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est.1997
Updated January
25, 2020
Christopher
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Anatomy of the
U.S. Presidential Motorcade
Inside the safest
and most dangerous place on the road
The Presidential Motorcade is both the safest and
seemingly the riskiest convoy on the planet.
This globe-trotting fleet of vehicles is basically a
rolling, armored White House, complete with its own
contingency response force,communications office, press
corps and medical facilities.
The Presidential Motorcade is built from a fleet of
both custom and sometimes rented vehicles. A finite
amount of Presidential limousines exist,
with between 16 and 20 being an estimate. Careful
planning and a logistical symphony has to take place
in order to pre-position the most capable
(and usually newest) vehicles based on the threat
level and operating environment at each destination.
It is not uncommon of for the President to visit three
separate cities during a single day, especially during
campaign season.
That means three separate motorcade detachments need
to be forward deployed to those cities.
This is done via USAF heavy-transports such as
C-17s,or on some occasions, a single C-5 Galaxy.
In addition to the Presidential Motorcade being
forward deployed to where the President is heading, it
is now usually customary to deploy a pair of
Presidential Airlift helicopters to the destination
regardless of if they are used or not. These could be
either a pair of “Marine One” VH-3D Sea Kings or
VH-60N Black Hawks belonging to Marine Helicopter
Squadron 1, otherwise known as HMX-1. The unit is
located along the Potomac River in Quantico,
Virginia. Like the motorcade, these choppers
usually arrive via USAF heavy transport and they are
often not seen outside of a local orientation and
maintenance check flight that occurs days before the
President arrives
The Secret Service agents that drive the Presidential
limousines are among the best and most trusted
personnel in the institution. They go through constant
drills at the Secret Service’s sprawling James J.
Rowley training complex, including defensive and
offensive driving courses, as well as elaborate
life-like tactical scenarios that bring all the
elements of the motorcade together to defeat or evade
a whole slew of possible threats.
Presidential Security Detail SUV: Code Named
"Halfback"
Halfback is the following car for Stagecoach and
Spare(s), and it carries the President's Secret
Service protective detail. Usually this vehicle is a
specially outfitted Chevrolet Suburban with police
lights mounted on a light bar, in the interior
windows, and in the grill. This is basically the
President's first line of backup should something
occur while en route, and it will follow a pre-planned
set of defensive driving and VIP protection tactics
based on a long list of contingencies. Rear-facing
third row seating usually has at least one overtly
armed Secret Service Agent sitting with the window or
tailgate open.
Once delivered, these roving White Houses were painted
gloss black and had advance communications
installed to interconnect them with Roadrunner and the
world beyond,as well as other improvements
similar to what you would find in the Presidential
limousine. Both limo buses were used leading up
to the 2012 election, with the Presidentusing them to
campaign across America's heartland.
So there you have it: the real anatomy of the
Presidential Motorcade. On a personal note, I
have had the pleasure to see the whole motorcade, Air
Force One, Marine One, Secret Service ballet multiple
times with my own eyes. It is an absolutely amazing
spectacle to watch.
The incredible focus and professionalism of everyone
involved, and the way they balance time and risk, is
mind boggling. When you think of the term 'well-oiled
machine,' this is the picture that should pop into
your head. There is an absolutely astonishing amount
of moving parts that go into each and every
Presidential movement.
The times I've had the privilege to watch Air
Force One’s arrival and departure, the motorcade moved
into formation
almost magically, zooming up to the President at the
exact moment and speeding triumphantly across the
tarmac
in a wheel-like formation when he returned. Once
stopped at the steps of Air Force One—just as its jet
engines
were spooling up—the President got out of his
limousine, ran up the stairs and waved goodbye,
the cabin door
shutting after he entered. At that exact moment,
the iconic 747 was rolling down the apron.
Meanwhile the
motorcade was ripping off back across the tarmac to
prepare for transport. It is a single fluid and
perfectly-timed
set of movements.
I had never seen anything like it in my life and it
plays far different in person than on television.
What I took away from these experiences, including
observing the throngs of sharp shooters and heavily
armed men and women staring at virtually everything
behind tinted sunglasses, is this is not only a
critical
mission, but it is also an art form and a showcase of
what we are capable of as a nation.