Pentagon gets marching orders

| March 1, 2018

According to CBS News, the Pentgon received instructions from the White House to prepare for a military parade on November 11th to commemorate both Veterans’ Day and the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One;

The president told Fox News’ Jeanine Pirro Saturday night in an interview that a parade would have lots of plane flyovers. Mr. Trump suggested either Veterans Day or July Fourth.

Mr. Trump has said he was inspired while he was in France last year and observed the Bastille Day parade.

“The generals would love to do it, I tell you, and so would I,” he said.

The generals love parades because they don’t have to do anything – it’s all up-side for them. They get to look good while everyone else does the work. Right down to their aides setting up their uniforms.

Category: Big Pentagon

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sj

0300 first formation for a noon parade. Plus rehearsals. Ah yes.

IDC SARC

Boots… Boots… Boots…. Boots….

movin up an down again

Some Guy

There’s no discharge in the war!
*shudder* just had a flashback…

AW1Ed

Burned into my psyche thanks to SERE.

IDC SARC

lol…that was the intent

Club Manager, USA ret.

War Story Alert: I joined the Air Force in 58 and other than basic, my first parade was at RAF Alconbury in 59′. There may have been a second one, both were great to participate in. In 73′ I received a MSM at Castle AFB and there was a parade for all medal recipients (i.e. a MSM was a big deal for a sergeant then). When I retired at Fort Lewis in 78′ they had a monthly (maybe quarterly) retirement parade and awarding of medals. Other than cadets at West Point in 79′ and 80′ I did not encounter any parades in 20 years of civil service at military installations. A few years ago, one of the airborne divisions parachuted into a jump zone at Bragg or Campbell, formed up and led by a general marching in front of the color guard put on the most impressive parade I ever watched. Parades were part of military tradition, well the old military when there were not frequent deployments and bullshit missions. I believe the president is on the right track and let all those fat assess in MDW remember then are in the military.

Sgt Fon

at least it is planned for a day that actually has some merit for the Military. Hopefully it will be done tastefully and quickly. the National guard troops get to use it for a drill weekend so from my experience it will be fine as long as there is plenty of beer and a place to cook the cheapest steaks that walmart has!

Luddite4change

Trump gets the left hook line and sinker again. We’ll have a parade in DC for the 100th Anniversary of end of WWI. Money has been appropriated for this purpose yearly starting in 2013.

Left and others get riled up for a parade that was already schedule (and that he is being given credit for).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_World_War_I_Centennial_Commission

Some Guy

I don’t think anyone was upset about a parade in remembrance of WWI, but the way it was proposed by Trump. When Trump first demanded it, there was no mention of veteran’s day or WWI, only that it should put the French parade to shame and honor the military. Thank goodness someone managed to convince him to just lump it in with the veteran’s day parade.

Luddite4change

I think it happened the other way around (he knew we were going to be doing something anyway and wanted if bigger and better).

Today is the first time I’ve seen anyone from the vaunted 4th estate bring up that 11 NOV is the anniversary of WWI. The head spin of having a parade has been around for weeks, and no one in the press bothered to ask the simple question, “Aren’t we having an event for the end of WWI?”, “Didn’t we already budget for that?”

Nope, they went into their usual anti-POTUS head spin and reacted before taking a breath and thinking or researching.

OWB

Not generally in favor of forced participation in parades to make those who are not inconvenienced by them feel good about themselves, but the 100th commemoration of the Armistice is rather a big deal. Maybe I can make an exception in this case, especially since it will have no adverse effect on my life.

2/17 Air Cav

I am looking forward to it. Maestro, if you please,

I love a parade;
A handful of vets,
A line of cadets,
Or any brigade,
For I love a parade!

Claw

One item of GI gear that will save your life.

Socks, Cushion Sole, OD Green, 8440-543-7778

I want you boys to change socks every time we stop humping.

A Veteran’s Day Parade will eat the feet right off a Grunt’s legs.

A Proud Infidel®™

Wool socks are best, they naturally wick moisture away from the skin and FOOT
POWDER!

SFC D

Socks, Cushion Sole, OD Green, 8440-543-7778.

One of the greatest things to ever come out of military research. Along with the P38.

