britishman99
180591
7296
233
Oct 10, 2016 12:42 AM
britishman99
180591
7296
233
HereForTheSurpriseMeat
If you've never been here and take a trip to DC at any point... please go. No matter your political/military views, its extremely humbling
DarkLynx13
I was once lucky enough to be part of the wreath laying ceremony at the Tombs. You just feel the serenity of Arlington when you stand there.
aluskn
The Unknown Soldier of the USA received the Victoria Cross, and the British counterpart, the Unknown Warrior was awarded the Medal of Honor.
WhatDoYouMeanICantStickMyFingerThere
http://imgur.com/eSwItIv
ratedarrrrrr
I mean, this photo is a couple years old. Still an impressive job they do though.
SuedeRobinson
From one veteran to another
Bazookajor
SonnyMooresTwin
I had goosebumps when I saw this in person. One of the only times in my life when I was truly speechless...
DeviousWay
Thanks Britishman for this older photo. As one who lives in the DC area, it was windy and slightly wet. Not to this extent.
vinylspear
They're called "Sentinels"
Snooj
If only we were this vigilant regarding veterans benefits.
Relykwastaken
These guys are a level of bad ass I can never hope to achieve...
Ruthless674
It is actually the Tomb of The Unknowns, because it has representatives from all the services, not just a soldier.
Freskitah
What happens if they get sick?
Masopha
EXTREMELY serious stuff to these guys. one dude got sent back because he had something wrong
AbsolutelyNotTheNSA
That takes some balls.
MightyTrismegistus
No that takes honor.
AbsolutelyNotTheNSA
Sorry, didn't realise the two were mutually exclusive.
MightyTrismegistus
Touche
GodDoctorDoom
...the boss? *salutes while mgs3 theme plays*
TheCaprican72
True badasses. I had a chance to witness the changing of the guard in 102° heat and they didn't waiver.
KharnApproves
When I was training in Quantico, we saw them in July. I was pouring sweat in my shorts and tshirt and those guys weren't even sweating.
TheCaprican72
It July for us as well, hot as all get out. We were there the first Fourth of July after 9/11 and it was quite the scene.
biokiller191
They look like bamfs
shoe571
They are
annabanana333
The Sentinel’s Creed My dedication to this sacred duty is total and whole-hearted.In the responsibility bestowed on me never will I falter.
annabanana333
And with dignity and perseverance my standard will remain perfection.
annabanana333
Through the years of diligence and praise and the discomfort of the elements,
annabanana333
I will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my ability.
annabanana333
It is he who commands the respect I protect, his bravery that made us so proud.
annabanana333
Surrounded by well meaning crowds by day, alone in the thoughtful peace of night,
justjoshincartoons
What would have to happen in order for these guys to leave? I love their dedication, but if something terrible happens, can they leave??
Morrigi
They're given permission in the case of serious terrorist attacks in the area and very severe weather, but they generally choose to stay.
justjoshincartoons
That's pretty intense. I went there my senior year in high school and got to be a part of the changing of the guard. A very somber place
buddbilly
Character is what you do when no one is watching
Agadez
That's integrity.
LANIMUS04
God this is so relevant with the election
LeoNim
Well, someone took the photo so...
surprisedthisnameisnttaken
So who took the photo? Plus, they do kinda get paid to do it
FormalShorts
A ballsy photographer. The soldiers at this post don't do it for money.
z99nine
You don't get any more money for doing this job. You can get paid the same for much less work. It's all volunteers.
SarcasticComment
volunteers in a sense, it's still a job, and these men still make salary. They "volunteer" to do the harder job instead of the easier one.
Ikeeplosingmyshitsohere
Don't they have permission to leave at times like those?
britishman99
http://arlingtoncemetery.net/stood-their-post.htm
Morrigi
They did, but chose to stay.
GrosseVogel
The only time I remember that they were given permission to leave was 9/11, but they stayed
UnslicedBreadisCoolToo
https://tombguard.org/society/faq/ ----- tl;dr It's considered an honor to guard when times are tough.
LilSis061016
The charge is 24-7 regardless of disturbance. The only time they even talk or stop their pattern is to break up a disruption at the tomb.
Emilianne
We lost a Canadian soldier while standing this post on parliament hill. These men reminds us of those we lost and who we will lose.
