at the Armed Forces Day 2019 — Personnel at Armed Forces Day National Event in Salisbury in 2019

As part of a reduced program of events to celebrate Armed Forces Day 2020, on Saturday 27th June 2020 the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows flew over RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire. The Red Arrows were led by Red 1, Squadron Leader Martin Pert, the other 8 Hawk aircraft following in close formation. © UK MoD Crown Copyright 2020

Personnel from the 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery share a joke. — Personnel from the 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery share a joke during a lull in tempo working on Ex Steel Sabre. Exercise Steel Sabre: The aim of this huge Royal Artillery live firing exercise was to bring all the components of an effective Artillery group together to train in its core business: delivering firepower on the battlefield. This included soldiers from different nations and from the Regular and Reserve parts of the British Army employing artillery guns, rockets, mortars, radars and unmanned aerial vehicles on the Otterburn Ranges.

HMS Ocean, the Royal Navys Fleet Flagship, has returned to her base port of Devonport following a period of six and a half months on operations. HMS Ocean has been deployed as part of the Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) 16 and as the command platform for Commander Task Force 50 in the Mediterranean and the Gulf. MOD Consent given and held at FRPU West

Royal Air Force Corporal stands in front of a fast jet saluting with his Service dog sitting beside him with an Armed Forces Day flag in the foreground. — Corporal Ben Thatcher and Military Working Dog Kilda salute in front of a Tornado GR4 at RAF Marham on 20 May 15. The pair work at RAF Marham ensuring the security of the base and its personnel are kept safe. Armed Forces Day will be held on 27th June 2015, and will encourage members of public to show their support for our Armed Forces. Armed Forces Day will be held on 27th June 2015, and will encourage members of public to show their support for our Armed Forces in a number of ways. One initiative for this years campaign is #SaluteOurForces, with which users of social media can show their support. Signed MoD Consent Form Held at RAF Marham Photographic Section

Tri-Service Personnel — From left, an Army soldier, a Royal Navy sailor and a Royal Air Force servicewoman in London prior to Armed Forces Day 1010. This image is fully model released.

Members of the RAF’s Mountain Rescue Team are pictured showing their support for Armed Forces Day by abseiling down one of the rock faces at Holyhead Mountain on the Isle of Anglesey near RAF Valley.

Army band at the Armed Forces Day in Llandudno Saturday 30th June 2018, saw hundreds of events held to mark the tenth annual Armed Forces Day, including parades and ceremonies right across the country. Men and women from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, both regulars and reserves, are being recognised alongside the wider defence family including cadets and veterans. The national event in Llandudno, North Wales was attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, the Princess Royal representing The Queen and the Royal Family, the Prime Minister Theresa May and the Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, along with other senior politicians. A parade of around 1,000 serving personnel, veterans, cadets and marching bands set off from the Llandudno War Memorial at 11am to signal the start of the Armed Forces Day celebrations. Also present were many veterans that make-up the estimated 2.56 million Armed Forces veteran community living in the UK. Young Cadets were also present; together the Sea, Army, and Air cadets have almost 100,000 members.

A Royal Air Force A400M Atlas from LXX Sqn based at RAF Brize Norton and two Typhoon FGR4 aircraft from No.II(AC) Sqn, RAF Lossiemouth, take part in a Flypast over Brussels, Belgium, to mark the NATO summit on the 25th May 2017.

From left, a Royal Air Force servicewoman, a Royal Navy sailor and an Army soldier stroll thorugh London prior to Armed Forces Day 1010. This image is fully model released.

From left, a Royal Navy sailor, Royal Air Force servicewoman and an Army soldier chat in Trafalgar Square, London prior to Armed Forces Day 1010. This image is fully model released.

British soldiers on Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, view their target during marksmanship training on a range in Iraq.

