2016 Chilean Military Parade
| 2016 Chilean Military Parade | |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 September 2016 |
| Venue | O'Higgins Park |
| Locations | Santiago, Chile |
| Country | Chile |
| Participants | 8,576 military and police personnel |
The 2016 Chilean Military Parade was held at O'Higgins Park in Santiago on 19 September 2016 to commemorate the Day of the Glories of the Army.
Presided over by President Michelle Bachelet, the military parade involved 8,576 personnel from the Chilean Armed Forces and Carabineros de Chile, including 856 women.[1][2][3][4]
Among the features of the edition were the presentation of Humvee vehicles by the Army and a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter by the Air Force. The Army also presented a Spike ER anti-tank missile company for the first time in the parade.[5][6][7]
Background
[edit]The annual military parade is held on 19 September as the principal ceremony commemorating the Day of the Glories of the Army. The 2016 edition commemorated the 206th anniversary of the Chilean Army.[1][3]
Preparations for the parade included the traditional preparatory review at O'Higgins Park, presided over by Defence Minister José Antonio Gómez. The planned contingent comprised 8,576 personnel, including 856 women.[8][5]
Temporary spectator stands at O'Higgins Park were expanded to accommodate approximately 4,000 people. A military exhibition was also organized at the park from 17 to 19 September, displaying equipment and activities of different Army units.[8][9]
The principal foreign military guests were Lieutenant General Diego Luis Suñer, Chief of the General Staff of the Argentine Army, and General Guido Manini Ríos, commander-in-chief of the Uruguayan Army.[1][3][10]
Parade
[edit]The ceremony began at approximately 15:00 local time. Bachelet attended together with Defence Minister José Antonio Gómez, Army commander-in-chief General Humberto Oviedo, Navy commander-in-chief Admiral Enrique Larrañaga, Air Force commander-in-chief General Jorge Robles and Carabineros director general Bruno Villalobos.[2][11][4]
After reviewing the military academies, Bachelet attended the traditional chicha en cacho and cueca presentation by the Club de Rodeo Chileno Gil Letelier. Brigadier General Óscar Mezzano, commander of the presenting forces, subsequently requested presidential authorization to begin the march-past.[2][12][4]
A total of 8,576 personnel participated: 4,752 from the Chilean Army, 1,274 from the Chilean Navy, 1,355 from the Chilean Air Force and 1,195 from Carabineros. The contingents included 306, 117, 166 and 267 women respectively, for a total of 856 women and 7,720 men.[1][2][3][5][11][10]
The military academies of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Carabineros opened the march-past, followed by the individual institutional contingents.[1][3]
Naval and Air Force contingents
[edit]The Navy participated with 1,274 personnel, including 117 women. Its presentation included the Arturo Prat Naval Academy, Naval Polytechnic Academy, Amphibious Expeditionary Brigade, a company from the Grumetes School and Naval Reserve officers.[13][1]
The Naval Academy marched with 361 cadets, of whom 35 were women. The naval echelon also included 73 Naval Reserve officers.[13]
The Air Force participated with 1,355 personnel, including 166 women, and an aerial component of more than 60 aircraft.[1][11][5]
Its presentation included the Halcones aerobatic team and a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The helicopter's appearance preceded the planned acquisition of six newer S-70i Black Hawk helicopters intended to increase the service's transport, rescue, medical evacuation and disaster-response capabilities.[5][4][6]
Army and Carabineros contingents
[edit]The Army provided the largest contingent, with 4,752 personnel, including 306 women. Its presentation included historical formations, training establishments, motorized units, reservists and the mounted Presidential Escort Regiment No. 1 Granaderos.[1][3]
The historical component included an 1810 Grenadier detachment, a 1905 infantry company, the historical 4th Chacabuco Company and a mounted historical artillery battery.[3]
Among the principal equipment displayed were HMMWV vehicles. A six-vehicle patrol was highlighted for reconnaissance, border surveillance and disaster-response duties, while other Humvee formations also participated in the Army's presentation.[5][6][4]
The 2016 parade also marked the first participation of an Army anti-tank company equipped with Spike ER guided missiles mounted on HMMWV vehicles.[7]
Carabineros participated with 1,195 personnel, including 267 women.[1][2][5] Its presentation included the institution's training establishments and canine units.[4]
The parade concluded shortly after 17:30 and lasted more than two hours.[1][3][4][10]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Ejército conmemora sus Glorias con la tradicional "Gran Parada Militar 2016"" (in Spanish). Chilean Army. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Presidenta asistió a la Gran Parada Militar 2016" (in Spanish). Government of Chile. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Gran Parada Militar: Desfilaron 856 mujeres y 7.720 hombres". Emol (in Spanish). 19 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dantón, P.; Toro, P. (19 September 2016). "Cambios a la Ley Reservada del Cobre marcaron Parada Militar 2016". La Tercera (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Águila, Francisco (16 September 2016). "Nuevos vehículos antiblindaje y modernos helicópteros serán exhibidos en la Parada Militar". Emol (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 Reporte de Defensa Nacional: 12 al 19 de septiembre de 2016 (PDF) (Report) (in Spanish). Library of the National Congress of Chile. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 "El Ejército de Chile presenta el sistema antiblindaje 'Spike ER' en la 'Gran Parada Militar 2016'". Infodefensa (in Spanish). 21 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Ministro de Defensa preside Revista Preparatoria de la Gran Parada Militar 2016" (in Spanish). Government of Chile. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ "Actividades del Ejército de Chile en el Mes de la Patria y Glorias de la Institución" (in Spanish). Chilean Army. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Ejército conmemora sus Glorias con la tradicional "Gran Parada Militar"". Mediabanco (in Spanish). 19 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 Almarza, Carina (19 September 2016). "Inician nueva versión de la Parada Militar 2016: más de 8 mil efectivos desfilaron". BioBioChile (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ "Cumpliendo tradiciones: Así fue la autorización de la Parada Militar 2016". Cooperativa.cl (in Spanish). 19 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
