Peruvian Armed Forces Day

Minister of Defense Pedro Cateriano Bellido participated in the celebratory events for the 36th anniversary of the Peruvian Armed Forces. President of the Council of Ministers, Juan Jiménez Mayor, presided over the main ceremony. 24 September 2013. Photo by Galeria del Ministerio de Defensa de Perú CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]. Available from Flickr and Wikimedia Commons.

On 24 September 1977, Día de las Fuerzas Armadas del Perú (Peruvian Armed Forces Day) was established by Supreme Decree Nº 003-77- CCFFAA. The Virgen de la Merced (Virgin of Mercy) was consecrated as patron of the military, and became the spiritual guide to the soldiers of Peru.

El Comando Conjunto de las Fuerzas Armadas del Perú (Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Peru) was created on 1 February 1957 when Supreme Decree Nº 002-GM/1 was approved.

The Peruvian Army is divided into four military regions with headquarters in Lima, Arequipa, Iquitos, and Piura. Each region has brigades which include armored, cavalry, and infantry.

The Peruvian Navy is divided into five naval zones with headquarters in Lima, Arequipa, Iquitos, Piura, and Pucallpa. Its troops are divided between Pacific Operations, the Amazon Operations General Commands, and the Coast Guard. The gun cruiser BAP Almirante Grau (CLM-81) is the flagship of the Peruvian Navy.

The Peruvian Air Force is divided into six wing areas with headquarters in  Lima, Arequipa, Chiclayo, Iquitos, Piura, and Rioja.

The National Police of Peru is sometimes classified as a military service because it has land, sea, and air forces which are used for anti-terrorism.

Ceremonies are held to commemorate Armed Forces Day. The day's activities may include Mass, a procession, addresses by officials (including the Chief of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces, the Minister of Defense, and the President of Peru), and a minute of silence in remembrance of those who gave their lives in service.

My sister-in-law is from Peru.

Minister of Defense Pedro Cateriano Bellido participated in the celebratory events for the 36th anniversary of the Peruvian Armed Forces. President of the Council of Ministers, Juan Jiménez Mayor, presided over the main ceremony. 24 September 2013. Photo by Galeria del Ministerio de Defensa de Perú. Photo by Galeria del Ministerio de Defensa de Perú [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]. Available from Flickr and Wikimedia Commons.

References
Armed Forces Day marked in capital of Peru
Ceremonia por el Día de las Fuerzas Armadas en Pucallpa
Día de las Fuerzas Armadas
Día de las Fuerzas Armadas del Perú
Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Peru
Marina de Guerra del Perú participó en ceremonia central por el Día de las Fuerzas Armadas y en Misa Te Deum
Ministro de Defensa y Jefe del CCFFAA asisten a la Ceremonia Central por 36° Aniversario del Día de las Fuerzas Armadas
Peruvian Armed Forces