Welcome To Issue 005 Of Eyes Front.
Keeping Your Eye On The Ball For Military Events
Hello and welcome to a special issue of Eyes Front produced for Armed Forces Day 2024.
Inside this issue we look back and reflect on a range of poignant events of late including D-Day 80, The Trooping of the Colour for King Charles III’s 75th birthday as well as a special year so far for the National Armed Forces & Emergency Services Events Team and their long list of events to date for 2024.
Also inside this edition, we provide links to the recently published Forces Family Education Guide for 2024/25 and
2024 Forces Community Directory, published earlier this year.
All you need to do is scan the QR codes on these pages to read these publications.
Thank you for your support as always in reading this issue and a Happy Armed Forces Week to you all!
Kind regards,
Mal Mal Robinson Editor, Eyes Front.
Pictured: a tourist dressed in US World War II style watches a a fly-past takes place over Gold Beach. The annual celebrations for D-Day were held in the Normandy town of Arromanche, France, on Thursday, the 6th of June, 2024, where thousands of people turned up to witness historic vehicles on the beaches and people dressed in World War Two style clothing. The Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion host the UK’s major commemorative event at the new British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, with thanks to the Normandy Memorial Trust. This anniversary will mark the first time the British Normandy Memorial has been at the heart of major anniversary commemorations, having been opened in 2021. It contains the names of the 22,442 servicemen and women under British command who fell on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy in the summer of 1944.
Image: MOD Crown Copyright 2024 - Petty Officer Joel Rouse
FORCES IN FOCUS
Image of the whole of Horseguards Parade Ground during the King’s Birthday Parade in London today (15/06/2024). 242 military working horses, 250 military musicians, 40 pipers and drummers, and more than a thousand dual role soldiers of the British Army’s Household Division took part in The King’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour) in London on Saturday 15th June 2024.
Image: MOD Crown Copyright 2024 - WO1 Rupert Frere.
NAFESE 2024 ARMED FORCES DAY
National Armed Forces & Emergency Services Events in 2024 - A Review So Far!
It has been another busy year for the National Armed Forces & Emergency Services Events (NAFESE) team.
So far 2024 has seen five events take place including the launch of the National Armed Forces & Emergency Services Community Directory for 2024 at The Civil Service Club in London, in February Troops into Transportation, Logistics & Engineering North took place in Catterick, Andover hosted Everything ELCAS 2 in March and the National Armed Forces & Emergency Services Event for 2024 was another success in May at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland.
June 2024 saw the launch of the first Forces Family Education Guide, aptly launching at the Forces Family Education Event in a second outing for the team at Catterick. The remainder of 2024 sees no let for the team!
The 2024 Services Awards take place on Thursday September 12 again at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, followed closely by the National Armed Forces & Emergency Services Event Wales on Thursday September 26 at the Vindico Arena in Cardiff.
October 15 will be the date for the launch of the review of the Red Arrows’ Diamond Season magazine at The RAF Club, London, whilst the year is rounded off with the first Services into Space & Defence event at the Army Air Flying Museum in Hampshire and the final event of the year being the rescheduled Forces into Franchising, Business & Management at the Lamex Stadium in Stevenage. It will then be a quick chance to come up for air before 2025 kicks off with the NAFESE Community Directory launch once more.
For any further information on any of the events mentioned above, please contact hospitality@nafese2023.com
RAF Falcons Jump into Morecambe and Lancaster Armed Forces Day
TEAM ENDURANCE EVENT
Calling Military Teams to tackle this challenging 100km trek across the stunning South Downs! Put together a team of four, push yourselves to the limit and help raise vital funds to supply nancial and medical aid to Gurkha veterans in Nepal. Find out more:
RAF Falcons Jump into Morecambe and Lancaster Armed Forces Day Image of the RAF Falcons in the air over Morecambe Bay as part of their ‘high’ display. The 2024 Lancaster and Morecambe Armed Forces Day was kicked off in fine style as the Royal Air Force Falcons Parachute Display Team jumped onto the Morecambe Beach, parallel with the Promenade. Led in by Team Coach Flight Sergeant Lyons, and finished with Officer Commanding Flight Lieutenant Littler, the team conducted their signature carousel and criss-cross moves before landing-on in front of a busy Promenade which looks out over Morecambe Bay and further still, the Lake District. After landing, the RAF Falcons Deputy Officer Commanding Flight Lieutenant Rogers took the salute before the team were dismissed and able to converse with the crowds that had come to watch them. Armed Forces Week takes place annually and encourages local communities and organisations across the country to show their support for the Armed Forces. Events take place in communities and online. Search Armed Forces Day online to see a range of events in your local area.
Bringing hope and healing Ships of Hope
