Latest news with #DanielDriscoll
CTV News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
U.S. Army is set to celebrate 250 years with a parade that coincides with Trump's birthday
Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, honoring the Army's 250th anniversary and coinciding with U.S. President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) WASHINGTON — A massive military parade unfolding against the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump's unconventional flex of fighting forces in American streets this week is on track to begin Saturday evening with tanks, bands and thousands of troops. The parade, honoring the Army's long-planned 250th anniversary celebration and coinciding with Trump's 79th birthday, is set to step off from the Lincoln Memorial under the threat of stormy weather in Washington and the potential for protests around the country tied to a turbulent week of immigration enforcement that has involved military deployment in Los Angeles. Trump has brushed off the possibility of both disruptions, with a social media post Saturday morning that said the 'great military parade' would be on 'rain or shine.' The protests, he said earlier, 'will be met with very big force.' Added just a few weeks ago to the Army's birthday celebration, the parade has triggered criticism for its price tag of up to $45 million and the possibility that the lumbering tanks could tear up city streets. The Army has taken a variety of steps to protect the streets, including laying metal plates down along the route. About 6 in 10 Americans say Saturday's parade is 'not a good use' of government money, including the vast majority of people, 78 per cent, who neither approve nor disapprove of the parade overall, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The daylong display of America's Army comes as Trump has shown his willingness to use the nation's military might in ways other U.S. presidents have typically avoided, inviting an array of lawsuits and accusations that he is politicizing the military. In the last week, he has activated the California National Guard without the governor's permission and dispatched the U.S. Marines to provide security during Los Angeles protests related to immigration raids, prompting a state lawsuit to stop the deployments. He similarly sought to project military strength during his first presidential term, saying in 2020 that he wanted forces to 'dominate' the streets following racial justice protests that turned violent and warning governors that he was prepared to send in active-duty fighters if they did not call out the National Guard in their states. Earlier in the week, Trump raised eyebrows during a speech at Fort Bragg when members of the 82nd Airborne Division were directed to stand behind Trump and they booed and cheered during his incendiary remarks, including condemnation of his predecessor, Joe Biden. There also was a pop-up 'Make America Great Again' merchandise stand nearby selling souvenirs to troops in uniform. The Defense Department has a doctrine that prohibits troops from participating in political activity while in uniform. Members of Congress and military leaders have expressed concerns about the political displays during the speech at Fort Bragg. The parade fulfills Trump's expressed desire for a big parade that he tried to get done in his first term after seeing one in France on Bastille Day in 2017. Trump said that after watching the two-hour procession along the famed Champs-Élysées, he wanted an even grander one on Pennsylvania Avenue. Saturday's event is expected to include about 6,600 soldiers, 50 helicopters and 60-ton M1 Abrams battle tanks, as well as possibly 200,000 attendees and heightened security to match. The parade will wind down Constitution Avenue, which is already lined with security fencing and barriers. Army helicopters and aircraft will fly above, and the march will be capped off by a parachute jump, a concert featuring 'God Bless the U.S.A.' singer Lee Greenwood and fireworks. Hours before the parade was scheduled to start, vendors set up shop on along Pennsylvania Avenue in anticipation of the expected large crowds. Large snowplows blocked off vehicle traffic, allowing pedestrians to walk on the historic street and visit vendors selling art, souvenirs, clothes, jewelry, beverages and food including funnel cakes and lobster rolls. A daylong festival features fitness competitions, demonstrations, equipment displays, music and a cake-cutting ceremony. It remained unclear whether any protests might disrupt the parade; none are currently scheduled to take place in Washington. Officials have said they so far have no indication of any security threat, although 'No Kings' rallies planned in hundreds of cities nationwide are meant to counter what organizers say are Trump's plans to feed his ego on his 79th birthday and Flag Day. With rain expected, there is a chance the parade could be interrupted by thunderstorms. