Armed Forces Day
Is Anti-Militarism Unpatriotic?
June 2024
On Armed Forces Day 2024, we examine the incentives behind these events. Where did Armed Forces Day come from and what is it trying to achieve? Armed Forces Day is a display of militarism. Branded as 'family fun' days, it fails to address the grim realities of war, and acts as a soft recruitment tool, allowing children to handle weapons and play on military vehicles.
Declining interest in Armed Forces Day welcomed by peace campaigners
29/06/2024
Peace campaigners have welcomed the news that there will be no national event for Armed Forces Day this year, as no local councils have come forward to host it. Local events to mark Armed Forces Day (29th June) this weekend are facing growing resistance from groups and individuals concerned about its uncritical portrayal of war and the armed forces.
Armed Forces Day 2024
What's happening on Armed Forces Day this year. Download and/or order resources to use in your local community to challenge militarism.
Armed Forces Day 2023: militarism comes to Cornwall
This year the national Armed Forces Day event is being held in Falmouth, Cornwall. Many other events are being held around the country. We outline our concerns, including how the event is marketed, its promotion to young people and schools, and the inclusion of recruitment activities that allow young children to handle weapons.
Warrior Nation podcast: Unpacking Armed Forces Day
June 2022
Embedding the Covenant
Over the last decade, local authorities and thousands of private and public organisations across the UK have pledged to promote the military through events such as Armed Forces Day. We explore how the Armed Forces Covenant enables this and how plans to further embed it in law are more widely problematic.
Warrior Nation podcast – What’s wrong with Armed Forces Day?
June 2020
Armed Forces Day is a propaganda tool for arms firms and the military – and the public are footing the bill
29/06/2019Joe Glenton, The Independent
Joe Glenton in The Independent about the 10th year of Armed Forces Day, an annual day of 'family-fun' and celebration of militarism, with heavy costs to local councils and the involvement of some of the world's largest arms companies.
#ResistMilitarism on Armed Forces Day 2018
In the run up to Armed Forces Day on 30 June we provide background information on how this and other public events are part of a concerted effort to increase general support for the military amongst the public, stifle criticism and recruit young people. We list events that challenge the militarism of Armed Forces Day with messages of peace and resistance.
The concerted effort to increase the power of the military across society must be challenged
As support for the military is paraded in streets across the UK at Armed Forces Day events, politicians charged with fighting the military's corner are waging their own war on public and political opinion. This article was published in The Morning Star on 2 July 2018