From the 16th century ‘Tercios’ to the Elite Military Service of the 21st century: The Armada commemorates the anniversary of the world's oldest Marine Corps.

The main ceremony, presided over by the Chief of Staff of the Armada (AJEMA) in Ferrol, kicks off a program of celebrations throughout Spain that highlights almost five centuries of uninterrupted service 'on land and at sea'

The Armada is celebrating the 489th anniversary of the creation of the Marine Corps with a military ceremony at the ‘Nuestra Señora de los Dolores’ Barracks of the Northern Marine Corps Battalion in Ferrol today, February 27th. This will be the main ceremony of those scheduled at several locations throughout Spain where the Corps maintains a presence. The ceremony will be presided over by the Chief of Staff of the Armada (AJEMA), Admiral General Antonio Piñeiro Sánchez, accompanied by the Commandant General of the Marine Corps, Major General José Luis Souto Aguirre, and will be attended by civilian and military authorities.

The ceremony will include a solemn flag-raising, a formation, a tribute to those who gave their lives for Spain, and a military parade. This event is part of a commemorative program taking place between the 19th and 27th of this month, combining military activities with cultural and historical events open to the public.

To mark the anniversary, the Armada has also produced an institutional video that traces the history of the Marine Corps from its origins to its current missions.

VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

The Oldest in the World

Created in 1537 by Charles I with the establishment of the ‘Old Companies of the Sea of Naples’, the Spanish Marine Corps is the oldest in the world and the first force specifically organized to fight ‘on land and at sea’. Under Philip II, in 1566, the first Marine Regiments (‘Tercios de Armada’) were founded inheriting the seniority of those companies by integrating them into the so-called ‘New Marine Regiment of Naples’.

Currently, the Marine Corps (FIM in its Spanish initials), with its Headquarters in San Fernando (Cádiz), provides the Armed Forces with an expeditionary, multi-purpose, and highly available capability for crisis management. It is structured around the Marine Infantry Brigade ‘Tercio de Armada’, the Navy Protection Force, and the Special Naval Warfare Force, with units in Ferrol, Cartagena, Madrid, San Fernando, and Las Palmas (Canary Islands).

Currently, Marine Corps personnel are participating in deployments in Iraq, the Indian Ocean, the North Sea, the Gulf of Guinea, Romania and in the DÉDALO Expeditionary Combat Group, as well as in Security and Cooperation activities in Africa, with Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations and in the EUMAN-UA mission supporting the military training of Ukraine, contributing to international security together with the rest of the allied Armed Forces and countries.

Commemorative Events in Different Geographic Areas

The Marines will organize military and sociocultural events around February 27th in all the areas where their units are present: Ferrol, San Fernando, Cartagena, Madrid, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

In the Galician city of Ferrol, there are two Marine Corps units: the Northern ‘Tercio’ and the Protection Force headquartered at the ‘La Graña’ Naval Station. The program organized by these units includes different activities such as a concert by the Northern Tercio's Music Unit on February 25th at the Jofre Theater, and on Thursday the 26th, at 5:30 p.m., in the Carlos III Hall at EXPONAV, the conference ‘From a Glorious Past: The Spanish Tercios in a Historical Perspective’, delivered by Dr. Juan Torrejón. Later, at 8:00 p.m., a solemn flag-lowering ceremony will take place at the Nuestra Señora de los Dolores Barracks. Both events will be open to the public.

On Friday the 27th, the flag-raising ceremony and the main military ceremony, presided over by the AJEMA, will be held, culminating with a gala dinner.

San Fernando (Cádiz) is home to the Headquarters of the Marine Corps and the Marines’ Brigade ‘Tercio de Armada’, located at the ‘San Carlos’ Barracks - Marine Battalions. To commemorate the anniversary, the ‘Lope de Figueroa’ Parade Ground of the historic barracks inaugurated the program of events with a moving and solemn flag-lowering ceremony on February 19th. This poignant event was presided over by the Fleet Commander, Admiral José Enrique Delgado, and attended by numerous civilian and military authorities, as well as citizens who wished to accompany the marines. The ceremony included a section in period uniforms, artillery salutes, and the traditional Sounding of Taps.

On February 25th, the Cádiz Conference Center hosted a concert by the Southern Marine Infantry Brigade Band, featuring purely symphonic pieces and others with choral works with the University of Cádiz Choir. On February 26th, Admiral Juan Rodriguez Garat will give a lecture on the figure of Álvaro de Bazán, entitled ‘King Served and Country Honored,’ at the Naval Officers' Club in San Fernando.

In Cartagena, home to the Third Marine Corps Battalion (‘Tercio de Levante’) and the Special Naval Warfare Force, based at the La Algameca Naval Station, commemorative military events will also take place between February 20th and 28th. Highlights include a concert open to the public and an open house at the Tercio de Levante's historical hall, as well as an institutional conference delivered by Professor Miguel Luis López-Guadalupe from the University of Granada. The main event on February 27th, presided over by General Juan Francisco Martínez-Merello Díaz de Miranda, will include representatives from all three units and their respective flags, and will feature the presentation of the Friends of the Marine Corps awards, which this year will be given to journalist Pepe Castillo Abreu. The program will conclude on the 28th with a gathering of Marine Corps veterans, organized by the ‘Tercio de Levante’.

The Canary Islands Security Unit, based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, will organize its own events, joining in this commemoration that highlights almost five centuries of uninterrupted service to Spain. On February 27th, a solemn flag-raising ceremony and a military event will be held at the Plaza de Armas of the Las Palmas Arsenal; an event presided over by the Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command (CMCOE), Major General Ángel Ramón Herrezuelo Pérez, and attended by civilian and military authorities, as well as members of the "Friends of the Marine Corps."

Finally, the Madrid Group will participate in the events scheduled in the capital, reinforcing the institutional dimension of the celebration. The agenda for Madrid includes a concert by the Music Unit, an informative conference, sports competitions, and the main military ceremony with a solemn flag-raising at the Grenadier Barracks of the group, among other activities.