| Camp David (Naval Support Facility Thurmont) |
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|---|---|
| Catoctin Mountain Park Frederick County, Maryland United States |
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Main Lodge at Camp David during the Nixon administration, February 9, 1971 |
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| Type | Military base |
| Built | 1935 |
| Built by | Works Progress Administration |
| Current owner |
U.S. Government |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Controlled by | U.S. Navy |
| Occupants | President of the United States, First Lady of the United States |
| Events | Camp David Accords 2000 Camp David Summit |
Camp David is the country retreat of the President of the United States and his guests. It is located in low wooded hills about 60 mi (100 km) north-northwest of Washington, D.C., on the property of Catoctin Mountain Park in unincorporated Frederick County, Maryland, near Thurmont,[1][2][3] at an elevation of approximately 1,850 feet. It is officially known as Naval Support Facility Thurmont and technically a military installation; staffing is primarily provided by the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps.
First known as Hi-Catoctin, Camp David was originally built as a camp for federal government agents and their families, by the WPA, starting in 1935, opening in 1938.[4] In 1942 it was converted to a presidential retreat by Franklin D. Roosevelt and renamed "Shangri-La" (for the fictional Himalayan paradise). Camp David received its present name from Dwight D. Eisenhower, in honor of his father and grandson, both named David.[5] Camp David is not open to the general public. Catoctin Mountain Park does not indicate the location of Camp David on its official park maps due to privacy and security concerns.[3]
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Every president since Franklin Roosevelt has made use of Camp David.
Camp David is a U.S. Navy installation, commanded by a naval commander. Sailors are mostly Seabees and most officers are in the civil engineering field. The Navy Seabee detachment performs maintenance and beautification. The sailors must undergo a "Yankee White" level background check, which involves passing the most rigorous background check conducted by the Department of Defense (DOD). The sailors are hand-picked for their service at Camp David, and are among the best of the U.S. Navy. Some of the sailors include: grounds and maintenance personnel, electricians, carpenters, corpsmen, and the President's cooks.
The camp is alleged to be one of the most secure facilities in the world, as reported by a Department of Defense journal in 1998. The facility is guarded by one of the United States Marine Corps' most elite units, Marine Corps Security Force Regiment (MSC-CD). Each marine is hand-picked from the infantry field and sent through a battery of psychological and physical tests. Selected marines must then undergo specialized security training at the Marine Corps Security Forces School in Chesapeake, Virginia. The candidates then report to the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., where they provide protection for the barracks, the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Chief of Naval Operations. Assuming a marine successfully completes his "pre-assignment" in Washington, he still must undergo the "Yankee White" background check. Only then is the candidate eligible for assignment to Camp David. Once at Camp David, marines are rigorously trained in advanced security protocol, small unit tactics, close-range weapons training and a variety of other topics. Marines receive private and semi-private courses with instructors from throughout the Marine Corps, the United States military, the special operations community, federal law enforcement, and other agencies. Camp David marines also receive continuous marksmanship and advanced close-quarters-battle training at facilities on the campus as well as other sites in the region. After 12 months of service at Camp David, servicemen are awarded the Presidential Service Badge. Tours of duty at Camp David typically last for 18 to 24 months.
On July 2, 2011, an F-15E intercepted a small two- seat passenger plane flying near Camp David, where President Obama was in residence. The civilian aircraft, which was out of radio communication, was intercepted approximately six miles (10 kilometers) from the presidential retreat. The F-15E escorted the aircraft out of the area and it landed in nearby Hagerstown, Maryland without incident. The civilian plane's occupants were flying between two Maryland towns and were released without charge.[13]
On July 10, 2011, an F-15 Intercepted another small two-seat passenger plane flying near Camp David where President Obama was in residence, totalling the number of interceptions over the July 9 weekend at 3 planes.[14]
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