Where do the guards of the Unknown Soldier live?
Ft. Myer
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.
How long does a guard watch the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?
24 hours a day
The Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stand watch 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in any weather. Sentinels, who volunteer for this post, are considered the elite of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), headquartered at nearby Fort Myer, Virginia.
How many hours do they stand guard at the Tomb?
Tomb Sentinels stand two-hour watches in 24 hour shifts. In that time, they will repeatedly count to 21, which is representative of the 21-gun salute, the highest military honor given.
How often do they change guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?
The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier now occurs every half hour on the hour and 30 minutes past the hour.
How many guards are in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?
“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.
Do tomb guards sleep?
And “24-hour” means 24 hours of work — they don’t sleep, they don’t relax. They prepare to guard the Tomb, they guard the Tomb and they work on getting better at guarding the Tomb.
Is the tomb of the unknown soldier guarded during a hurricane?
A sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stood watch for 23 hours during a hurricane. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been guarded for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, nonstop since July 2, 1937.
Does the changing of the guard happen at night?
The changing of the guard happens every hour on the hour when the cemetery is open to the public. Historically, it has also occurred on the half-hour during summer months but from 2020, that had stopped. It is not known if this will take place in 2022.
Can Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guards drink alcohol?
Other requirements of the Guard: They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in any way.
Can the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier shoot?
Aside from getting manhandled (and probably tazed) by the Arlington Police, the Tomb Sentinels are carrying fully functional weapons. Whether they’re loaded weapons or if the sentinels have ammunition remains unknown (many sources say they don’t), but that’s not a reason to go testing the theory.