2023 Chilean Military Parade
The 2023 Chilean Military Parade was held at O'Higgins Park in Santiago on 19 September 2023 to commemorate the Day of the Glories of the Army.
Presided over by President Gabriel Boric, the military parade involved 7,736 personnel from the Chilean Armed Forces and Carabineros de Chile, including 1,789 women.
The Investigations Police of Chile (PDI), which had participated in previous editions, did not field a marching contingent due to operational duties and the preparation time required for the ceremony, although members of its high command attended.
Background
The annual military parade is held on 19 September as the principal ceremony commemorating the Day of the Glories of the Army. The 2023 edition was the second held during the presidency of Gabriel Boric.
Preparations culminated with the traditional preparatory review at O'Higgins Park on 14 September, attended by Defence Minister Maya Fernández.
Parade
The ceremony began shortly after 11:00 local time. Boric arrived at O'Higgins Park aboard the traditional presidential Ford Galaxie and received the chicha en cacho offered by the Club de Huasos Gil Letelier.
Major General Cristián Vial Maceratta, commander of the presenting forces, subsequently requested presidential authorization to begin the march-past. The military academies of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Carabineros opened the parade.
A total of 7,736 personnel participated: 3,597 from the Chilean Army, 1,384 from the Chilean Navy, 1,040 from the Chilean Air Force and 1,715 from Carabineros. Of the total, 1,789 were women.
The Air Force deployed around 40 aircraft and helicopters in the aerial component of the parade. The flypast included F-16 fighter aircraft and the Halcones aerobatic team.
The naval contingent included personnel from the Arturo Prat Naval Academy, the Naval Polytechnic Academy, the Marine Corps' Amphibious Expeditionary Brigade and Naval Reserve officers.
Carabineros participated with 1,715 personnel. The standard of the Carabineros School carried a black mourning ribbon in tribute to members of the institution killed in service. Its canine unit also participated with approximately 20 dogs, including retiring police dogs and puppies undergoing training to replace them.
The parade lasted more than two hours and concluded with Boric congratulating Vial on the presentation.