Pictured is a mother hugging her son who has just graduated from Basic Training at RAF Halton. His father (in uniform) smiles happily behind them. The picture was taken at the Graduation Parade of Course 584MP16 Campion Intake which took place at Recruit Training Squadron (RTS) Royal Air Force (RAF) Halton. After culminating 10 weeks of intensive Basic Recruit Training the graduating recruits parade in front of friends and family. The Reviewing Officer Air Vice Marshal Brethell inspected the course

Pictured are soldiers from 1st Battalion the Irish Guards conducting a live firing exercise deep in the Belize Jungle. Foot guards from 1st Battalion the Irish Guards swapped their pristine celebrity ceremonial world of bearskins and red tunics for anonymous camouflage, leeches and mosquito nets as they test their operational skills on a rigorous jungle warfare exercise in Belize – Exercise MAYAN STORM. The exercise is named after the ancient Mayan people that had previously inhabited Central America and, like them, The Guards have been deployed deep in the heart of Belizes rainforest, learning how to live and fight using the jungle itself as a powerful weapon and defence. Most challenging of all for the Hounslow based soldiers, that most commonly are recruited from Liverpool and Ireland, has been learning how to navigate and survive amidst the natural dangers that lie beneath the verdant canopy. Venomous spiders, snakes, malaria and tropical disease add a frisson to a training package that requires soldiers to prove themselves against a formidable enemy in the most challenging physical environment on earth. Image was a winner in the 2017 Army Photographic Competition.

Soldiers who have returned from a series of demanding overseas operations today braved the British summer to say thank you to families and loved ones. Personnel of the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancasters Regiment, are back home in Lancashire after six months of deployments across three continents. Relatives were invited to Weeton Barracks near Blackpool to cheer them home but the weather failed to live up to the celebratory mood and the parade took place in torrential rain. Several centimeters fell within the space of ten minutes and families huddled for cover under tents and umbrellas. But that wasnt an option for the 250 soldiers of the battalions Arroyo, Arnhem, Blenheim, Chindit and Dettingen Companies who had been marched on to the barracks parade square just moments before the heavens opened.

Pictured are members of the Royal Air Force Regiment parading at the start of the AFD National event in Liverpool. Spectacular celebrations marked the ninth annual Armed Forces Day, honouring the exceptional work and dedication of our brave Servicemen and women deployed around theÊworld. A record 300 plus events including parades, military displays and community fetes took place right across the country to say thank you to the Armed Forces community for the outstanding work they do; Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and women, both Regulars and Reservists were recognised alongside the wider defence family such as Cadets and veterans past and present. The National Event was held in Liverpool attended by His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex representing The Queen and the Royal Family. Also in attendance was the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Defence.

Royal Air Force Benson engineers from the Puma Force have been working through the night to prepare aircraft for the Vanguard Aviation Force. Three flights will shortly be departing RAF Brize Norton carrying Royal Marines, Engineers, medical supplies and aid including emergency shelter kits, rations and clean water. Tomorrow a further C17 will leave from Brize Norton carrying two Puma helicopters. The Force, which remains on constant standby to deploy worldwide, has been called upon to support the relief efforts in the British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean hit by Hurricane Irma. Highly experienced at providing support in humanitarian aid missions, two Puma aircraft left RAF Benson in the early hours of Friday 8 September 2017 to transit to RAF Brize Norton. Here they will be prepared by engineers for transport, loaded into a C-17, and flown to the Caribbean. Within 4 hours of being unloaded, the aircraft can be undertaking tasks in support of the humanitarian mission.

Pictured are female Junior Soldiers carrying out the final touches as they prepare to go on parade. In 2017 alone The Army Foundation College in Harrogate saw over 650 teenagers march on their way to a new career when they graduated from the Armys flagship training establishment for 16 17 year olds. The Army Foundation College is the only Junior Entry Phase 1 training establishment in the British Army. The College plays a vital role in providing the basic military training and developing future leadership. A high percentage of Non-Commissioned Officers and Warrant Officers in the British Army have conducted Junior Entry training. The College aims to create a well-rounded Junior Soldier – physically, conceptually and morally. The delivery of training is conducted in accordance with a carefully synchronised College programme and is aimed to be progressive and provide variety. There is a balance between classroom, camp and field training. Two courses are delivered at the College; Junior Entry (Long) and Junior Entry (Short).

