AP: The Army plans a possible Trump parade

Washington (AP) – Detailed army plans for a possible military parade on the birthday of President Donald Trump in June require more than 6,600 soldiers, at least 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands and possibly a couple of thousands of civilians, News has learned.

The planning documents, obtained by the AP, are dated April 29 and 30 and have not been published publicly. They represent the most recent army plan for its 250th anniversary festival in the National Shopping Center and the recently added element, a large military parade that Trump has wanted, but is still being discussed.

The army’s anniversary coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday on June 14.

While the slides do not include any price estimate, it would probably cost tens of millions of dollars to put in a parade of that size. Costs would include the movement of military vehicles, equipment, airplanes and troops from all over the country to Washington and the need to feed and house thousands of service members.

The high costs stopped Trump’s impulse for a parade in his first mandate, and the tanks and other heavy vehicles that are part of the latest army plans have generated concerns of the city officials about the damage to the roads.

When asked about the plans for a parade, the army spokesman Steve Warren said Thursday that no final decisions have been made.

Colonel Dave Butler, another army spokesman, added that the army is excited about the plans for its anniversary.

“We want to turn it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us,” Butler said. “We want the Americans to know their army and their soldiers. A parade could become part of that, and we believe it will be an excellent addition to what we have already planned.”

Others familiar with the documents, which spoke under condition of anonymity because the plans have not been completed, they said that they represent the army’s plans, since it prepares for any approval of the White House parade. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comments.

There has not been formal approval yet. Changes have been made in the plans in recent weeks and it is likely more.

In a real social position on Thursday night that did not mention the plans of June 14, Trump wrote: “We are going to start celebrating our victories again!” He promised to rename May 8, now known as Victoria on Europe, as “Victory Day for World War II”, and change on November 11, Veterans Day, to “Victory Day for World War I”.

What would go to the possible army parade?

Much of the team would have to be brought by train or fly.

Some teams and troops were going to be included in the celebration of the Army birthday, which has been in process for more than a year. The festival would imply a variety of activities and exhibitions in the National Shopping Center, which includes a physical conditioning competition, climb wall, armored vehicles, humve, helicopters and other equipment.

A parade, however, would increase the equipment and the troops involved. According to the plans, up to 6,300 of the members of the service would march in the parade, while the rest would be responsible for other tasks and support.

The first plans of the Army Festival did not include a parade, but the authorities confirmed last month that the army had begun discussions about the addition of one.

The plans say that the parade would show the 250 years of army service and foresee that it brings soldiers of at least 11 bodies and divisions throughout the country. Those could include a Stryker battalion with two Stryker vehicles, a tank battalion and two tanks, a infantry battalion with Bradley vehicles, Paladin artillery vehicles, obuses and infantry vehicles.

There would be seven army bands and a parachute jump from the golden knights. And the documents suggest that civil participants would include vehicles and historical airplanes and two bands, along with people from groups of veterans, military schools and recreational organizations.

According to the plan, the parade would be classified as a national special security event, and that application has been submitted by the National Parks Service and is under review.

And the afternoon parade is expected to be followed by a concert and fireworks.

One of the documents raises concerns about some limitations, which include where troops and “significant concerns regarding the security requirements” would be housed as the team flows to the city. He says that the greatest stranger so far is what units they would participate.

Via News

Trump has long wanted a great military parade

In his first mandate, Trump proposed to have a parade after seeing one in France on Bastille Day in 2017. Trump said after seeing the two -hour procession along the famous champions who wanted an even older one on Pennsylvania avenue.

That plan was ultimately due to the huge costs, with an estimate of a price of $ 92 million, and other logistics problems. Among them there were objections from city officials who said that including tanks and other heavy armored vehicles would tear the roads.

Trump said in a publication on social networks in 2018 that he was canceling the event on costs and accused local price fill politicians.

This year, as the plans progressed so that the army would organize its birthday festival in Washington, talk about a parade began again.

The mayor of DC, Muriel Bowser, recognized in April that the Administration contacted the city about celebrating a parade on June 14 that would run from Arlington, Virginia, where the National Cemetery of the Pentagon and Arlington is located, through the Potomac River and even Washington.

Bowser at that time said he did not know if the event was “characterized as a military parade”, but added that the tanks rolling through the streets of the city “would not be fine.”

“If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads,” he said.

In 2018, the Pentagon seemed to agree. A memorandum of the Secretary of Defense said that the plans for the parade, at that time, would include only vehicles with wheels and no tank to minimize damage to local infrastructure.