Page 106 - Wish Stream Year of 2018

President Trump Visits Sandhurst: Friday 13 July 2018
President Donald Trump visited Sandhurst on Friday 13 July 2018. This was part of a wider visit to the UK, which included meet-
team. Elements of the SF community based themselves here for about 10 days before Presi- dent Trump’s arrival.
ings with Prime Minister Theresa May at her country residence Cheq- uers, attending a dinner at Winston Churchill’s ancestral home Blen- heim Palace in Oxfordshire, meeting the Queen at Windsor Castle, and playing golf in South Ayrshire.
Preparations in the weeks preceding his visit were fast and furious...
Complaints about burnt Polo Field grass and the length of officer cadet’s hair (really members of the SF com- munity mistaken for cadets by Sand- hurst staff) became hot topics and pro- vided light relief for what was a serious occasion.
The visit to Sandhurst offered Presi-
dent Trump an opportunity to see
at close quarters a visual demonstration of the UK’s Counter Terrorism, operational capability and interoperability with US counterparts. He also spoke to UK’s SF community and associ- ated partners in the wider security arena. It was a superb opportunity to welcome President Trump to RMA Sandhurst, following on the heels of a visit from President Macron of France earlier in 2018.
Preparations in the weeks preceding his visit were fast and furious, hampered by tight OPSEC and cover stories to mask tens of aviation rec- ces and the constant flow of UK police services, suited security staff and US Special Agents into the Sandhurst Estate.
The logistic effort to house 450 assorted police and 150 supporting personnel, including 90 armed officers and 200 riot control response folk required extraordinary effort from the home
The visit itself was smooth, calm and hit the sweet spot for the UK, Defence, the Army, and Sandhurst. The entourages of Presi- dent Trump, Prime Minister May, Gavin William- son (Secretary of State for Defence), a handful of National Security Advisors, Ambassadors,
President Trump and Prime Minister May on the day of their visit to Sandhurst
President Trump, Prime Minister May, Commandant and Commander Sandhurst, staff and cadets from RMAS
104 SANDHURST