Guard At The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier ~ 17PLUS 17PLUS.WEEBLY.COM

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded 24/7 by hand-picked sentinels from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as "The Old Guard". These elite soldiers undergo rigorous training and selection to earn the Tomb Badge, considered one of the most challenging in the Army.

Selection: Volunteers must be between 5'8"–6'4" for men and 5'10"–6'2" for women, with a proportionate build. They must also have an unblemished record and strong military bearing.

Training: Soldiers memorize seven pages of cemetery history and learn to perform seven types of walks, honors, and ceremonies flawlessly.

Appearance: Sentinels don't wear rank insignia to symbolize being junior to the Unknown Soldier. They also don't smile, slouch, or flinch while on duty.

Routine: The changing of the guard ceremony is a precise routine with symbolic elements, including 21 steps and 21-second turns to represent the 21-gun salute.

Schedule: The guard changes every 30 minutes from April–September and every hour from October–March.

History: The Army has guarded the tomb since 1926, and a sentinel has been on duty every minute since 1937.

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