National defense education day is a theme activity day designated by the state to carry out large-scale national defense education for all, and it is one of the forms of mass national defense education activities. National Defense Education Day is the third Saturday in September every year.

The purpose is to carry forward the spirit of patriotism and popularize national defense education, so that the whole people can enhance their national defense concept, master the necessary national defense knowledge and military skills, consciously fulfill their national defense obligations, and care for, support and participate in national defense construction. Many countries attach great importance to the popularization of national defense education. The United States, Britain, France, Italy, Hungary and other countries have "National Defense Day" similar in nature and function to National Defense Education Day.

The 23rd meeting of the NPC Standing Committee of People's Republic of China (PRC) adopted the Decision of NPC Standing Committee on Establishing National Defense Education Day. The National Defense Education Day was jointly organized by the Central Committee of China, the State Council, local government departments at all levels and military organs, with unified deployment and extensive participation from all walks of life.

Activities carried out on National Defense Education Day

The establishment of National Defense Education Day in China has enabled the whole country to have a unified, centralized and positive form of national defense education, which is an effective way to promote the in-depth and sustainable development of national defense education. Since the establishment of National Defense Education Day, 17 National Defense Education Days have been successfully held.

2001September 15 was the first national defense education day, with the theme of "caring about national defense means caring about one's homeland". On September 2, 20021was the second national defense education day with the theme of "national security is the common responsibility of the whole society", and September 20, 2003 was the third.