During this time the military bands which have been playing marches as accompaniment to the marching troops all take their places in the parade square, where veterans of the Tatmadaw from all conflicts past and present, members of Parliament, employees and staff of the armed forces headquarters and the Naypidaw Region, foreign defense attaches and members of the public are assembled.

At around 9 am, preceded by the President, Vice President, State Counselor, and the Prime Minister, the Commander in Chief Defense Services takes his place in the dais escorted by a ceremonial mounted cavalry unit of the Tatmadaw General Headquarters, and with the parade at attention it presents arms.

Following the playing of the anthem, after the parade is commanded at stand at ease, the Commander-in-Chief Defense Services makes his keynote address on the holiday to the nation and the men and women of the Forces.

[11] On 27 March 2021, during the 76th annual Armed Forces Day, at least 107 were reported to have been killed, with news outlet Myanmar Now reporting 114 deaths, the highest death toll of any individual day since the Myanmar protests began after the coup d'état on 1 February, staged by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces.

Ambassador Thomas Vajda saying "security forces are murdering unarmed civilians" and calling for "an immediate end to the violence and the restoration of the democratically elected government".