Important announcement to all Cobseo members – this is your chance to gain national recognition for remarkable individuals, teams, projects, and organisations whose dedication to the military family inspires you.
X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) is delighted to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 Armed Forces Community Awards, newly rebranded from the long-established Soldiering On Awards. For more than a decade, these awards have shone a light on the extraordinary service, resilience and leadership found across the Armed Forces community and among those who support it.
Across the UK, members of the Armed Forces Community are making a difference every day, often quietly, often without recognition, always with commitment and purpose. The Armed Forces Community Awards exist to bring those stories into the spotlight and to say, clearly and publicly your contribution matters, and your impact is valued.
Why nominating matters
Within the Armed Forces community, remarkable achievements are frequently described as “just getting on with it”, yet recognition has real power. A nomination can validate years of service, lift someone who never seeks praise, and amplify stories of compassion, innovation, collaboration and leadership that deserve to be heard. It not only celebrates achievement but also gives visibility to the dedication and teamwork that underpin a stronger, more connected society.
As organisations and charities working at the heart of this community, supporters are uniquely placed to see the impact individuals and groups make every day. Whether this is through frontline delivery, advocacy, care, education, peer support or community leadership, those insights are vital in identifying the people and organisations whose work truly changes lives.
Who should you be thinking about?
Nominations are open to anyone from the Armed Forces community and those who support it. This includes serving personnel, veterans, reservists, partners, cadets, volunteers, employers, leaders, community champions, organisations and beneficiaries. If someone’s actions may feel ordinary to them but transformative to others, they deserve consideration
Award categories
The 2026 Awards celebrate excellence across the breadth of the community, with categories including:
- Animal in Partnership Award (in partnership with Pets at Home)
- Employee Champion Award (in partnership with Landmarc Solutions)
- Education, Training & Development Award (in partnership with Reed in Partnership)
- Working Together Award (in partnership with FiMT)
- Business Start-Up Award (in partnership with Barclays)
- Healthcare & Rehabilitation Award (in partnership with Redwood Technologies)
- Business Scale-Up Award (in partnership with LSEG Foundation)
- Defence Inclusivity Award (in partnership with Babcock International)
- Community Impact Award (in partnership with BAE Systems)
- Inspiration Award (in partnership with Natwest)
- Lifetime Achievement Award (in partnership with Oracle)
- And new for 2026, we are delighted to announce the Connecting Society Award. Building on the legacy of the Family Values Award, this new category reflects a broader, whole-society commitment to the Armed Forces community. Supported by Cobseo and the Ministry of Defence, it recognises the vital role that organisations, communities and families play in shaping a stronger, more connected society.
A call to action
If someone came to mind while reading this, trust that instinct. Share their story and submit a nomination, you don’t need perfect wording, just honesty and belief.
Nominations are open now via soldieringon.org/nominate