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly has said the march will go on rain or shine. But it could be delayed if there is lightning, with authorities quick to empty the expansive National Mall if it happens during major events. The Army expects as many as 200,000 people could attend the festival and parade. The parade is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT, but parts of it — including the horse-drawn caissons and other units — start at the Pentagon, head over a bridge and meet up with some of the heavier tanks and equipment. Officials did not want the more-than-60-ton M1A1 Abrams tanks and Stryker vehicles crossing the bridge. Timed down to the minute, the march will be divided into sections by history — with equipment and troops in full dress from each period. It will include a total of 6,169 soldiers and 128 Army tanks, armored personnel carriers and artillery, while 62 aircraft fly overhead. At the end of the parade, Trump will swear in 250 new or reenlisting troops, and the Army's Golden Knights parachute team will jump onto the Mall. That will be followed by the concert and fireworks. Lolita C. Baldor, The Associated Press Associated Press writers Eric Tucker, Michelle L. Price, Nathan Ellgren and Tara Copp contributed to this report.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Yes, U.S. Army secretary said there is a soldier stationed on the moon. (There isn't)
Claim: U.S. Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll said: "We talked to an astronaut yesterday who's on the moon, who's a soldier." Rating: A rumor that the United States Army has a soldier stationed on the moon orbited social media in mid-June 2025 as a result of a statement allegedly made by U.S. Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll. The statement, shared by users on X (archived), Facebook (archived), Instagram (archived) and Reddit, was: "We talked to an astronaut yesterday who's on the moon, who's a soldier." People were quick to share the purported quote, some decrying it as an obvious blunder while others believed Driscoll inadvertently shared confidential intelligence. The quote about a soldier being stationed on the moon was correctly attributed to Driscoll, who made the comment during a Fox News appearance on June 11, 2025. The segment is available to watch on YouTube (at the 4:00 mark). Driscoll's remark came in response to a question about the military parade planned for June 14, 2025, when host Brian Kilmeade asked the secretary about allegations that the parade was meant for U.S. President Donald Trump's birthday rather than a celebration of Flag Day and the Army's 250th anniversary. The exchange began around three minutes into the segment. Driscoll said assertions the parade was celebrating Trump's birthday were "preposterous," adding: The Army started planning this long in advance because what we believe is this will continue the strength and recruiting and retention that we have as young Americans across the country get to see all of the amazing things that the Army has done, whether it's helping with floods in North Carolina or wildfires in California, or we talked to an astronaut yesterday who's on the moon who's a soldier; including actually going to war and fighting to defend the freedoms that make our nation so great. We think this is going to be an incredible opportunity for the Army to fill up our pipeline for the years to come and I find it offensive that anybody is challenging that. Kilmeade offered no follow-up question to Driscoll's comment but it appeared the secretary misspoke. There is no evidence that an astronaut is currently stationed on the moon. NASA's website states that only 12 people have ever walked on the moon, while Royal Museums Greenwich in London notes that trips to the moon concluded in 1972. However, Driscoll was part of a June 9, 2025, conversation with flight engineer Anne McClain, who is aboard the International Space Station. According to McClain's biography on the NASA website, she is a U.S. Army colonel and "was selected in June 2013 as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class." McClain is currently deployed on the ISS as part of NASA Expedition 73, which began on April 19, 2025, and is expected to return in November 2025. The conversation, which is available to watch on NASA's YouTube page, appeared to be what Driscoll's comment on Fox News was referring to, during which he said "on the moon" instead of, presumably, "in space" or "on the space station." Snopes reached out to the Army for further clarification on Driscoll's comment. A spokesperson highlighted a post on the secretary's X account featuring the same conversation between Driscoll and McClain, indicating that he slipped up when speaking to Kilmeade. - YouTube. Accessed 13 June 2025. ---. Accessed 13 June 2025. Anne C. McClain - NASA. Accessed 13 June 2025. Expedition 73 - NASA. Accessed 13 June 2025. Loe, Megan. 'Breaking down Craigslist Ad Seeking Seat Fillers on Day of Trump's DC Parade'. Snopes, 12 June 2025, 'Military Parade to Celebrate the Army's 250th Anniversary Will Be Held on Trump's Birthday'. AP News, 2 May 2025, Moonwalkers - NASA Science. 13 Apr. 2023, Veterans Invited to Celebrate U.S. Army's 250th Birthday - VA News. 11 June 2025, Why Did We Stop Going to the Moon? | Royal Museums Greenwich. Accessed 13 June 2025.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Youngkin, Army officials commemorate 250 years at historic Yorktown Battlefield
