The government is expected to back a proposal for an Armed Forces Day and an expansion of the cadet corps in schools to boost support for UK forces.
An Armed Forces Day public holiday has been recommended by a government-backed study which looked into improving public recognition of the military.
It is due to publish a report by MP Quentin Davies, which recommends more state school pupils are given the chance to join the cadets.
The report by Quentin Davies MP also said more state school pupils should be encouraged to join cadet forces.
An annual Armed Forces Day will also be backed to encourage the public to show their support for the British military.
The 40 recommendations included making it a criminal offence to discriminate against people in military uniform.
The Conservatives say the government has taken on many of their ideas.
Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said the proposals would better recognise the work of the military.
Mr Davies, a former Tory MP who defected to Labour last year, conducted a review of the nation's "recognition" of the armed forces to find ways of making the public more aware of the role they play.
'Tremendous bravery'
Families' support
Mr Davies' report said the annual public holiday should also recognise the role veterans have played in the armed forces.
The government believes gaining a better understanding of the military should start in schools and wants to offer more state pupils the opportunity to get involved with cadet units.
It said: "If the government were minded to propose to Parliament the creation of another public holiday, we believe that an Armed Forces and Veterans' Day on a set Friday or Monday at the end of June would be the right solution."
There are currently 60 cadet forces in comprehensive schools in England and Wales, compared with 200 in grammar and independent schools.
Other recommendations included encouraging military personnel to wear their uniforms in public, including military awareness in the national curriculum, and ensuring homecoming parades for troops returning from combat.
The review also recommends an annual Armed Forces Day - an idea Prime Minister Gordon Brown indicated he supported in a letter seen by a Sunday newspaper last month.
Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth: "Our service personnel continue to demonstrate the tremendous bravery and courage that makes them the best in the world.
The idea for such a day has already won support from senior military commanders and some families of service personnel killed in war.
"This report provides firm foundations to ensure that the work of our armed forces is better understood and recognised by the nation they serve."
Leading football clubs are expected to be called on to host parades by troops as part of the plans.
'Huge debt'
Uniforms
Mr Ainsworth said the cross-government Service Personnel Command Paper would soon be published, which would set out the government's proposals for "further improving the lives of our troops, their families and veterans".
Mr Davies' review also recommends that servicemen and women are encouraged to wear their uniforms while off-duty.
The Ministry of Defence welcomed the report and said some of the recommendations were already being worked on.
It follows reports in March that personnel at RAF Wittering, near Peterborough, in Cambridgeshire, were advised by senior base personnel not to wear their uniforms in public for fear of verbal abuse from members of the public opposed to Britain's involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen Timothy Granville-Chapman, said: "Mr Davies's report highlights the huge debt the nation owes to its sailors, soldiers and airmen.
The prime minister condemned the move, saying members of the armed forces should be "encouraged to wear their uniform in public and have the respect and gratitude of the British people".
"There is increasing public acknowledgement of this, and support for the armed forces in terms of homecoming parades and charitable giving has been received very well by those in uniform."
The Ministry of Defence previously said Mr Davies had been asked by Defence Secretary Des Browne to conduct his review "to see how we can encourage the nation to show appropriate recognition for the work of the armed services".
Last year, Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the Army, expressed concerns about a "growing gulf between the Army and the nation".
He suggested that work carried out by troops - and the sacrifices that form an integral part of their job - were not being acknowledged.
In September last year, Conservative leader David Cameron proposed setting up a voluntary "citizen service" programme for 16-year-olds, which he saw as a 21st Century version of National Service.
He said it would boost participants' pride in themselves and in Britain.
Are cadet corps in schools a good idea? Should the UK have an annual Armed Forces Day? Send us your comments using the form below:
Are cadet corps in schools a good idea? Should the UK have an annual Armed Forces Day? Send us your comments using the form below:
