Memo: No Tanks, 'Older' Aircraft at Trump's Military Parade

A Pentagon memo that surfaced Friday night reveals the first official guidance for President Donald Trump's controversial military parade in Washington, D.C.

The memo, signed by Navy Capt. Hallock Mohler, executive secretary for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, confirms the parade is set to take place on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Guidance provided in bullet points instructs that the parade include only wheeled vehicles, not tanks.

"Consideration must be given to minimize damage to local infrastructure," the memo reads.

Parade guidance also calls for a heavy air component at the conclusion of the parade, "to include older aircraft as available."

CNN first reported news of the memo Friday.

While the memo does not specify which aircraft will make up the aviation element, the instruction to seek out older aircraft may be a cost-mitigating measure. It has been estimated that a major military parade, would cost anywhere from $10 to $30 million. The last such parade, organized at the end of the Gulf War, cost roughly $12 million.

In the memo, the Joint Staff are tasked to plan the parade, while U.S. Northern Command is instructed to execute it.

"This parade will focus on the contributions of our veterans throughout the history of the U.S. Military, starting from the Revolutionary War and the War of 1212 to today, with an emphasis on the price of freedom," the memo reads.

Other guidance show the parade will be integrated with the annual Veterans Day parade in Washington, D.C. and follow a route from the White House to the U.S. Capitol. In addition to military equipment, the parade will include pageantry, with veterans dressed in period uniforms.

One element of the parade will highlight the evolution of women in the military from World War II to the present, according to guidance. The Army's Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps will also make an appearance.

"Veterans and Medal of Honor recipients should be surrounding POTUS in the reviewing area at the Capitol," the memo reads, using an acronym for president of the United States.

Trump has discussed a parade to show off military strength since he paid a visit to Paris last July and observed the French Bastille Day parade.

While public opinion has been divided on the value of such a parade, Pentagon officials said last month they were studying options to execute the event at Trump's bidding.

""We're all aware in this country of the President's affection and respect for the military," Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Feb. 7. "We've been putting together some options."

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.