Bilgecrank
As a sailor of the U.S. Navy. o7
CowsAreLame
RIP Nathan Cirillo
Vybors
daimomusic
That is such a powerful picture. RIP Nathan Cirillio
senoranderpants
I was down the street when that happened. That cartoon still makes me tear up every time.
vernicator
...this.
5tellaire
This made me tear up. RIP Nathan Cirillo.
SimpleBagelGod
Same. It was so automatic too; as soon as I saw the picture the tears welled up.
Alysonbw08
Just FYI this photo is from 2012-doesn't mean this isn't impressive. From blizzards to hurricanes to extreme heat these guys do their duty.
ImSlipplySlipperyStairs
I believe this particular pic was during a hurricane as well. I could be wrong though.
Alysonbw08
You are correct.
samsonguy920
on which point?
Alysonbw08
That it was during Hurricane Sandy...
samsonguy920
They could have been correct about being wrong, too.
RidingWithMyDarkPassenger
I think id take the blizzard over a hot summer day in VA at high humidity. Id faint in their uniform. Huge respect for them.
AFuckingBazooka
There has to be a line to draw when a person's well being is in danger...right?...
RidingWithMyDarkPassenger
Theyre trained soldiers, built to endure.The tumb of the unknown soldier will ALWAYS be guarded.Sounds like they switch half hour in summer
AFuckingBazooka
Right, but in the wrong circumstances or weather a person could die. What would happen if one of them just collapsed due to the heat?
Koshunae
They hydrate well in the summer and dress a littke lighter. Rotations every 30 minutes. If you make it to the guard and cant take -
Koshunae
April to October, the guard rotates every half hour.
Koshunae
Well, April 1st to Sept 30th
Taz7214
They've been there since 2012?!
bananarar
Don't forget that multiple countries have these tombs. Canada, Britain, etc.
Cowlerson
Didn't that Canadian soldier or cop get killed at that tomb not too long ago?
CowboyZ
Yes, a coward shot Corporal Nathan Cirillo twice in the back as the Corporal was guarding Canada's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Cowlerson
Terrible day. I was heartbroken that day for my brothers up north. We stand with you Canada.
AromaTaint
As an Australian I'll accept so on and so forth but I'll be damned if I'll stand idly by and be treated as et cetera!
HelloToe
"Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God"
borgiasborgias
So is the tomb protected 24/7 ? Why and whose tomb is it?
fitlex
Soldiers were given a lot of experimental drugs. They're on guard in case they awaken with a vengeance
acidrainman
Read the fuckin title you thick fuck
S4telliteJ4ck
Why? For honor. Whose? Any hero whose name is unknown but to God.
AncientFistory
Have you ever looked at the requirements for that job? Guards of the Tomb have the highest level of dedication and loyalty.
dante979
must be awesome to have them as friends...
gamesthatiplay
If they didn't Geraldo or someone would come in with a digger to find out who it is.
tatertots620
do they get paid? Or is this strictly volunteering?
GodzillaHarddiskson
They are soldiers in the US army and are of course paid as such.
canyouthriveat35
Yeah. My brother wasn't tall enough and was too stocky so they sent him away.
BrandName
Just read it, ive been in for 8 years and would love to go do that shit.
virtualmix
Yeah cause it's so useful.
GodzillaHarddiskson
Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be? It's an honor guard, doing just what the name implies. It's the least they deserve
GodzillaHarddiskson
Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be? It's an honor guard, doing just what the name implies. It's the least they deserve
oxfordsorbrogues
You could probably start by not calling it "that shit."
BrandName
...as a soldier, it's my sworn duty to cuss as much as humanly possible. Shit fuck. :)
DapperAsMe
Sensitive Sandy over here.
oxfordsorbrogues
Of course all the dumbfucks gotta down vote me because their parents never taught them respect.
AnAccountToPostThis
Believe it or not, it's a pretty sensitive subject. Crazy how tombs are like that, right?
oxfordsorbrogues
Wild! Fucking idiots.
[deleted]
[deleted]
SmellOfMonkey
Armed forces. There have been a number of recent fixed bayonet charges
RobertNAdams
Especially by the Brits, the crazy bastards. If they could dix a bayonet on a Challenger, they would.
happenedtomeonce
You kinda just answered your own question...
spetcnaz
It is ceremonial
Monkeyfighter
And probably the best medical treatment.
TokensWorth
It was the best and worst time of my life.
Fuggit
Yeah I call bullshit
TokensWorth
2006-2007
TheRealFireFrenzy
storytime!
