The US Secret Service has announced that it recently acquired the decommissioned Marine One Sikorsky VD-3D 351 helicopter, to be used as part of its advanced agent training program.
The Marine One helicopter arrived at the James J. Rowley Training Center (RTC) on June 24, 2025, after a three-month decommissioning process. The Marine Corps aircraft had served every US President and Vice President over the last 50 years.
The Secret Service’s previous training helicopter was manufactured in October 1963 and used by countless special agents and Uniformed Division officers to practice protective movements in and around Marine One.
A newly decommissioned Marine One helicopter just landed at our training facility. This upgraded platform gives Secret Service agents hands-on, realistic training to strengthen our protective mission.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) July 10, 2025
📰 Read more: https://t.co/WfZ4dMf3cy@USMC pic.twitter.com/v9miMJeOay
According to the Secret Service, the old helicopter’s doors were corroded and often stuck. Without frequent use, the interior and several body panels had become home to a number of stinging insects and animals from the nearby woods.
Because of this, training was mostly limited to working outside the aircraft. Other instructors avoided the old helicopter entirely, opting for classroom work over live training in and around the dilapidated chopper. The helicopter in question was never actually used to transport the President. Rather, this was a former Navy helicopter that had been repainted to resemble a presidential helicopter.
Discussions about replacing the helicopter began nearly three years ago, but failed to gain traction until a chance meeting between Deputy Chief Michael Jazwiecki of the Secret Service’s Uniformed Division and General Eric Smith, the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Jazwiecki attended a 2023 leadership discussion that Smith led at the Secret Service’s headquarters. Jazeiecko subsequently reached out to the commandant, explaining the situation at RTC.
“The whole goal was to have an actual operational piece of equipment so that you can do real, live training,” Jazwiecki said.
According to the Secret Service, the replacement helicopter will allow trainees to work both inside and outside of the mock Marine One. The seating configuration is identical to the US President’s current VH-92 helicopter, which is the latest model.
The Secret Service’s old helicopter has been transported to Arizona where it will be shredded for recycling.