Why do you believe Command Staff at the Pentagon were so opposed to then Presidents Trump's military parade for/to the nation?

2021-05-26T14:56:03-04:00

Why do you believe Command Staff at the Pentagon were so opposed to then Presidents Trumps, Military parade for/to the nation. could it be that the military has forgotten how to drill. i.e. conduct an echelon to the right or left and would have been an embarrassment without months of training or the left just wanted to continue it's hatred for our then President. Other countries display there patriotism by holding really strack parades?

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 26 at 2021 3:05 PM

2021-05-26T15:05:29-04:00

Regardless of country, no military likes dog and pony bullshit...

Trump: WE WILL HONOR OUR TROOPS WITH A PARADE. I WANT A PARADE. IT MUST BE BIGGER THAN FRANCE'S PARADE WHICH WAS A GREAT PARADE.
The Military: Nah, dude. We're fine, really. Could you honor us by improving the VA, ensuring we get paid and maybe not making us get dressed up and march through DC? We kind of hate that dog and pony shit.
Mericans: IF YOU DON'T WANT A PARADE YOU HATE THE MILITARY AND ARE ASHAMED OF AMERICA
The Military: Seriously, we're all set without a parade. Some of us are liberal, some of us are conservative and pretty much none of us want to march through DC in our dress uniforms. Also, why are you yelling?
Mericans: HOW WILL WE HONOR THE TROOPS IF NOT WITH A PARADE?!?!
The Military: What? We already told you- improve the VA and... You know what? It's like you're not even listening. We're starting to feel a little disrespected...
Trump: IT WILL BE THE BEST PARADE EVER. THE BIGGEST PARADE. PARADE. PARADE. PARADE.
The Military: Screw this, let's go day drink again.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made May 26 at 2021 3:14 PM

2021-05-26T15:14:52-04:00

Waste of time and resources.

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made May 26 at 2021 3:42 PM

2021-05-26T15:42:55-04:00

Logistics. For example, few of the roads in the D.C. area are rated for armored vehicles. That’s why the 2 tanks and Bradley IFVs were trucked into DC for the 2019 “Salute to America” displays.

Response by SSG John Martinez made May 26 at 2021 3:58 PM

2021-05-26T15:58:55-04:00

Unfortunately the country/ or the Military did not feel that way during The New York City Victory Parade of 1946, on January 12, 1946, to celebrate the victorious conclusion of World War II. With the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division parade in New York City with thousands of patriots in attendance. but I guess that's one reason why its referred to the Greatest Generation, they didn't whine about costs, waste of time, treatment, resources having to dress in whichever uniform it was a proud feeling of honor and country from private all the way up to Generals who marched side by side.
New York City Victory Parade of 1946 - Wikipedia

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made May 26 at 2021 5:24 PM

2021-05-26T17:24:15-04:00

1. No one in the military likes dog and pony shows who hasn't kept drinking the "Hooah" Koolaid. Or whatever kind of Koolaid each service has.

2. The US doesn't do military parades like that. There's been seven national parades in our entire history of the US. There was 1865 - Grand Review of the Armies after Lincoln was assassinated; WWI Victory Parade; The "At War" Parade in 1942 for solidarity with US troops sent overseas in WWII; WWII Victory Parades in 1946; Eisenhower's Inauguration in 1953; JFK inauguration in 1961 (both those basically to try to intimidate the Soviet Union); 1991 Gulf War victory celebration.

It's not generally something that the US does. Also he wanted to do it through DC - do you know how much that would have torn up the streets in DC running tanks, etc through there? Also - the only reason he wanted to do it was to satisfy HIS ego. It had nothing to do with "national pride" or "military pride" as CiC. It was FOR HIM. That's it. Reportedly he didn't want any wounded veterans at the parade.

Add in the fact it's very much authoritarian regime feel to have national parades like that. Who else does that? Hmm North Korea. Russia. Is that who we want to be compared to?

Also there are plenty of smaller parades across the US for 4th of July - we don't need a huge national parade for any reason really. Why? Why do we need to do that? Why waste money on that when we have servicemembers and their dependents living in mold filled houses. Soldiers living in barracks that are or should be condemned. There's better things to spend money on than some parade to massage a narcissist's ego.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made May 26 at 2021 6:47 PM

2021-05-26T18:47:22-04:00

Basically it was a worthless show of display. We don't need to stroke the ego of a leader like they MUST DO in authoritarian countries

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 26 at 2021 9:04 PM

2021-05-26T21:04:49-04:00

I think the stuck point were the tanks he wanted. They are a logistical challenges, and risk the 70 ton tanks will tear up the streets.

Response by SSG Brian G. made May 26 at 2021 9:46 PM

2021-05-26T21:46:18-04:00

Even if they had forgotten how to D&C? Do you know how long it takes to re-train that? Like a day at that. D&C does not take months of training. It is not complicated to do.

The Parade was not for the nation. Oh it was put on in front of the nation but it was put on for Trumps ego. We were ponies a prancing in classic high step and we resented it. There was no purpose other than ego. Now, if the parade had been at an auspicious time like when troops came home after Desert Storm/Desert Shield then yes.
It was an unneeded BS expense, the money could have been better spent elsewhere for things that troops actually need and require. The notice was crap and hastily done and pulled units from far flung places. A huge CF.

Response by CPT Andrew Wright made May 26 at 2021 10:04 PM

2021-05-26T22:04:45-04:00

(1) Cost: Millions of dollars. (2)The troops would have paraded on Veterans Day or some other holiday (don't forget the practice time to prepare) that they would much rather have had the four day weekend!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2021 10:09 PM

2021-05-26T22:09:12-04:00

For many reasons. Here are a few of them Staff Sergeant Martinez

1. Waste of resources and time.
2. The additional cost associated with repair to infrastructure was factored in
3. It would have been a logistical nightmare due to time constraints
4. The purpose of the military is to fight and win our nations wars, NOT to stroke the ego of any president regardless of political party.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made May 27 at 2021 5:03 AM

2021-05-27T05:03:52-04:00

Nah, its not just those on the left that disagreed with a parade. Dog and Pony shows are detrimental to morale, and Trumps Parade proposition was more a political statement then one in which to celebrate our nation. The military already participates in parades through out the nation, have Air shows, and other festivities open to the public without having to TDY units to have a mass parade down Penn. Ave. The Pentagon made the right decision regarding this, and avoided the perception of being partisan.