Army
GallerySoldiers rehearse, prepare armored vehicles for Army’s 250th birthday parade
Stars and Stripes
June 11, 2025
A U.S. Army soldier assigned to 1st Cavalry Division, ground guides an M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle off a rail car during rail operations at CSX Jessup, Md., June 9, 2025, in preparation for the 250th Army Birthday Parade on June 14, 2025. (Elisabeth Tasker/U.S. Army)
Soldiers, vehicles and equipment are arriving to the nation’s capital this week to prepare for the Army’s 250th Birthday Parade in Washington on Saturday.
Most troops arrived on Wednesday for rehearsals and preparations, and will depart on Sunday. About 6,700 troops from every Army division, 150 vehicles and more than 50 aircraft will be a part of the celebration.
Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Strykers, M109 Paladins and a series of historic vehicles, including Sherman tanks and a B-25 bomber from Fort Cavazos, Texas, are being unloaded and staged along the parade route throughout the week.
The parade is expected to take place along Constitution Avenue June 14, 2025. It will be along the north side of the National Mall in Washington, from 23rd Street NW to 15th Street NW. (TNS)
On the Army’s birthday, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in the morning, followed by a fitness competition. The Army will then present an interactive display on the National Mall, transitioning to a parade showcasing the history of the Army, flyovers and a Golden Knights parachute demonstration at the White House ellipse.
President Donald Trump, who will be celebrating his 79th birthday, will also be presented with an American flag during the parachute demonstration and preside over an enlistment ceremony for 250 service members.
The festival will also include equipment displays and demonstrations of military skills. The day will end with a Noah Hicks and Scotty Hasting concert and fireworks display.
The U.S. Army Drill Team, 4th Battalion, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, rehearses drill movements in preparation for the Army 250th Birthday Parade at Fort McNair in Washington, June 10, 2025. (Jude Vogel/U.S. Army)
U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division unchain a track vehicle during rail operations at CSX Jessup, Md., June 9, 2025, in preparation of the 250th Army Birthday Parade. (Elisabeth Tasker/U.S. Army)
The U.S. Army Drill Team, 4th Battalion, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, rehearses drill movements in preparation for the Army 250th Birthday Parade at Fort McNair in Washington, June 10, 2025. (Jude Vogel/U.S. Army)
A U.S. Army M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicle moves toward the staging area in preparation for the 250th Army Birthday Parade at West Potomac Park in Washington, June 9, 2025. (Rebeca Soria/U.S. Army)
The U.S. Army Drill Team, 4th Battalion, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, rehearses drill movements in preparation for the Army 250th Birthday Parade at Fort McNair, Washington, June 10, 2025. (Jude Vogel/U.S. Army)
Spc. Jordan Hope, a soldier assigned to 3rd Cavalry Regiment, guides a Stryker armored vehicle off of a rail car during at Benning Rail Yard in Washington, June 8, 2025. (Rakeem Carter/U.S. Army)
Capt. Ryan Hanks, commander of the U.S. Army Drill Team, 4th Battalion, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment inspects a rifle during a rehearsal for the Army 250th Birthday Parade at Fort McNair in Washington, June 10, 2025. (Jude Vogel/U.S. Army)
The 82nd Airborne Division makes up the pilots and aircraft taking part in a flyover for the Army’s 250th birthday ceremony. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
A row of Chinook helicopters. All of them will be part of a flyover on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
The 82nd Airborne Division will fly Apache, Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters as part of a flyover for the Army’s 250th birthday parade. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
SGT Nathan Hartin
(left) and CW2 Andrew Sugg of the 82nd Airborne Division Combat Aviation Brigade stand outside a CH-47 helicopter. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
The view from the interior of a CH-47 helicopter that will take place in the Army’s 250th birthday parade. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
A group of soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division prepare a UH-60 helicopter for the Army’s 250th birthday. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
An emblem of a viper on a UH-60. The aircraft will be part of a flyover for the Army’s 250th birthday day. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
A UH-6 helicopter that will take place in the Army’s 250th birthday parade. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
Sgt. Victoria Robinson (left) and CW2 Caleb Lindsay
prepare with the 82nd Airborne Division Combat Aviation Brigade for their flyover in the skies above the nation’s capital on June 14, 2025. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
A line of AH-64E helicopter, also known as Apaches. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
CW2 Caleb Lindsay (left),
Sgt. Victoria Robinson (middle), and another soldier prepare for their flyover days before the Army’s 250th birthday parade in Washington, D.C. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
Doc Holliday, the 2 1/2 year-old blue heeler, serves as the unofficialy mascot of the 1st Calvalry Division, which is based in Texas. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
Lefty peers through the stall bars. He’s ready for the big parade. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
A view of Maverick’s markings. Each of the horses can be distinguished from their markings and characteristics. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
Horses from 1st Calvalry Division get their shoes changes for the big parade. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
Trooper Noel Mendez, Doc Holliday’s handler, talks about Doc’s temperment as part of the 1st Calvalry’s mule team. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
Brother and sister mules Trudy (left) and Traveler get bathed before their big day. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
Doc Holliday will be the only dog to participate in the Army’s 250th parade on June 14, 2025. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
A trooper with the 1st Calvalry Division walks Pancho the horse. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
Doc Holliday and his handler, Trooper Noel Mendez of Kingsville, Texas, walk in the grass at Frying Pan Farm Park, Va., on June 13, 2025. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
Troopers with the 1st Calvalry Division change horseshoes on Lefty the horse. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
Doc Holliday, a blue heeler with the 1st Calvalry Division, drinks water on a hot summer day. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
Trooper the horses gets his coat brushed by a trooper with the 1st Calvalry Div. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
Pancho the horse grazes before his big day in the Army’s 250th birthday parade. (Gianna Gronowski./Stars and Stripes)
Troopers with the 1st Calvalry Division change horseshoes on Lefty the horse. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)