The “Old Guard” of the Fort Myer, Virginia-based 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment is in charge of posting the Sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and they take it seriously.
The ritual movements of the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb involve a white-glove inspection from the relief commander of the incoming Sentinel’s M14 to make sure it passes muster.
Though the unit serves as a rapid response force for the Military District of Washington and deploys elements overseas – for which they keep an armory of M4s around – the Old Guard also performs ceremonial duties throughout the capitol region such as performing burial honors at Arlington and mounting the Sentinels at the Tomb. For these tasks, the regiment keeps a large cache of M14 rifles, and they put sweat equity into keeping them ready for inspection.
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