# US Military Parade **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 7, 2018, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340 "2018-02-07T01:14:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/181 "2018-02-09T01:14:13Z")
ETA - loach popped up while I was typing with a lot fo this but I left it as is to avoid lot’s of editing. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Someone up thread posted that tanks and other heavy equipment do not parade in the USA. Not often but it’s not absolute. I am aware of other units in my National Guard tank battalion that used the one tank at their armory in support of their community’s local parades at times. I also know one that crushed a couple donated cars as a combined fundraiser for their Family Readiness Group and recruiting event. That was just in a typical parking lot though. > [@](#): > > I imagine an M1-A1 tank would rip up the paving. It’s a less clear issue that some might expect from the weight alone. During the Cold War we drove tanks all over Germany using the civilian road network. We use rubber track pads to prevent all the weight being focused on small portions of the steel track that would then dig in. The result is that the ground pressure (pounds per square inch) is actually lower than the peak ground pressure of an average sized male Soldier marching. It’s a lot more weight but it’s spread over a much larger contact area. A typical car has much higher ground pressure than an Abrams. Something like driving straight across a relatively typical asphalt parking lot (to say crush a couple cars :D) basically doesn’t do anything to the pavement. Hitting something that sticks up above the level, like a curb, changes the dynamic drastically. I’ve seen a section of concrete curb that wasn’t quite missed get obliterated. Driving down an old and uneven cobblestone brick road could be very ugly. Overall weight does matter too. The pavement and ground below have to be able to support it. For typical road builds on relatively solid ground it’s not necessarily a major issue although it bears looking at during the planning phase.\* Things like bridges and overpasses can be major issues. I’d imagine there are issues in a major metro area like DC with the subway, sewers, utility tunnels, etc that need to be looked at very carefully for weight bearing capacity. There’s one other issue that is unique to tracked vehicles. They can exert a lot of lateral pressure. Turns push sideways along a large surface area. All that surface area can also allow them to stop much faster by exerting more lateral force than a car that locks up its brakes does. A tight turn on asphalt with a lot of power applied **can** easily tear up the road surface, especially if it’s summer when things are warmer and softer. I’ve got a wild-assed idea of using steel plates at any corners where the parade route turns. I’d really want an Engineer to assess whether that idea is remotely feasible since it is still warm from the orifice I just extracted it from. Tanks in parades certainly are rare but it’s not an entirely new idea in the US. The differences are international visibility and the optics of this being an entirely military parade. There aren’t **necessarily** serious road damage issues from tanks either. - - As I typed that I couldn’t help but think about an Engineer officer assigned at the Pentagon. One morning they go to work not realizing that they’re at the bottom of this particular shit rolling hill. Next thing they know they are responsible for a parade route assessment with international and NCA attention. Sometimes “Hooah” can mean “Fuck my life.” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/182 "2018-02-09T01:22:51Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > Correct me if I’m wrong but has Trump actually said anything about utilizing tanks and such or are you all filling in the details for yourselves? It’s a reasonable assumption, since Trump has apparently stated that he had been impressed with the Bastille day parade in France. I’ve been to a few of those and they’re pretty heavy on the armored vehicles. Some with more knowledge may know differently, but I am under the impression that rubber pads can be installed on tracked vehicles if they are going to be driven extensively on paved surfaces. ETA: Ninja’d by **DinoR**. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/183 "2018-02-09T01:29:29Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > It’s a reasonable assumption, since Trump has apparently stated that he had been impressed with the Bastille day parade in France. I’ve been to a few of those and they’re pretty heavy on the armored vehicles. > > Some with more knowledge may know differently, but I am under the impression that rubber pads can be installed on tracked vehicles if they are going to be driven extensively on paved surfaces. > > ETA: Ninja’d by **DinoR**. I’ve never been on a tank that didn’t have rubber track shoes. It’s standard. There are steel ice cleats that can be added but I’ve never seen them. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/184 "2018-02-09T01:43:41Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > I suspect he just thinks of it as a way to honor the military members under his command and let them know that they have a prominent place in all our hearts. Trump cares about Trump. This is all about him. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/185 "2018-02-09T01:48:36Z")
[An article on _Slate_ about](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/02/the-last-time-washington-hosted-a-military-parade-it-was-a-huge-mess.html) the last time a large military parade went through DC. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/186 "2018-02-09T01:56:56Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > I am under the impression that rubber pads can be installed on tracked vehicles if they are going to be driven extensively on paved surfaces. For the US it’s standard and checking/replacing them is part of preventative maintenance checks and services. That’s the main point for this thread. It’s not a universal rule though. Worldwide it can vary on whether they are optional, or even available. > [@Loach](#): > > There are steel ice cleats that can be added but I’ve never seen them. ISTR they were issued, but not typically installed, to units in Korea based on the weather, terrain, and threat. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/187 "2018-02-09T03:07:59Z")
I’ll bet they could build cardboard tank and missile replicas around Buicks and Trump would be totally fooled. Doo Eeet! ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/188 "2018-02-09T03:40:11Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > i’ll bet they could build cardboard tank and missile replicas around buicks and trump would be totally fooled. > > Doo eeet! **eat[color=“white”] me[/color]** ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/189 "2018-02-09T04:37:31Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > **eat[color=“white”] me[/color]** in case you did not figure it out, this is a reference to _Animal House_ ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/190 "2018-02-09T05:00:30Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > in case you did not figure it out, this is a reference to _Animal House_ Hehe. The big cake float at the end. One of my most favoritest movies. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/191 "2018-02-09T06:34:19Z")
