Trump directs Pentagon to schedule military parade for Veterans Day

Pentagon has prevailed apparently and got the parade it chose to have given the CinC ordered up a parade -- Veteran's Day November 11th. Good on SecDef Mattis and the Joint Chiefs of Staff led by Chairman General Joseph Dunford. USMC Gen. Dunford btw was confirmed by the Senate late last year for a second (and final) two-year term as chairman....


Trump directs Pentagon to schedule military parade for Veterans Day

02/23/2018



Trump was reportedly inspired by the Bastille Day parade in France last year. (GONZALO FUENTES/REUTERS


President Donald Trump’s plans for a White House-backed military parade are beginning to take shape.

The president has directed the Department of Defense to organize a parade that would take place on Nov. 11 – Veterans Day – according to an unclassified Feb. 20 memo written by National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster.

The memo, which was summarized to POLITICO by a senior administration official, was sent from McMaster to Secretary of Defense James Mattis. It says that Trump wants Mattis to brief him on “concepts of operation for this event.”

The memo also said that the parade route should begin at the White House and end at the Capitol.

Trump, who revels in pageantry, first floated the idea of putting on a military parade after he witnessed France’s Bastille Day parade last summer as a guest of French president Emmanuel Macron.

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/23/trump-military-parade-veterans-day-423405


Pentagon wanted Veteran's Day instead of 4th of July as had been tossed around by Trump Fanboyz. November 11th this year is the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. It is also after the election Nov. 6th. Veteran's Day is a solemn and dignified observance in contrast to the fireworks, barbeques and beer that characterize July 4th.

Pentagon has developed concept plans for the parade to negotiate with Trump: small, medium, heavy, or hybrid-multimedia. While Pentagon prefers a mainly flyover kind of demonstration, the heavy option includes bringing to Washington large numbers of active duty troops in the continental USA that are not currently deployed (CONUS). The hybrid-multimedia presents instead a lighter parade mixture of troops with large screens showing heavy weapons in live fire training exercises in CONUS rather than import 'em to the city.

Pentagon likes receiving private donations to finance the banana republic scheme beyond basic pay of the troops and transportation costs. Pentagon acknowledges CONUS troops participating would have their training programs and cycles disrupted in preparing, traveling to and from and the parade itself.

Cost is gonna run in the neighborhood of $30 million smackers. Maybe Putin could make a donation and thereby help out his buddy the Potus.

It's ALL about the EGO baby .................. Trump's ego ...............

Because forcing our military to work on Veteran’s day when there isn’t a need is the best way to honor them?

Skeptic Bob said:

Because forcing our military to work on Veteran’s day when there isn’t a need is the best way to honor them?

Click to expand...

I was just thinking the same thing. I don't know anybody in the military who thinks this is a good idea. I'm sure there are some though.

Will trump and company be able to see it from their cells?

GDViking said:

Will trump and company be able to see it from their cells?

Click to expand...

I'll bet you can see it from your cell.

Is the parade still thing?

I guess President Dumbass thinks this will help the GOP in the midterm election. It's pretty obvious that's what this is about.

Too bad the parade will be five days after the election.

MovingPictures said:

I guess President Dumbass thinks this will help the GOP in the midterm election. It's pretty obvious that's what this is about.

Too bad the parade will be five days after the election.

Click to expand...

Then this obviously has nothing to do with the election.

Skeptic Bob said:

Because forcing our military to work on Veteran’s day when there isn’t a need is the best way to honor them?

Click to expand...

My bet is they get the day after the parade off, or maybe two..

Trump is not so ignorant to not see this. Do you actually think he is?

Geesh...

Skeptic Bob said:

Because forcing our military to work on Veteran’s day when there isn’t a need is the best way to honor them?

Click to expand...

I always hated parades. Lots of standing around. People passing out. Sore back. Sweat running down my back. The best words one can hear for a parade is "pass and review". I actually think he is tyring to honor our military but nobody actually knows how much it sucks until they stand in formation for hours in whatever kind of weather.

MovingPictures said:

I guess President Dumbass thinks this will help the GOP in the midterm election. It's pretty obvious that's what this is about.

Too bad the parade will be five days after the election.

Click to expand...

You pretty much shot your own post in the ass. Argue with yourself much? I have to admit, I got a chuckle.

Skeptic Bob said:

Because forcing our military to work on Veteran’s day when there isn’t a need is the best way to honor them?

Click to expand...

I am just surprised he is willing to have that many Patriots with guns that close to him............

Blkdirt Farmer said:

My bet is they get the day after the parade off, or maybe two..

Trump is not so ignorant to not see this. Do you actually think he is?

Geesh...

Click to expand...

