“ Tomb Sentinel marches 21 steps across a black mat passing the grave markers of each of the unknowns.
What is true, however, is that the changing of the tomb sentinel is executed every 30 minutes with clock-like precision: The National Arlington Cemetery states that this practice has been in effect since April 6, 1948, while the Society of the Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier maintains that the 24-hour watch was implemented on July 1, 1937. It is true that the sentinels’ gloves are wet to improve the grip on the rifle. Although they do not execute an “about face” (180-degree turn) as the post indicates, it is also true that the sentinels always carry the rifle on the outside shoulder ( /society/faq/ ).Īlthough the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with no exception, there is some dispute over how long this has been the case. These focus on changing of the guard, uniform preparation, weapons and historical knowledge, among other elements ( here ). Once picked for duty, the sentinels are subjected to rigorous daily inspections, to make sure their living quarters are tidy and their uniforms “immaculate”.
The training and selection processes for the tomb sentinels have strict guidelines. According to the website of the Society of the Honor Guard, the training cycle alone consists of five exhaustive tests over 6 to 12 months.
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