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Raider Synopsis Volume 6 Issue 5 What a month of celebration! On June 29th and 30th the country celebrated the fifth Armed Forces Day, and it was wonderful to see the flags flying and the crowds supporting our troops. (See our Gallery for images.) Around the UK thousands of people celebrated the men and women of the forces, past and present, at everything from large-scale parades to simple community events. The main focus of attention was in Nottingham, where the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended, with His Royal Highness taking the salute on behalf of the Queen as a parade of over 600 services personnel, veterans and cadets marched through the streets, with the Red Arrows roaring over in salute. Attendance was around 60,000, showing just how important this day has become to so many. It really didn’t matter how many people attended events, though; what matters is that we showed the support that our fabulous armed forces so rightly and richly deserve. My wife and I were in the crowd and felt the energy and warmth generated by all those attending, as our soldiers, sailors, and aircrews face an uncertain future while redundancies continue. I hope that all our services personnel saw just how important they are to the nation, and that we are there to back them up. The forces have always been a part of our lives and we need to let them know that, not just once a year, but every single day. I look forward to the 2014 event, and hope that even more of us will show support. It’s been a busy month at Raider, tracking down all the stories, articles and reviews for you, and we’ve managed to find a few crackers, including Capt David Blakeley, author of this month’s military book review, with a focus on the elite Pathfinder 2 unit, while Paul Carter talks about his revolutionary Archangel Armour System. I hope, as always, that you enjoy the magazine. Raider; Eye on the Target and Boots on the Ground!