Yes, I do. One way or another it is cutting into their regular duties and training that has to be made up. Giving them a day off doesn’t change that. And it won’t just be a day. It will be several days of prep and practice. I’m not saying it is the end of the world. Every one of us who has ever served has worked lots of overtime for no additional pay. That is part of the gig. But don’t pretend it is to honor them. If we wanted to honor them then we would pay attention to their wishes on the matter.

Casper said:

I am just surprised he is willing to have that many Patriots with guns that close to him............

Click to expand...

not a flippin prayer there is so much as blank in the ranks......see Anwar Sadat

They have to cut taxes and throw away as much money as possible, before they are voted out of office.

Skeptic Bob said:

Yes, I do. One way or another it is cutting into their regular duties and training that has to be made up. Giving them a day off doesn’t change that. And it won’t just be a day. It will be several days of prep and practice. I’m not saying it is the end of the world. Every one of us who has ever served has worked lots of overtime for no additional pay. That is part of the gig. But don’t pretend it is to honor them. If we wanted to honor them then we would pay attention to their wishes on the matter.

Click to expand...

Having not served, I respect what your saying.

How about Pride? does that help with the extra efforts? Or is there any pride in the military anymore?

Rexedgar said:

not a flippin prayer there is so much as blank in the ranks......see Anwar Sadat

Click to expand...

Yes, after all soldiers are not allowed to buy or own ammo, oh wait..........

Blkdirt Farmer said:

Having not served, I respect what your saying.

How about Pride? does that help with the extra efforts? Or is there any pride in the military anymore?

Click to expand...

Of course pride is important. But I can’t for the life of me see how a parade would affect that. Pride in your job comes from how well you do it.

We can still have parades without forcing active duty service members to participate. If it is to honor them then why should they be performing for us. Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

GDViking said:

Will trump and company be able to see it from their cells?

Click to expand...

The Federal Pen at Ft. Leavenworth Kansas. The parade can march and roll through and flyover a real military base. It's in the middle of the country which is another positive. Trump and Manafort can organize a musical play financed by fellow inmates. A thousand inmates each invested at 10% can't go wrong.

MovingPictures said:

I guess President Dumbass thinks this will help the GOP in the midterm election. It's pretty obvious that's what this is about.

Too bad the parade will be five days after the election.

Click to expand...

This is no doubt and for certain the main and number one priority of the Pentagon. Not to be compelled to be or appear to be the tool of either political party in an election year especially, but not at any time. Given Trump Fanboyz were talking up July 4th for Trump's Parade, the Pentagon precluded a parade date that could have been seriously awkward and compromising to civil-military relations throughout the country. By securing the Pentagon's preferred event date SecDef Mattis represented well the Pentagon and the armed forces. Mattis and McMaster prevailed while Kelly tagged along with 'em in getting Trump to accept Veterans Day.

Congratulations, Donald. We are now joining the ranks of other nations who have military parades..... Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran.

Tangmo said:

Pentagon has prevailed apparently and got the parade it chose to have given the CinC ordered up a parade -- Veteran's Day November 11th. Good on SecDef Mattis and the Joint Chiefs of Staff led by Chairman General Joseph Dunford. USMC Gen. Dunford btw was confirmed by the Senate late last year for a second (and final) two-year term as chairman....


Trump directs Pentagon to schedule military parade for Veterans Day

02/23/2018

Trump was reportedly inspired by the Bastille Day parade in France last year. (GONZALO FUENTES/REUTERS


President Donald Trump’s plans for a White House-backed military parade are beginning to take shape.

The president has directed the Department of Defense to organize a parade that would take place on Nov. 11 – Veterans Day – according to an unclassified Feb. 20 memo written by National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster.

The memo, which was summarized to POLITICO by a senior administration official, was sent from McMaster to Secretary of Defense James Mattis. It says that Trump wants Mattis to brief him on “concepts of operation for this event.”

The memo also said that the parade route should begin at the White House and end at the Capitol.

Trump, who revels in pageantry, first floated the idea of putting on a military parade after he witnessed France’s Bastille Day parade last summer as a guest of French president Emmanuel Macron.

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/23/trump-military-parade-veterans-day-423405


Pentagon wanted Veteran's Day instead of 4th of July as had been tossed around by Trump Fanboyz. November 11th this year is the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. It is also after the election Nov. 6th. Veteran's Day is a solemn and dignified observance in contrast to the fireworks, barbeques and beer that characterize July 4th.

Pentagon has developed concept plans for the parade to negotiate with Trump: small, medium, heavy, or hybrid-multimedia. While Pentagon prefers a mainly flyover kind of demonstration, the heavy option includes bringing to Washington large numbers of active duty troops in the continental USA that are not currently deployed (CONUS). The hybrid-multimedia presents instead a lighter parade mixture of troops with large screens showing heavy weapons in live fire training exercises in CONUS rather than import 'em to the city.