[deleted]
[deleted]
TheRealFireFrenzy
i have upvoted storytime!
reindeerz
.
motherlessdotcom
Post!
EustacePVanderbangerIII
Kindly do tell.
badluckwaldo
I second that
Clashoftheclams
Do a post on that , would love to hear it. And thanks for your service.
Chauxsitty
Dooooot
headbitchincharge
.
StraightFish
zahnkem
I thought you were quoting a Tale of Two Cities
NotYourLady
Please make a post about it!
[deleted]
[deleted]
NotYourLady
Thank you for the post. Thank you for the reply. And most importantly, thank you for your service.
TokensWorth
It was my honor. Thanks for appreciating.
sonianosia
Wow!
Tbones85
Thank you for your service!
PartyParrot
If you were a guard, please do a post on that, I'd love to hear about it.
TheKirkendall
.
Shenanigans136
.
aSquirtOfSquirrel
.
TokensWorth
Ive been asked before, started to put one together. I still want to, just not on my list of things to do...
TokensWorth
plus there are others on here Ive seen that do a great job.
MrWarningsign
Yes please! Do a post on your job as an undead soldier!!! ... wait that came out wrong... too much D&D
misterdode
We'd love to see yours
IDunkedMyTesticlesInMayo
As a brit I'd love to hear about the tomb too
OhMyMatthew
.
TheSaintedPhysicianDoctor
.
Tbones85
.
heisenbergistheman
There's a movie out now called The Unknowns that's a documentary about them. http://www.theunknownsmovie.com/
FalloutFanboy
.
Charlierougier
.
SpecialEdForces
.
WeNeedANewPlague
.
bluecow1896
.
scoutkid
.
nouseforaheart
.
PingpongMuffinhead
I feel like the story would include a lot of standing!
Nafets6
....
rorowolf
.
CodySage
.
Nafets6
....
Hyippy
Dots are strictly one per person
PingpongMuffinhead
Why the fuck is everyone dotting my comment. Go dot the the other one. I ain't gonna inform you guys about shiiiit.
Montana6606
..........
raptorsoldier
What do the dots even mean
OneMoreRide
. Love to hear it
escalinci
Apart from informing us how uninformative you're going to be, of course.
Eeyorepuh
.
daummy
Requirements for the lazy: http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/guarding-the-tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier/
BarryMcOckiner
Si2vr
Too lazy to click on that link...
ISuckedDickForBusFareAndWalked
That was genuinely amazing to read. "What happens if it rains? 'They get wet.' "
Sheepyhead
That's really interesting
arguingwharf
.
aaakeith
.
ImSorryImgurImNotAPerfectSpellerPleaseDontHateMeForever
Cool read! Holy shit!
HowDidIEndUpHereAgain
622th
hotsummersidewalk
Why would someone want to this? Out of curiosity
JustARichard
Besides honor and respect they probably learn a lot of information from all that studying
ISuckedDickForBusFareAndWalked
Respect for those who have given their lives, and will never truly be acknowledged. For the families who never got the final goodbye.
lysithean
Wow very insightful. Though just reading it stressed me out! Serious respect.
OwMyChin
"They will be awarding their 622th badge this month (March 2014)." Shouldn't it be 622nd? Or is that somehow proper useage as well?
Jufasa
I spotted another mistake as well so probably just that
joinusjoinusjoinus
It was probably edited after writing. Sometimes it happens. They may have written 620th, then were corrected.
COSami
I was just about to post this after skimming the link
thea1997
Is there a limitation to people with re-enlistment codes?
GadenKerensky
But lazy is not one of the requirements.
0ppai
Why is there a height requirement?
gamesthatiplay
Wow some of it is incredible. The utmost dedication for 1+ years.
TheHardestArtery
The writer of that must've got a DIU! Won't pass the fourth test!
GeneralBullshit
Holy damn I read it all, and would not have guessed it to be so strict or so hard
Happylilpie
Thank you that was a good read!
FallenPredators22
I can do that.. until I read I had to memorize a 17 page packet and rewrite the whole thing word for word and not mess up more than 10x
Orangeracecar
What is the point of memorizing a 17 page doc down to the commas?
Morrigi
Discipline.
Orangeracecar
Are you in the military and do you really buy that?
Morrigi
It's simple logic. They wouldn't waste all that training time on nothing.
UnPossibleMagician
and they dont even get to punch annoying people, like the queens guard?
elomons22
.