Pictured are the Guard of Honour formed of Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards. The Defence Minster for France, Her Excellency Florence Parly visited Admiralty House on Monday 20th November 2017 as a guest of the UK Secretary of State for Defence, The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP. The visit began with a Guard of Honour on Horse Guards Parade provided by Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards with the Regimental Colour as a potent symbol of continuing and deepening Franco-British defence cooperation. Day after day, the British and French armed forces engagement in many operations abroad, often working directly alongside each other, helps maintain security in the world.

A Royal Air Force Chinook, from RAF Odiham, inserts troops from 40 Commando Royal Marines onto a mountain peak in the Mojave Desert during Exercise Black Alligator. Exercise Black Alligator has demonstrated UK Defence interoperability between RAF Chinook Crews, Army Air Corps Apaches and Royal Marine ground troops, whilst working in demanding, austere conditions in the Californian desert. All three forces worked out of Camp Wilson, at United States Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Centre in Twenty Nine Palms. SAC Nicholas Egan is an RAF Photographer currently based at ACSSU Photo Operations, RAF Halton. After joining the RAF in 2011, he has previously served at Aldergrove Flying Station in Northern Ireland, and RAF Odiham before moving to his current post in February 2017.

Armed Forces Day flag hoist

Pictured are soldiers from D Company, 5 RIFLES on exercise after deploying to Estonia. They are operating in dense forests whilst taking part in a multinational exercise in Estonia as part of NATO’s eFP (Enhanced Forward Presence). The exercise was designed to improve cohesion amongst the many nations contributing towards the eFP effort in the Baltics. UK Armed Forces are taking a leading role in NATOs Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP), with the British Army leading a multinational Battlegroup in Estonia from early 2017. The eFP in the Baltic States will see the deployment of robust, multinational, combat-ready forces to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, on a persistent, rotational basis. This movement forms part of a wider package of initiatives designed to enhance Euro-Atlantic security, reassure our Allies and deter our adversaries. This deployment is just one aspect of a wide range of UK support to NATO. From January 2017, the UK assumed responsibility for NATOs Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) contributing about 3,000 personnel, leading a structured group of 14 partner nations.

All the Royal Colonels accompanied Her Majesty on parade with The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge, and The Princess Royal riding as part of the parade. This year, the Colour being trooped in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen is that of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, identified by the shamrock decorating the collars of their scarlet tunics and the distinctive blue plumes of St Patrick in their bearskin caps. The Field Officer in Brigade Waiting, Lieutenant Colonel Jono Palmer, Irish Guards, will command the Parade from his horse Wellington. Before he marches his men off the square he will wish Her Majesty The happiest of birthdays from the officers and soldiers of the Household Division and The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

Image of the Armed Forces parading at the start of the AFD National event in Liverpool. Spectacular celebrations are underway today to mark the ninth annual Armed Forces Day, honouring the exceptional work and dedication of our brave Servicemen and women deployed around the world.A record 300 plus events including parades, military displays and community fetes are taking place right across the country to say thank you to the Armed Forces community for the outstanding work they do; Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and women, both Regulars and Reservists are being recognised alongside the wider defence family such as Cadets and veterans past and present.Today the National Event was held in Liverpool attended by His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex representing The Queen and the Royal Family.

Pictured are Royal Navy regulars and reservists parading at the start of the AFD National event in Liverpool. Spectacular celebrations marked the ninth annual Armed Forces Day, honouring the exceptional work and dedication of our brave Servicemen and women deployed around the world. A record 300 plus events including parades, military displays and community fetes took place right across the country to say thank you to the Armed Forces community for the outstanding work they do; Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and women, both Regulars and Reservists were recognised alongside the wider defence family such as Cadets and veterans past and present. The National Event was held in Liverpool attended by His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex representing The Queen and the Royal Family. Also in attendance was the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Defence.

Pictured are members of the Royal Tank Regiment parading at the start of the AFD National event in Liverpool. Spectacular celebrations marked the ninth annual Armed Forces Day, honouring the exceptional work and dedication of our brave Servicemen and women deployed around theÊworld. A record 300 plus events including parades, military displays and community fetes took place right across the country to say thank you to the Armed Forces community for the outstanding work they do; Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and women, both Regulars and Reservists were recognised alongside the wider defence family such as Cadets and veterans past and present. The National Event was held in Liverpool attended by His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex representing The Queen and the Royal Family. Also in attendance was the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Defence.