[An informal poll by the _Military Times_ showed the majority](http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/373072-military-times-poll-majority-oppose-trumps-military-parade) of respondents oppose the parade, as reported in _The Hill_. > [@](#): > > The publication, an independent news source that covers the armed forces for service members and their families, published the results of its poll, which was launched on its website Wednesday. The poll asked readers “should there be a parade showing troops and military equipment in Washington, D.C.?” > Eighty-nine percent of Military Times readers responded by answering “No, it’s a waste of money and troops are too busy.” > > Just 11 percent responded by answering “Yes, it’s a great opportunity to show off U.S. military might.” > The publication noted that more than 51,000 readers had voted in the poll as of Thursday afternoon. Oddly, tracks pretty closely to our poll. Grain of salt duly noted; internet polls are not necessarily all that accurate. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/192 "2018-02-09T15:51:48Z")
What is the point of a parade? It is to celebrate something. What is being celebrated with this parade? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/193 "2018-02-09T16:12:52Z")
> [@galen\_ubal](#): > > [An informal poll by the _Military Times_ showed the majority](http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/373072-military-times-poll-majority-oppose-trumps-military-parade) of respondents oppose the parade, as reported in _The Hill_. > > Oddly, tracks pretty closely to our poll. > Grain of salt duly noted; internet polls are not necessarily all that accurate. It also tracks pretty closely to my observations on various military pages I belong to. Unscientific observationsof course. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/194 "2018-02-09T16:32:57Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > What is the point of a parade? It is to celebrate something. > > What is being celebrated with this parade? No, I get it; now’s the time. I mean, \*after \*the global apocalypse, nobody’s going to be in the mood. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/195 "2018-02-09T16:50:03Z")
The wisdom of FOX News: [Trump wants a military parade. It’s the right thing to do](https://a.msn.com/r/2/BBIPYLI?m=en-us) > [@](#): > > President Trump wants a parade celebrating our military and troops. It’s a great idea, and is a perfect event symbolizing the fact that America is getting back on her feet after eight years of a commander-in-chief who reveled in complaining about America and decimating our military. > The hysteria the proposed parade has provoked among Democrats and leftists provides even more proof that it’s the right thing to do. > > Who could argue against a parade that highlights the Americans who defend our freedom and make everything else possible? A military parade would be fun, would honor our vets and would remind the world that America is a superpower and proud of it. > > For eight years, President Obama’s administration worked hard to tell the world that America was done. He slashed the military’s budget and withdrew us from the world. Horrifically, on foreign soil he apologized for and chastised his own country. > > President Obama gave the impression, through word and deed, that he thought the U.S. was the problem in the world. > > The result was abject chaos, terrorist groups spreading around the world like cancer, economic stagnation, North Korea getting atomic weapons, and a worldwide refugee crisis the extent of which had not been seen since World War II. > … Apparently there’s nothing bad that Obama’s not to blame for. Also from that article: > [@](#): > > To say this parade is about President Trump is absurd. Right. > [@](#): > > Rep Jackie Speier, D-Calif., laughably called President Trump “a Napoleon in the making” on CNN. I wish Democrats would make up their minds about the president. Is he a dumb puppet who was installed in the White House by the Russians, or a modern-day Napoleon? Um…both? They’re not mutually exclusive. > [@](#): > > Maybe President Trump isn’t a puppet, or a tyrant, or Napoleon, or a fascist. Maybe he’s a wildly successful businessman who loves and understands the country and the American people. Along with that love, he shares American appreciation for, and pride in, our military. And then again, maybe not. I’d quote more, but my gag reflex is acting up. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/196 "2018-02-09T17:22:31Z")
One of the members of the SEAL team that killed Osama bin Laden calls the idea of the parade “third-world bullshit.” [https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/09/politics/navy-seal-bin-laden-shooter-trump-military-parade/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/09/politics/navy-seal-bin-laden-shooter-trump-military-parade/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/197 "2018-02-09T17:34:29Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > One of the members of the SEAL team that killed Osama bin Laden calls the idea of the parade “third-world bullshit.” [https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/09/politics/navy-seal-bin-laden-shooter-trump-military-parade/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/09/politics/navy-seal-bin-laden-shooter-trump-military-parade/index.html) As befits our evolving identity as a Banana Republic. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/198 "2018-02-09T17:39:00Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > One of the members of the SEAL team that killed Osama bin Laden calls the idea of the parade “third-world bullshit.” [https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/09/politics/navy-seal-bin-laden-shooter-trump-military-parade/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/09/politics/navy-seal-bin-laden-shooter-trump-military-parade/index.html) lol, what the hell are those North Korean soldiers holding at 0:55 in that video? It looks like some kind of package, bearing the “nuclear” symbol, and held together with duct tape. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/199 "2018-02-09T17:50:21Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > lol, what the hell are those North Korean soldiers holding at 0:55 in that video? It looks like some kind of package, bearing the “nuclear” symbol, and held together with duct tape. Can you see a fuse, or a clock? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340/200 "2018-02-09T18:58:55Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > lol, what the hell are those North Korean soldiers holding at 0:55 in that video? It looks like some kind of package, bearing the “nuclear” symbol, and held together with duct tape. I don’t know, but our Dear Leader is going to want bigger ones for his parade. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-parade/808340.md?page=11)