1. The sentinel does indeed take 21 steps to echo the full military honors of the 21 Gun Salute. For the origin of the 21 Gun Salute: Click Here!

2. The sentinel never executes an about face. He/she halts at the end of 21 steps and executes either a left face or a right face in the direction of the Tomb; then stands for 21 seconds. The sentinel then faces back down the mat; moves the weapon to the shoulder away from the Tomb, symbolic of protection of the Tomb ~ and stands for 21 seconds before taking 21 steps to the other end of the mat.

3. The gloves are moistened to enhance the grip on the weapon before the sentinel leaves the tomb guard quarters, located in the basement of The National Memorial Amphitheater, the building adjacent to the Tomb.

4. The sentinel carries his weapon on the shoulder away from the Tomb, again symbolic of protection of the Tomb.

5. The guard is changed every hour on the hour during the hours the cemetery is open to the public from October 1 until April 1. Then the guard is changed every 30 minutes while the cemetery is open to the public from April 1 until October 1. After the cemetery closes, the guard is changed every two hours. At dark, the sentinels switch from dress blue uniforms to BDU’s (Battle Dress Uniforms).

6. Requirements of the sentinels have changed over time. They commit to serve at the Tomb for as long as the U.S. Army needs them. There are no barracks under the Tomb, only the crypts for the WWI, WWII and Korean War Unknowns and the empty crypt that once held the remains of First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie USAF who was interred in 1984 as the Unknown Soldier from Vietnam. His remains were identified in 1998 and the crypt is empty and will remain so. In 1999 the crypt was re-dedicated with the inscription “Honoring and Keeping Faith with America’s Missing Servicemen 1958-1975.

There is no “wreath pin” awarded. Once a sentinel is trained, tested and qualified, he/she is awarded the Tomb Guard Identification Badge which is pictured above. It is about the size and weight of a silver dollar and is worn on the right breast pocket. The Tomb Guard Identification Badge is one of the least awarded badges in the U.S. military and is the only badge issued by the U.S. military that can be revoked for as long as the owner lives. The U.S. Army may revoke a badge for any behavior that brings dishonor upon the Army, the Tomb or the Unknowns ~ such as a felony or DUI conviction. Since 1958 the army has issued 688 Tomb Guard Identification Badges. The number that have been revoked stands in the twenties. Five women have earned the badge since 1995.

The shoes are spit-shined standard issue leather Army dress shoes ~ which have triple soles and heels. Metal plates are screwed into the insides of the built-up heels. The bottoms of the heels have horseshoe plates firmly attached.

There is no period of required silence for the trainees. They must commit to memory a “Book of Knowledge” about Arlington and the Tomb including the location of notable Americans buried in Arlington. All sentinels spend the bulk of his/her duty day ensuring that their uniform and shoes are perfect for their next walk on the mat. Each sentinel is assigned to one of three reliefs or shifts that come in for 24 hours of duty before being relieved for time off until their next 24-hour shift. Their time not walking the mat is spent in the Tomb Guard Quarters which are located in the basement of The National Memorial Amphitheater.

In 2003, when Hurricane Isabel came over the D.C. area, the guards at The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier were given a contingency plan if falling trees and flying debris made guarding the Tomb too dangerous. Tomb Guards were given permission to withdraw to the display room of the National Memorial Amphitheater where they could keep visual contact with the Tomb. The sentinels and commanders of the relief never resorted to those measures. They did not refuse any order. They simply remained at their post.

In response to evidence of vandalism at night while the Tomb was not guarded in 1937, a 24- hour guard was posted at midnight, July 2. The Tomb has been guarded 24/7 ever since.

The information on this page has been provided by Tom Tudor, Past President, Board of Directors,
Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. With many thanks!