Armed Forces Day is observed in Georgia every April 30, commemorating the establishment of the current Georgian Armed Forces in 1991. The origins of the armed forces date back to 1917, but they ceased to exist in 1921 when Georgia became part of the Soviet Union. Following the dissolution of the USSR, the armed forces were re-established in their present form. The Georgian Armed Forces operate under the Ministry of Defense and include the Land Forces, Special Forces, and National Guard, while the Air Force was integrated into the Land Forces in 2010. This professional holiday honors military personnel with various festive events held in military units across Georgia, including solemn remembrance ceremonies for fallen soldiers.