Every June 3rd, our country commemorates the Argentine Soldier's Day, a day that pays tribute to those who integrate with honor and commitment the Armed Forces of the Nation. The date is not a coincidence: it commemorates the birth of General Manuel José Joaquín del Corazón de Jesús Belgrano, born in 1770 in Buenos Aires, a key figure in Argentine history and an eternal model of dedication, values and vocation of service.

The establishment of this commemoration was ordered by Law No. 24,323, sanctioned on May 11, 1994, in recognition of “the personnel of volunteer soldiers for their morale, ethics, spirit of sacrifice, dedication to work, comradeship and commitment to the republican ideals and the values that identified General Belgrano”.

Belgrano was much more than the creator of the flag: he was an intellectual trained in law, a committed journalist, an economist with a vision of the future and a military man, who knew how to lead the Army of the North in critical moments for the South American emancipation. His figure synthesizes the spirit of the Argentine soldier: dedication, courage, strategic intelligence and passion for freedom.

The Argentine soldier is trained under the values of loyalty, courage, self-sacrifice, discipline, esprit de corps, military professionalism, integrity, patriotism and honor. These principles are the pillars on which military professionalism and the vocation of service to the community are built, both in times of peace and in emergency or disaster situations.

In line with these values, the National Government has recently announced a renewal of the Voluntary Military Service, jointly promoted by the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Human Capital. This new model is aimed at young people between 18 and 28 years of age who wish to serve the country, with a proposal that articulates military training, training in trades such as cooking, mechanics or surveillance, and educational support to complete compulsory studies.

In addition, the contents of initial instruction will be expanded, with greater emphasis on training for emergency and disaster response, thus strengthening the capacity for action of our forces in defense of the lives and welfare of the population.

On this Argentine Soldier's Day, we salute with deep respect those who wear the uniform with pride and commitment, and those who have served throughout history with esprit de corps and vocation. We honor their silent task, their exemplary discipline and their daily contribution to the development and security of the Nation.

Following Belgrano's example, we reaffirm our commitment to the construction of a free Argentina.