11B-Mailclerk

Poncho Liner

Jeff LPH 3, 63-66

Break starch for a march.

Brown Neck Gaitor

Lots of new medals will be floating around DC by Thanksgiving.

“While standing in as a dignitary during the practice parade SSG REMF and SGT REMFette disquinshed themselves by standing where they were told when they were told and are hereby each awarded a Meritorious Service Medal.”

“While practicing for multiple hours for the parade, PFC Soldier did his job.”

The Other Whitey

Many have complained about the hassle, and they are correct. Many more have pointed out the upsides, which are also correct. Personally, I lean in favor of the upside, with this bit of wisdom from my Grandpa: “Nothing worth doing was ever easy.”

Ex-PH2

Good. I will enjoy it. And of course, no one who doesn’t like it is required to watch it.

Over there.
Over there.
We’ll there.
Send the word
Over there
That the Yanks are coming
The Yanks are coming
The drums rum-tumming everywhere….

rgr1480

Errr … Hollywood got it wrong again: Cohan received the Congressional Gold Medal.

But you (being the fount of knowledge that you are) already knew that.

According to the link,

Congressman John Taber of New York tried to block the appropriation of $700 for the medal. He claimed that, in 1937, this amount could “take care of a relief family for over a year,”

http://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1901-1950/The-George-Cohan-Congressional-Gold-Medal/

Ex-PH2

I was really more interested in the music than his medal, but yes, I knew which one it really was.

Jeff LPH 3, 63-66

I don’t understand why it would cost 30 million bucks to put on the parade. The troops are already on the clock and how much would the fuel cost for the rolling stock. Security for a few hours and the above, 30 million? Can one of you hip TAH’ers out there explain the cost? I’m dumbfounded.

Claw

Aircraft fuel.

At $750.00 a gallon for eco-friendly JP-8, the cash register spins up the total pretty damn quick./smile

Mason

Also consider, for any parade you’ve got to account for security and such around the event. So cops in on overtime to direct traffic around the event, some on overtime to stand guard along the parade itself to keep people out of the street, and fire and EMS on OT on standby near the event for the inevitable medical emergency or when a piece of parade equipment starts on fire.

Jay

Ugh…i’m glad i’m RETIRED. I’ll watch on TV….or maybe I won’t.

thebesig

Just think of the phonies and embellishers that’s going to be drawn out to watch this parade! 🙄

mr. sharkman

Would anything be more glorious that some on-duty MPs busting some SV fvckheads lingering in the crowd trying to pass themselves off as war heroes?

ChipNASA

I’m going to leave this here…

Let’s just hope with today’s new military, we don’t have *this* problem. ]

rgr769

Palin is playing a Color Sgt. of Grenadier Guards, but I didn’t see the hinged swagger stick they use to measure the distances between ranks and beat the out of alignment troops with. Gotta love the Brigade of Guards; they know how to put on a parade.

Ex-PH2

I hope 21st century troops look as good as the 82nd Airborne did in 1946.

clamsgotlegs

In this day and age, I would consider it too high a security risk. Too many nuts out there. I wouldn’t want to be a fish in that barrel.

Besides, it just looks like a pissing match with nork goose steppers and a monumental waste of resources.

Green Thumb

I bet the Old Guard is loving this shit.

Prior Service

As a former Old Guardsman, I concur. About time somebody else gets tapped for a parade! Of course, 27 years later, I will still be critical of any other unit’s performance….

Cpl/Major Mike

Because every fucking service member really looks forward to giving up a day off to parade around for of a bunch of maggoty ass civilians. Fuck that.

rgr769

I don’t see what the big deal is. I had to lead a massive parade on horseback for General J.E.B. Stuart and his staff the day before of the Battle of Brandy Station in VA. And we had about 250 mounted horsemen (sorry PH2, there were no chicks pretending to have dicks) in formation. We had one practice drill and it all came off beautifully. The next day we had to fight the battle. Of course, I’m not 160 yet; so this was a re-enactment in 1992.

Jeff LPH 3, 63-66

Watching the French Foreign Legion marching on Bastille Day is cool with the band and the Pioneers (Engineers) with those fire axes and leather aprons. The slow marching steps are impressive. Forgot the required beards.