The Minister of Defense chairs the act of the 64th anniversary of the Paratrooper Forces' creation in the Spanish Army

The Minister of Defense, María Dolores de Cospedal, has chaired the act of the 64th anniversary of the Paratrooper Forces' creation in the Spanish Army, celebrated the 23rd of February, at base "Príncipe", base of the 6th Brigade "Almogávares", situated in Paracuellos del Jarama (Madrid).

The representative of Defense highlighted that this Brigade is "a solid and effective tool which serves all the Spanish people" and she thanked its current work. She also showed her grateful to the veterans of these units -many of them attended the act- during the last six decades of national and international deployments (Afghanistan, Lebanon, Mozambique, old Yugoslavia, Pakistan, and in military training of other armies, in Iraq, Mali and Somalia).

"They defend Spain when they are serving far away from their home", wanted to remind them Cospedal, precisely when the Brigade will be deployed again in Mali and Iraq this next Spring. "In all their missions -added the minister- they have demostrated their great worth in land; they have left their professional, human and efficacy mark".
 

During the military parade, some emblems were given, together with the title of "Caballero Almogávar Paracaidista de Honor" and the "Trofeo 23 de Febrero" from this unit. The parade ended with the military march of the participating units and a parachuting jump in manual opening of a tactic and a sport patrol.

The 1st Paratrooper Bandera of the Spanish Army was created the 17th of October in 1953. The 23rd of February of 1954 the Paratrooper Forces conducted their first launch in the Military Parachuting Academy ("Escuela militar de paracaidismo" in Spanish) "Méndez Parada" of the Air Forces, in Alcantarilla (Murcia).