YORKTOWN, Va. (WAVY) — Gov. Glenn Youngkin joined military leaders and visitors from across the country to commemorate the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary at a ceremony at the historic Yorktown Battlefield – in preparation for Saturday's celebrations. The event, part of the America 250 initiative, honored the Army's legacy and highlighted Virginia's pivotal role in the founding of the United States. Yorktown is widely recognized as the site of the final major battle of the Revolutionary War. Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll called the anniversary a chance to reflect on the service and sacrifice of soldiers past and present. The Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission is planning events statewide. More information is available here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The US Army is showing soldiers what they look like from the air so that they can better hide from drones
The US Army is watching the unfolding drone war in Ukraine and using it to inform its training. Army leadership is teaching new soldiers how to react to drones in the early stages of training. One way that they're doing this is using drones to film soldiers so they know how to hide better. The US Army is watching the drone war in Ukraine and thinking up innovative ways to teach new soldiers how they can survive this threat in future fights. One way the Army is preparing soldiers is by filming recruits in basic training from above and then showing them the footage to assess their ability to hide from a potential enemy. "What you learn from what's occurring in Ukraine is you cannot move without being seen," Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said during an episode of the "War on the Rocks" podcast last month, adding that the military needs to be "leaner" and better at hiding. Driscoll said that he had recently visited South Carolina's Fort Jackson, one of four main bases where the Army does basic combat training, and saw leadership put drones in the sky to survey troops below. "These are for soldiers that have been in for seven weeks, and they are showing them, 'Hey, this is what you look like from the air. You have either done a good job providing top cover and camouflage, or you have not,'" Driscoll said. "At the end of each of their exercises, they go review the drone footage, which was just incredible to see." The exercise gives US soldiers a small taste of the battlefield in Ukraine, where troops on both sides are under the constant watchful eye of small, quadcopter drones that could suddenly turn deadly by dropping explosives below or flying into a target and detonating. Like other branches of the military, the Army recognizes the seriousness of the drone threat and acknowledges that uncrewed systems are changing warfare. It is trying to keep pace with the speed of innovation, accelerated as Ukraine and Russia race to introduce new technology and innovations onto the battlefield. With drones poised to play an increasingly significant role in future conflicts, the Army is coming to terms with how to ensure new generations of soldiers are prepared to meet the threat environment. Lt. Gen. David Francis, commanding general of the Army's Center for Initial Military Training, told Business Insider in an interview this month that one of the most "significant things" his program has done is introduce drones into basic training to train new recruits on how to react to this technology. Francis said that the idea is to get these civilians-turned-soldiers to think about the battlefield as a three-dimensional space and expose them to the new threat that they'd likely face in future combat scenarios. The Army introduced drone training at all of its training centers over 18 months ago. Beyond Fort Jackson, these sites include Fort Benning in Georgia, Fort Sill in Oklahoma, and Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Lt. Col. Stephen Deuble, commander of 2nd Squadron, 15th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Benning, said the base has greatly scaled up its drone training after recognizing the major role they play in combat. Previously, new recruits received a brief overview on drones that lasted only a few hours; now, they receive over 50 hours of training. The extensive training "reinforces that concept that the enemy is not just in front of you, but you have to look up, and they're in the air domain," Deuble told BI. He said that drones are used at Fort Benning in a teaching role and as an after-action tool similar to what Driscoll observed at Fort Jackson. Training is sometimes designed to be complex. At Fort Benning, for instance, leadership isn't just exposing soldiers to a small drone flying in the air — they are combining it with a realistic battlefield scenario, such as simulating a precision drone strike on an armored vehicle. Watching the Ukraine war, Francis said that the Army is learning that its soldiers could be facing "constant surveillance" and the consistent threat of indirect fire from armed drones or artillery in a conflict of their own. For these reasons, he said, it's important that US troops are learning early on how to be aware and resilient on the battlefield. "Knowing that you're always being watched — it takes a toll on folks," he said. "We are increasing the rigor in our basic training right now to provide that resiliency that it's going to take to operate in an environment where you are constantly under threat." Teaching soldiers how to respond to drones is one of the many ways that the military is taking lessons learned from the Ukraine war and using them to inform training. The US has also put more attention on counter-drone efforts and using drones for offensive missions. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
