Passing-out parades · UK Armed Forces

No recruit should march off the square with nobody watching.

Some recruits finish basic training with no family able to be there on the day. We put veterans in the stands for them, so someone claps, shakes their hand and welcomes them into the family.

How it works

1

Veterans sign up

Tell us your service, where you're based and which training establishments you could get to on a parade day.

2

A recruit is flagged

Training staff, a padre, a mate or the recruit themselves lets us know about a parade where nobody will be in the stands for them.

3

We make the match

We find a veteran, ideally from the same cap badge, and put them in touch so they're on the guest list and there on the day.

Your first day in the family shouldn't be spent looking for a face in an empty crowd.

Read why we do it →

For training staff and welfare teams

If you know a recruit with no one coming, please only share what's needed: the parade date, establishment and the regiment or corps they're joining. A first name is helpful but not essential, and we'll work with you on the guest list.

Send us a request.