The CH-47 helicopters are expected to follow a flight pattern that will take them over the parade route along Kalakaua Avenue, with each helicopter making a single pass over the area. The F-15s will fly offshore.

Residents in Waikiki and surrounding areas can expect noise from both types of aircraft at about 11 a.m.

The USO Hawai'i event, held in honor of all the state's military personnel, is expected to draw as many as 5,000 men and women of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserves.

Organizers said in the tradition of USO events, the free concert will feature top-name entertainment, including headliner John Legend, as well as the Makaha Sons, Kapena and hip-hop band Seminole County.

About 11,000 Schofield Barracks soldiers served in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004 and 2005, more than 2,200 Kane'ohe Bay Marines are in the two countries now, and 7,000 Schofield soldiers are preparing for Iraq duty this summer.

In the course of that service, 130 service members with Hawai'i ties have been killed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

The 9:30 a.m. parade down Kalakaua Avenue is expected to include 1,600 National Guard soldiers, 550 Schofield Barracks troops, hundreds of Army Reservists, 150 Marines, 145 sailors, 125 Air National Guard members, 50 Air Force airmen, and 25 Coast Guard members.