The date relates to the fact that on May 7, 1992 the President of Kazakhstan (who is also the Supreme Commander in Chief) Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a decree on the establishment of the national armed forces.
It has become a tradition to award regular military ranks and decorate distinguished servicemen on this day.
On October 4, 2012 Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan reviewed and adopted the Regulation “On making additions to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On holidays in the Republic of Kazakhstan”. According to it, May 7 is declared a public holiday.
