"Expect the unexpected" this Saturday as AFM celebrates Armed Forces of Malta Day

Last-minute preparations are underway for the myriad public activities marking Armed Forces of Malta Day at Luqa Barracks this Saturday, 8 October.

The free event is aimed at giving the general public a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of the many roles played by Malta's armed forces, while laying the groundwork for an upcoming recruitment drive.

One of the most highly anticipated segments of the event is a flying demonstration involving the AFM's new Agusta Westland AW139 helicopter. While details of this demo remain a closely-guarded secret, the public has been advised to “expect the unexpected.”

Aside from static displays of AFM helicopters, trucks and weapons, for the very first time, a series of public information sessions about safety at sea and pyrotechnics will be held- with the latter hoped to be especially appealing to firework enthusiasts.

In view of the planned recruitment intake, information sessions about career paths in the AFM will also be held.

A performance by the AFM band will also feature in the evening. The band will be performing “beating the retreat” - a centuries-old military ceremony that was originally used to order troops to break off fighting and withdraw to the safety of camp as darkness fell, later being used to summon troops back to camp before the closing of the gates, at the end of the day.

There is no admission fee, however attendees will be invited to donate to the Malta Community Chest Fund.

Gates open at 6:00pm on Saturday.