Security measures. As a security measure, Marine One often flies in a group of as many as five identical helicopters. One helicopter carries the president, while the others serve as decoys. Upon take-off these helicopters shift in formation to obscure the location of the president.

The U.S. President flies in a formation of three (and sometimes up to five) identical helicopters to perform a security maneuver known as the "Presidential Shell Game." By using multiple identical VH-3D Sea King or VH-60N White Hawk aircraft, the Marine One fleet can disguise which specific helicopter actually contains the President. This decoys strategy is designed to confuse potential ground-based attackers and reduce the probability of a successful strike on the Commander-in-Chief. During the flight, the helicopters frequently change positions in the formation. Upon reaching the landing zone, all helicopters in the "shell" make the approach simultaneously, but only the one carrying the President will land at the final destination, while the decoys remain airborne or depart. This high-stakes "magic trick" has been a standard protective protocol for decades, especially following the increased security concerns after 9/11, ensuring that even onlookers at the landing site cannot be certain of the President's exact location until the door opens.