Pentagon likes receiving private donations to finance the banana republic scheme beyond basic pay of the troops and transportation costs. Pentagon acknowledges CONUS troops participating would have their training programs and cycles disrupted in preparing, traveling to and from and the parade itself.

Cost is gonna run in the neighborhood of $30 million smackers. Maybe Putin could make a donation and thereby help out his buddy the Potus.

Click to expand...

We need this parade so that trump can show the world his commitment to the military, other than draft dodging that is, and his outright, all-American courage...

poweRob said:

We need this parade so that trump can show the world his commitment to the military, other than draft dodging that is, and his outright, all-American courage...

Click to expand...

Wonder if Putin and Kim Jong Un will be there to be the judges to see if they would score our soldiers parade to be equal to their parades?

Tangmo said:

The Federal Pen at Ft. Leavenworth Kansas. The parade can march and roll through and flyover a real military base. It's in the middle of the country which is another positive. Trump and Manafort can organize a musical play financed by fellow inmates. A thousand inmates each invested at 10% can't go wrong.






This is no doubt and for certain the main and number one priority of the Pentagon. Not to be compelled to be or appear to be the tool of either political party in an election year especially, but not at any time. Given Trump Fanboyz were talking up July 4th for Trump's Parade, the Pentagon precluded a parade date that could have been seriously awkward and compromising to civil-military relations throughout the country. By securing the Pentagon's preferred event date SecDef Mattis represented well the Pentagon and the armed forces. Mattis and McMaster prevailed while Kelly tagged along with 'em in getting Trump to accept Veterans Day.

Click to expand...

Yes, exactly.

Trump wanted a parade BEFORE the election, but the Pentagon sees this as a political stunt, so they agreed to a date that was purposely after the election.

Casper said:

I am just surprised he is willing to have that many Patriots with guns that close to him............

Click to expand...

Rexedgar said:

not a flippin prayer there is so much as blank in the ranks......see Anwar Sadat

Click to expand...

In a parade involving Potus every weapon is inspected in the assembly area. That's every weapon: rifle, sidearm, vehicle - land, air, sea etc. It is SOP from the inaugural parade to any parade to include this one. Guaranteed and without fail. It is indeed one of the major headaches of an all military parade and in the capital besides. I experienced the inspections while I was in The Old Guard of the Army. Officers and NCO with swords are not inspected but all EP are checked out at inspection arms by FBI, Secret Service, CID of each service, Military Police, Park Police and some DC police. Officers and NCO with firearms or explosive weaponry are inspected. One of the agents or officers will come before you to include whatever is your vehicle land, sea, air, floats included of course.

The inspections are as serious as a heart attack but they got especially intrusive starting in January 1965 and the inaugural parade of LBJ -- for the obvious reasons of the time. Oswald was after all a Marine Infantry guy which was played up strongly in media and in all of the investigations. However and as anyone military who's tested with a firearm knows, Oswald qualified as a marksman which is the lowest qualification score in armed forces target shooting, behind sharpshooter and expert. To virtually everyone from 1963 and for several years afterward however marksman sounded awfully impressive (good in fact, but not awesome).



Rare Official Video of Little Known Screening of Military Before Inaugural Parade


Service members go through a screening process for the Inaugural Parade 2017 in the Pentagon parking lot in Washington D.C. More than 5,000 military members from across all branches of the armed forces of the United States, including Reserve and National Guard components, provide ceremonial support and Defense Support of Civil Authorities during the inaugural period. (DoD video by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Megan Mallory)


The actual inspection process of weapons and all travel cases and bags was not shown in the video. I'm interested to point out however my own unit from my virtually four years active duty service way back when as it appears in the video, i.e., The Old Guard of the Army which is the 3rd Infantry Regiment billeted at Ft. Myer next to Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery. You can see some Old Guard troops at 1:48 that are easily identified by the arm patch insignia (subdued) of the Military District of Washington -- the Washington Monument with sword diagonally across. At 2:31 we see some of the visiting inaugural support troops loading onto an Old Guard bus provided by MDW. TOG troops we see present at 1:48 were those of H Hotel company 1st Btn detailed by teams of three among each visiting force company as guides 24/7 during the visitors time in MDW. TOG has seven line companies yet only two platoons march in the inaugural parade and two companies provide the Army section of the troop cordon lining the route, so the bulk of the regiment's troops get spread throughout MDW on various duty during the inaugural period before, during, after. Fun and games in The Old Guard. Always eh.