ThranduilsLeftTesticle
622th
ISureHopeThisUsernameIsNotTaken
.
ThisIsWhyIDontTrustPeople
"622th"
jetstreaminfinity
I'm too lazy I shouldn't even be allowed to look at this stuff
SlickTheSlipperySalamander
Neat
lilpinkelephants
Thanks for posting this link...
bananarar
Holy fuck you have to have some amazing patience to do that.
Ninoue
It's like meditation at that point.
Fairdinkums
24 hour shifts takes some seriously impressive discipline
Shasfowd
I minor fraction is anything out of place by 1/64th of an inch. You get 2 of those before you're out.
LunarRhythm
This is the most tedious thing I've probably ever read in my life. I commend anyone who even gets partway through the initial training.
icookfoodandfightfire
it may be, but for many it is one of the highest honors they could attain. For them the time spent here is priceless
LunarRhythm
All the more commendable. There are far easier things in this world that I can't find the drive to do. I'm actually really impressed.
LunarRhythm
All the more commendable. There are far easier things in this world that I can't find the drive to do. I'm actually really impressed.
Flubna
I've never heard of the unknown soldier. Explanation?
StraightToCatFolder
Where are you from?
CallingYouOnYourShit
I think that's the point
HelloToe
"Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God"
PrfctDrk
oo-rah
johnson21
There are similar "tombs" in many if not all countries.
Atlasraven
Care to provide an example (UK? China?) ?
Camelspotting
The tradition was started by Britain after WWI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_the_Unknown_Soldier
GodzillaHarddiskson
By thw British and the French. La tombe du soldat inconnu was placed under Arc de Triomphe at the same time
Camelspotting
How did I forget that? I've been there.
Trevanadian
Everything the other guy said is true, but not exclusive. Many countries have their own unknown soldier. I'm thankful for such a practice.
bookemdanno80
http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/people/unknown-warrior
ortega7115
France has one underneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. I never noticed it before but saw it on my last visit.
LilSis061016
Yes, but the one pictured is in DC.
W92Baj
Virginia
HighrockTendales
Yes but the original question was about 'the unknown soldier' which is a concept.
LilSis061016
Fair enough - I read it as asking about this particular picture. I know other countries do it, too, but not enough to comment on them. :)
IHaveNoIdeaWhatToDo
And also, other countries do not pay as much attention tho their unknown soldier, except once a year... no guards, just a flame or flowers
Trevanadian
That is extremely untrue. Please do your research before saying things like that in the future.
IHaveNoIdeaWhatToDo
No there is no guard duty in most countries with unknown soldiers memorials!
Doomsday79
i think every country has it. /a/ZGAA9 athens greece. you can see the guards there
HighrockTendales
It's not "A Tomb in America." It's the concept of honouring all unrecorded soldier's deaths. This is ONE iteration of that concept.
Deaconse
And by extension, all combat fatalities. The one symbolizes the all.
LilSis061016
Yes - but this particular photo is the tomb in America. I took the question as referring to the photo specifically.
LilSis061016
It is a tomb in Arlington National Cemetery in DC dedicated to service persons who have died without their remains Identified. It is 1/
LilSis061016
guarded in silence, all day every day, regardless of weather or other disturbance, by elite soldiers unmarked by rank (so they don't 2/
LilSis061016
outrank any of the unknown dead). They march a specific path with precise pattern and guard change every hour. 3/3
zacpartyhardy
When I was there these dick wads were being too loud. That guard put the fear of God into them while he was yelling at them (part of honor)
DeviousWay
All right, except Arlington isn't in DC. It's DC adjacent.
LilSis061016
Semantics. DC...just outside DC in Virginia...140 characters limit things a bit. :)
DeviousWay
Aye, it does. I can see the National Mall and Arlington from where I live.
RaptorCav
Every half hour at night.
LilSis061016
I didn't know that! Thanks! I do know they aren't limited to the black runner at night, though. They get the whole Plaza to patrol then.
FlickTigger
They also change more often in bad weather.
Vishnuisgod
Q; What about a hurricane??? Honest q not tryin to be a dick. Its on the west coast so....????
Varient
There has only been one time when they were allowed to retreat to the safe rooms. But they choose to stay out and guard instead
Deaconse
Really?! Say more!
Thradeau
In the event of immediate actual danger, ie, hurricane here *now*, they have safe rooms and will evacuate to them.
Vishnuisgod
thanks