Veterans join sailors, soldiers, airmen and cadets at the Armed Forces Day parade in Liverpool

Picture shows a Royal Air Force Chinook arriving on the island of Tortola with a BV all-terrain vehicle under-slung, 22 September 2017. Sailors from Plymouth based HMS Ocean have arrived on Tortola, the largest of the British Virgin Islands, the ship full of relief aid and the sailors ready to work. The ship arrived today with around 650 personnel and 60 tonnes of aid including construction equipment and other essential materials such as hygiene kits and water purification tablets. Oceans arrival means there are now over 2,000 UK military personnel working on the relief effort, making it the largest deployment of UK personnel anywhere in the world. Within only a couple hours of dropping anchor, the relief teams arrived by air and sea, Utilising RAF Chinooks and Royal Navy Wildcat and Merlin Helicopters and Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) from 1 Assault Group Royal Marines. On arrival the initial teams of 96 set straight to work on tasks across the islands. After the initial efforts of 40 Commando Royal Marines and 59 Commando Squadron Royal Engineers in stabilising the situation in rapid time, assistance with more specialist equipment was needed. Amongst the initial lift of personnel from HMS Ocean was a team of 6 engineers, both weapon and marine specialists.

Pictured is a Royal Marine fixing the roof of the government buildings to prepare for the oncoming hurricane. South Caicos prepares itself for Hurricane Irmas sister, Maria… Task Force Turks & Caicos -Team South Caicos is assisting the residents of the island to ready itself for hurricane Maria. Work has continued on the small isolated island in preparation for what may come their way in the next few days. A contingent of UK military and Canadian Navy soldiers, sailors and airmen have been on the island for the past five days, clearing up after hurricane Irma and their endeavours have been gratefully received by the local population, but work to a slightly different deviation this week when the news circulated that another category five hurricane was potentially heading for them.

#SaluteOurForces A member of staff at the Royal Marines Museum, Southsea, salutes the Armed Forces for Armed Forces Day 2015. Consent held by FRPU(E) Image by: Stephen Johncock

A proud Northallerton businessman shows his support to the Armed Forces. Members of the public and businesses stopped to demonstrate their appreciation of the military by posing for the cameras and saluting. #SaluteOurForces. Photo, 20150527 by SAC Phil Dye. *MOD Consent Form Signed and Held*

A proud Northallerton businessman shows his support to the Armed Forces. Members of the public and businesses stopped to demonstrate their appreciation of the military by posing for the cameras and saluting. #SaluteOurForces. Photo, 20150527 by SAC Phil Dye. *MOD Consent Form Signed and Held*

Image shows the ships company of HMS Iron Duke conducting Ceremonial Sunset. Spectacular celebrations are underway today to mark the ninth annual Armed Forces Day, honouring the exceptional work and dedication of our brave Servicemen and women deployed around the world.A record 300 plus events including parades, military displays and community fetes are taking place right across the country to say thank you to the Armed Forces community for the outstanding work they do; Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and women, both Regulars and Reservists are being recognised alongside the wider defence family such as Cadets and veterans past and present.Today the National Event was held in Liverpool attended by His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex representing The Queen and the Royal Family.

Image of a RAF Typhoon seen here in the foreground, with the Russian Warships Petr Velikiy (centre) and the Admiral Kuznetsov (background). Typhoon aircraft are a critical part of UK defences, on call every day, including Quick Reaction Alert (QRA). Whilst the British public are familiar with our role escorting Russian long-range aviation, on this occasion we launched to monitor the Russian warships as they transit near to our sovereign waters in order to ensure that their activity is monitored and executed safely in accordance with international procedures. Defence Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon, said: We are keeping a close eye on the Admiral Kuznetsov as it skulks back to Russia; a ship of shame whose mission has only extended the suffering of the Syrian people. We are man-marking these vessels every step of the way around the UK as part of our steadfast commitment to keep Britain safe.