Who are the honor guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

Twenty-four hours a day, soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard,” stand watch over the Tomb. The Tomb Guards, also called Sentinels, are chosen for this prestigious and highly selective post only after rigorous training and a demanding series of examinations (see below).

What are the requirements to be a tomb guard of the Unknown Soldier?

For a person to apply for guard duty at the Tomb, he must be between 5′ 10″ and 6′ 2″ tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30.”

Can the guards of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier drink?

Sentinels live either in a barracks on Ft. Myer (the Army post located adjacent to the cemetery) or off base if they like. They do have a living quarters under the steps of the amphitheater where they stay during their 24 hour shifts. If they are of legal age, they may drink except while on duty.

How long does a guard stand at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

When serving as a Tomb Guard, the job becomes your life for 18 months. The average sentinel take 8 hours to prepare everything required to go on duty for his next and that shift is a 24-hour shift. Tomb Sentinels stand two-hour watches in 24 hour shifts.

Can Tomb Guards speak?

Only under exceptional circumstances may the guard speak or alter his silent, measured tour of duty. He will issue a warning if anyone attempts to enter the restricted area around the Tomb, but first will halt and bring his rifle to port arms.

How hard is it to become a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

Landing a tomb guard position is tough because of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier rules of eligibility and intensive training requirements. Fewer than 10 percent of the men and women who volunteer for this service pass all the tests during training to become tomb sentinels.

Is there actually a body in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa?

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a special structure called a sarcophagus. This sarcophagus was built at the front of Canada’s National War Memorial in Ottawa to contain the remains of an unknown Canadian soldier who died in France sometime during the First World War (1914-1918).

Where do the guards of the Unknown Soldier live?

Fort Myer
The truth is that they live in a regular barracks at Fort Myer, which is right next to Arlington, or off-post with their families. There are living quarters under the steps of the amphitheater, but those are mostly used as a staging area for inbound and outbound guards/sentinels to prepare their uniforms.

How many guards are at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at one time?

“There’s no place like this anywhere else in the military.” Tomb guards are assigned to one of three rotations, based on their height, with 6 to 10 guards in each. Duty rotations last 24 to 26 hours. The formal changing ceremony occurs every 30 minutes or hour, depending on the season.