The US military badge so rare, it has a 90% failure rate — only 732 have ever been awarded as of 2025

The Old Guard’s Most Sacred Assignment

The math is brutal: fewer than 10% of Old Guard volunteers make it through Tomb Guard training. They work 24-hour shifts in all weather, spend eight hours prepping uniforms during breaks, and can lose their badge years after service for bad behavior.

Guards must be between 5’10" and 6’4" with spotless records and peak fitness. The unbroken vigil has continued for nearly a century through wars, storms, and pandemics.

Here’s how this sacred tradition works at Arlington National Cemetery, where you can witness the changing of the guard every hour.

Only the Best Make It Through the Door

The 3rd Infantry Regiment “Old Guard” is the Army’s oldest active-duty infantry unit. Only a few soldiers qualify for Tomb Guard training.

Candidates must have clean military records with no discipline problems. Men must stand between 5’10” and 6’4″, while women need to be at least 5’8″ tall.

Their bodies must match their height perfectly. Over 90% of volunteers get turned away.

Most soldiers go back to regular Old Guard duties after failing to meet these tough standards.

Two Weeks to Prove Your Worth

Volunteers who pass the first screening face a tough two-week trial that cuts out most candidates. They must learn seven pages of Arlington National Cemetery history word-for-word.

They recite this information exactly with no room for mistakes. Guards can make no more than 10 errors to “earn a walk” and keep training.

Those who mess up facts or lose their cool go right back to their old jobs. This trial period tests the mental focus needed for this special duty.

Months of Training Break Down and Rebuild Soldiers

Tomb Guard training takes about 7. 5 to 8 months, though some finish in just 4 months.

Each trainee joins one of three “reliefs” to learn the strict rules and ceremonies. Their days begin before dawn with 5:00 AM room checks and personal reviews.

Staff check every part of their look and knowledge daily.

The training breaks down and rebuilds soldiers, teaching the perfectionism and focus needed for this solemn job that’s gone on since 1937.

Guards Know Every Corner of Sacred Ground

Tomb Guards learn 35 pages of information about Arlington National Cemetery. They know the exact spots and names of nearly 300 veterans buried there.

Their training includes learning over 12 different poems about the Tomb.

Guards can tell you the complete history of both the cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier without stopping.

This deep knowledge helps them answer any question with respect, keeping up the honor of America’s most special ground.

Every Step Follows a Sacred Pattern

Tomb Guards follow seven exact walking patterns, each with 21 steps. They walk at 72 beats per minute, matching the 21-gun salute in their steps.

After each walk comes a 21-second stop facing east, then another 21-second stop facing north. Guards carry their rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb, switching sides after each turn.

These moves never change, creating the same solemn rhythm visitors have seen for years, honoring the Unknown Soldiers with military precision.

Uniforms Must Reach Impossible Perfection

Tomb Guards spend 5-8 hours each day getting their uniforms ready for checks with over 200 points measured to 1/64th inch. No wrinkles or lint can show on their heavy wool uniforms worn year-round in DC’s crazy weather.

Guards sand leather gear by hand and use spray paint for a mirror shine on shoes and belts. Brass must shine perfectly.

Despite thousands of tries through history, no guard has ever scored perfectly on uniform checks.

Four Tests Stand Between Candidates and the Badge

Becoming a Tomb Guard means passing four hard tests that stop most trainees. First comes a written test on cemetery history and tomb rules.

Next, a hands-on test checks uniform prep, walking patterns, and history knowledge. The third test looks at how they handle weapons and perform the guard-change ceremony.

Finally, the badge test asks 100 random questions from 300 memorized items. Each test builds on the last, creating a challenge few can finish.

The standards stay high, so only the most committed soldiers earn the right to guard the Unknowns.

The Final Challenge Demands Near Perfection

The badge test is the ultimate Tomb Guard challenge, needing more than 95% correct answers to pass. Candidates can have no major mistakes and only 2 minor ones during their review.

Guards who fail get one more chance. A second failure means starting over from the beginning.

Those kicked out for breaking rules lose their chance forever.

This tough standard explains why only 722 soldiers have earned the badge since February 1958, making it America’s third-rarest military award.

The Silver Badge Carries Lifelong Meaning

The Tomb Guard Identification Badge weighs heavy with both physical and symbolic significance. Made of sterling silver and approximately two inches in diameter, it features an inverted wreath symbolizing mourning.

The east face of the tomb appears on the badge along with the words Peace, Valor, and Victory.

Guards receive this badge after completing all training requirements, but it remains conditional until they serve honorably for nine months at the Tomb.

They wear this symbol on their uniform for life, marking them as members of an elite brotherhood dedicated to honoring America’s fallen unknown heroes.

Guards Work Around the Clock in All Conditions

Tomb Guards keep watch 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, without stopping since July 1, 1937. They work 24-hour shifts in three-person teams every three days.

During hurricanes, they stand guard. In blizzards, they stand guard.

In summer heat waves, they stand guard. Their “time off” includes 8 hours getting uniforms ready for the next shift and staying fit.

The Tomb has stayed under constant watch through 16 presidents, many wars, and countless storms. Not once has the guard stopped.

The Honor Lasts Beyond Military Service

The Tomb Guard badge becomes permanent only after nine months of honorable service at the Tomb.

Unlike other military decorations, this badge can be revoked even decades after a guard leaves military service if their conduct brings discredit to the Tomb.

It stands as the only Army decoration that can be stripped for post-service behavior.

Former guards maintain their commitment to honor and excellence throughout their lives, knowing they represent something greater than themselves.

This lifetime standard ensures that those who guard the Unknown Soldiers remain worthy of this sacred trust forever, maintaining the unbroken chain of honor since 1937.

Visiting Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery

You can visit Arlington National Cemetery for free and watch the Tomb Guards’ Changing of the Guard ceremony. Take the Metro Blue Line to Arlington Cemetery station, then walk to the Welcome Center.

The ceremony happens every hour from October through March and every half hour from April through September. The cemetery covers 639 acres with hills, so expect some walking.

You can also take a paid tour bus that stops at seven different locations.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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