Armed Forces Week 2026 runs from 22nd to 27th June. It’s a national campaign to build public understanding and support for the whole Armed Forces community: serving regulars and reserves, veterans, cadets and their adult volunteers, and military families. The week culminates in Armed Forces Day on Saturday 27th June, with this year’s national event hosted by Rushmoor Borough Council in Aldershot and Farnborough. Within the week, Reserves Day falls on Wednesday 24th June.
There are many ways to get involved during Armed Forces Week. You can attend local events, fly the Armed Forces flag, share stories of support on social media using the official hashtags, or take a moment to thank someone who serves or has served. Donations to armed forces charities and volunteering your time for veteran or cadet organisations are other meaningful ways to show support.
At Westminster Security, our recognition of Armed Forces Week is rooted in our deep connection with the armed forces community. This link is foundational to the company, shaping who we are and why this week matters to us.
Reserves Day recognises the Reserve Forces: the men and women who hold civilian careers alongside a military commitment and who stand ready to serve when their country requires them. It also asks employers to recognise what that commitment involves.
Reservists give up their own time to serve, training, deploying, and returning-often without their employers fully understanding what reserve service requires.
More than 37,000 reservists serve in the British Armed Forces, making up roughly one-sixth of total personnel. They are not held in reserve as contingencies. They deploy in live operations at home and overseas, providing specialist capabilities that the regular military relies on, particularly in medical and cyber roles.
A reservist holds two roles. In civilian life, they may be engineers, lawyers, financial analysts, or security professionals. In uniform, they carry responsibilities that demand sustained training, physical readiness, and the ability to deploy at short notice.
The qualities reserve service develops transfer directly into demanding civilian careers: situational awareness, decision-making under pressure, and leadership in complex environments.
Westminster Security was founded by a former Royal Military Police close protection operative. The majority of our operational team are veterans of the British Armed Forces and police service. We were the first close protection company in the UK to sign the Armed Forces Covenant – and the first security company in London to do so, joining thousands of UK organisations that have committed to treating those who serve and have served fairly.
That commitment reflected what we already believed: employers have a responsibility to those who have served. The Office for Veterans’ Affairs has described former service personnel as a ‘national asset’. Our experience supports that assessment.
Several members of our team serve, or have served, in the Reserve Forces. We recognise and support their commitment by accommodating their training and service obligations. For example, we offer flexible work schedules and paid leave for reservists attending annual training or deployments. This ensures our reservist colleagues can meet their military commitments without added stress or concern about their civilian employment.
We have employed and supported veterans since the company was founded. That is not a recruitment policy; it is a reflection of what the work requires. Close protection, residential security, security driving, and threat assessments demand training, composure, and judgment that the military and police services develop. Veterans bring those qualities from day one, and reservists bring them from both of their working lives at once. Clients benefit directly from this experience, receiving services delivered with the highest levels of reliability, discipline, and expertise. Our team’s background enhances situational awareness and professionalism, translating into better protection and peace of mind for those we support.
We will mark Armed Forces Week throughout June. On Wednesday, 24th June, Reserves Day, we publicly acknowledge and support the reservists in our own team, as well as those across the country. On Saturday 27th June, Armed Forces Day, we join the nationwide celebration and reaffirm our ongoing support for the Armed Forces community. Members of the public are encouraged to take part in local events, attend community gatherings, join online celebrations, or show their support by sharing messages and stories using the official Armed Forces Week hashtags. Everyone is welcome to get involved and demonstrate their appreciation for the Armed Forces community.
Service is not a footnote. It is a foundation.
If you are a veteran with a valid SIA Close Protection licence, we would like to hear from you.