Just a moment...
apnews.com

A soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier issued a verbal reprimand to a group of advisers and staffers with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Video shows Hegseth taking photos on the empty steps in front of the tomb with his wife, Jennifer, chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh.

As the group broke from taking photos, a loud laugh could be heard, and the soldier guarding the tomb shouted that “all visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.”

  • SpruceBringsteen@lemmy.worldEnglish
    31·
    13 hours ago

    I don’t want this soldier to get caught in the crossfire, but I’d kinda like to see them make the mistake of coming for his career. This guard position isn’t just given to anyone. It’s kinda like The King’s Guards at Buckingham palace. This isn’t some 18 year old boot, he’s very likely a badass with a distinguished record.

    edit cause I’m redundant when tired

    • halcyoncmdr@piefed.socialEnglish
      27·
      15 hours ago

      This guard position isn’t just given to anyone, this guy very likely has an outstanding military record.

      They absolutely do. Very few have the opportunity to even try to train for the position.

      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. The Old Guard has held this distinguished duty since 1948.

      The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, traditionally known as “The Old Guard,” is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army, serving the United States since 1784. The Army’s official ceremonial unit and escort to the president, it also provides security for Washington, D.C. in times of national emergency or civil disturbance. The unit received its name from Gen. Winfield Scott during a victory parade at Mexico City in 1847, following its valorous performance in the Mexican War. The black-and-tan “buff strap” worn on the left shoulder replicates the knapsack strap used by the unit’s 19th-century predecessors to distinguish its members from other Army units.

      Would-be Tomb Guards must first undergo an interview and a two-week trial. During the trial phase, they memorize seven pages of Arlington National Cemetery history. This information must be recited verbatim in order to earn a “walk.”

      New Sentinels learn the history of Arlington National Cemetery and the grave locations of nearly 300 veterans. They learn the guard-change ceremony, the manual of arms, and methods for keeping their uniforms and weapons in immaculate condition.

      The Sentinels must pass multiple tests to earn the privilege of wearing the silver Tomb Guard Identification Badge. First, they are tested on their manual of arms knowledge, uniform preparation and walks. Then, they take the badge test, consisting of 100 randomly selected questions from the 300 items memorized during training. The would-be badge holder must get more than 95 percent correct.

      The Tomb Guard Identification Badge is an upside-down, laurel-leaf wreath surrounding a depiction of the Tomb’s front face, the words “Honor Guard,” and figures representing Peace, Victory and Valor. Over 600 Tomb Guards have earned the badge since the late 1950s.

      70 years, and only about 600 Sentinels. That means only about 10 new Sentinels per year make it through. For context, there are roughly 2,400 active Navy SEALs as of 2025.

      • dimmuborgnine@lemmy.world
        4·
        2 hours ago

        It may sound ridiculous to a lot of you, but I get emotional when I think about the seriousness these folks take to respect and honor our dead in this way. There’s a lot to be said about the uselessness of war and the many, many failures of the US government, but the fact that everything is put aside to show the maximum amount of respect is a beautiful thing.

      • wjrii@lemmy.world
        9·
        4 hours ago

        Yes, from what I understand they’re basically the vestal virgins of the US Army. Their role is deeply ceremonial, intended to be a symbol of the ideal soldier so as to provide a worthy guard for their fellow symbols embodied by the unknowns. They even literally live right there by the tomb, and their name can be obliterated from the register if they fuck up too badly, even years after their particular tour with the “Old Guard” is done. Their weapons, particularly their pistols, are literally totemic ritual objects.

        Sentinels in particular get picked because they are true believers in the mission, physically look the part, have the physical tools to endure the monotony and weather, and they are wired to be the type of guys who get off on following regulations to the letter. For all those reasons, they are typically pretty young, as well. I’ve read a few accounts that suggest they’re often not super pleasant people to work with later in their careers, but they’re earnest AF.

        They’re probably elite in a different way than special forces, but I’m sure their military skills are as good as they can manage with all the other requirements, and at any rate I doubt you’d want to cross the platonic ideal of a Dwight Schrute while on his turf.

        • Warl0k3@lemmy.world
          4·
          3 hours ago

          There have been roughly as many tomb sentinels as there have been astronauts. I’m not sure if “mythic” would be quite the right word for it, but there is such a reverence held for the tomb and the sentinels that, well, it’s national news that someone who was just with hegseth was disrespecting it.

          The reaction to this feels very galvanizing of the quiet contempt people have individually held - the active duty/vets I know have suddenly felt comfortable openly declaring their contempt for this dipshit, and while I’ve seen a few chuds chime in about disrespect to the sec. def. being bad or whatever, none of them have gone so far as to actually defend him. It’s oddly heartening to see happen.

          • wjrii@lemmy.world
            3·
            2 hours ago

            I’d say mythic is exactly the right word for it. They’re objects of reverence precisely because they commit to the needs of that unit and its mission so thoroughly that they become a sort of priesthood rather than “normal” soldiers. That skillset seems even rarer than the one needed to be in the elite special forces. I’m just saying your not necessarily picking from the exact same applicant pool, LOL.

            I do agree that Hegseth in particular is galvanizing a lot of troops and vets who have a bit of perspective. I didn’t serve, but my dad and brother did, and I grew up in a Navy town so many of my friends and their families did too. The vets in my circle are not impressed with Hegseth at all.

            • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
              1·
              2 hours ago

              You telling me that picking highly reverent rule obsessed people gets you different folks from the special forces? /s