The US Army is showing soldiers what they look like from the air so that they can better hide from drones
The US Army is watching the drone war in Ukraine and thinking up innovative ways to teach new soldiers how they can survive this threat in future fights. One way the Army is preparing soldiers is by filming recruits in basic training from above and then showing them the footage to assess their ability to hide from a potential enemy. "What you learn from what's occurring in Ukraine is you cannot move without being seen," Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said during an episode of the "War on the Rocks" podcast last month, adding that the military needs to be "leaner" and better at hiding. Driscoll said that he had recently visited South Carolina's Fort Jackson, one of four main bases where the Army does basic combat training, and saw leadership put drones in the sky to survey troops below. "These are for soldiers that have been in for seven weeks, and they are showing them, 'Hey, this is what you look like from the air. You have either done a good job providing top cover and camouflage, or you have not,'" Driscoll said. "At the end of each of their exercises, they go review the drone footage, which was just incredible to see." The exercise gives US soldiers a small taste of the battlefield in Ukraine, where troops on both sides are under the constant watchful eye of small, quadcopter drones that could suddenly turn deadly by dropping explosives below or flying into a target and detonating. Like other branches of the military, the Army recognizes the seriousness of the drone threat and acknowledges that uncrewed systems are changing warfare. It is trying to keep pace with the speed of innovation, accelerated as Ukraine and Russia race to introduce new technology and innovations onto the battlefield. With drones poised to play an increasingly significant role in future conflicts, the Army is coming to terms with how to ensure new generations of soldiers are prepared to meet the threat environment. Lt. Gen. David Francis, commanding general of the Army's Center for Initial Military Training, told Business Insider in an interview this month that one of the most "significant things" his program has done is introduce drones into basic training to train new recruits on how to react to this technology. Francis said that the idea is to get these civilians-turned-soldiers to think about the battlefield as a three-dimensional space and expose them to the new threat that they'd likely face in future combat scenarios. The Army introduced drone training at all of its training centers over 18 months ago. Beyond Fort Jackson, these sites include Fort Benning in Georgia, Fort Sill in Oklahoma, and Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Lt. Col. Stephen Deuble, commander of 2nd Squadron, 15th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Benning, said the base has greatly scaled up its drone training after recognizing the major role they play in combat. Previously, new recruits received a brief overview on drones that lasted only a few hours; now, they receive over 50 hours of training. The extensive training "reinforces that concept that the enemy is not just in front of you, but you have to look up, and they're in the air domain," Deuble told BI. He said that drones are used at Fort Benning in a teaching role and as an after-action tool similar to what Driscoll observed at Fort Jackson. Training is sometimes designed to be complex. At Fort Benning, for instance, leadership isn't just exposing soldiers to a small drone flying in the air — they are combining it with a realistic battlefield scenario, such as simulating a precision drone strike on an armored vehicle. Watching the Ukraine war, Francis said that the Army is learning that its soldiers could be facing "constant surveillance" and the consistent threat of indirect fire from armed drones or artillery in a conflict of their own. For these reasons, he said, it's important that US troops are learning early on how to be aware and resilient on the battlefield. "Knowing that you're always being watched — it takes a toll on folks," he said. "We are increasing the rigor in our basic training right now to provide that resiliency that it's going to take to operate in an environment where you are constantly under threat." Teaching soldiers how to respond to drones is one of the many ways that the military is taking lessons learned from the Ukraine war and using them to inform training. The US has also put more attention on counter-drone efforts and using drones for offensive missions.
