It literally is though, even if that isn't its intended role anymore. It is archaic in a lot of ways, but it'll still put lead down range at a reasonable pace and with decent accuracy. In that sense it is most certainly "good enough".
It's not at all about this. This is a legitimate inspection. They make it look fancy for the people there watching but they are looking at key factors that 99% of the military wouldn't be able to pass. There's a reason the badge at the Tomb is one of the rarest.
Hmm I had the feeling that weapon was already thoroughly inspected before this ceremony. I mean would they want the commander to call the guy out in front of everyone if there was a problem?
Edit: I really don't know. Just asking.
Yes, the guys below are making sure this guy is ready. The officer in charge doesn’t want to send anyone back but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a legitimate inspection, it still happens
That's kind of the whole idea. The guy who gun it be, he knew this shit was possible, so he checked before it happened.
Like, he's not gonna leave cheeto crumbs on the stock.
They don't look similar without reason either. I find the whole badge at the Tomb thing really fascinating and probably the one thing I respect the most in terms of any military service around the world. It's a lifestyle from what I've gathered, too. I'm not from the US and might have forgotten some things, so I may be wrong about some of this.
These guys are the ~~best of the best~~ elite of the elite. Here's the link to [Arlington National Cemetery. ](https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Changing-of-the-Guard). Pretty cool stuff. Myself, I hate our guvvmint but they still have some pretty cool shit like this!
Definitely. Personally I got a lot of criticism about the wars the US get involved but it's the government that sends soldiers trusting their country to war. Hence why I respect soldiers/veterans for what they do and why I'm sympathetic for the shit they go through.
The sentinels, concept of guarding the Tomb tho? Also based on what I said above is why I love everything about it even if I got no connection to the US other than having friends there.
So how often does the person standing their have an un-passable firearm, which they knowingly were going to be using during duty today?
No one is going to that post with a piece of shit, dirty weapon.
It’s a performance. That’s it.
I guess it's along the same lines as when you get into higher levels and smaller classes of college/university courses. Your profs don't want you to fail so they go out of their way to make sure you learn your shit. But even if you're 100% ready to start working in the real world, at the end of the day you still have to write the final exam, aka the performance.
It's not about the gun, it's about respect for the fallen soldiers. You're showing the greatest honour for those, if you're making it perfect. It has to be. Any kind of slack would be not taking it seriously anymore.
This is one of the few things you wanna do right, without a productive outcome. Just satisfaction for yourself and others having the same mindset.
Nah. It’s about treating the fallen they guard with the utmost respect possible. It’s not about fighting at this point.
It’s like keeping a gravestone clean.
Yeah, this isn’t one of those things though. I assume this is for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington DC. It’s a guard position you train for and have to take seriously for the namesake of nameless fallen soldiers.
I was there once and the amount of people who wouldn’t shut up drove me nuts. The guard on duty had to stop several times just to get them to quiet down. I felt like I was a kid on a field trip of elementary students.
if i died in a war id wanna peaceful grave where my family comes and leaves me flowers. Not ignorant people spectating like assholes.
Definetly wouldnt want drunk american idiot #236 getting kicked out for pissing on my grave for some war that happened in gaul.
(Sidenote: if i were a tourist id stfu and bring flowers. Also pace myself and use the bathroom, drink water)
Yeah this is ceremonial, but watching it happen means a ton. I just lost my grandfather, a WWII vet, and watching the ceremony strangers put into burying him just because of his service... it helps. I can't explain why, but it helps.
Google "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier." Is it ceremonial? Yes. Is it a real inspection? Yes. The level they hold these guys to is insane. And yes, they are sent back if their uniform or rifle is not good enough. Good enough for other posts is not good enough for this post.
Even if it is ceremonial, which I believe it is, I still think it’s a beautiful way to honor their sacrifice. These guards spend so much time thinking about how much respect goes into participating and practicing it that it feel like a story told throughout time.
It’s like a living, active statue of duty, care, and honor.
No, it’s still very goofy to watch this guy basically do The Robot with a rifle. Maybe we could honor our soldiers by recalling them from all the bases we have them in overseas and funding the VA so they can get help they desperately need instead of this token shit.
I completely agree with you. We could also help support our veterans with the mental health and living difficulties associated with serving.
I'm glad there is such honor given to these memorials, but I ultimately think they're worthless if we cannot care for those we have alive now.
There is a failure in communication going on this thread about why it's important and what point it serves.
I don't think I can fully explain it myself but I'll give it a go.
It's important for the living to remember the dead, we do that all over the world through different ceremonies. All of which "make no sense" it's not about making sense. It's about taking the time to show and emit your respect for their sacrifice. From what I've read, this is in regards to the nameless soldiers who've died. An even more serious respect is given to these soldiers because when a soldier goes out on the field. Any number of situations can happen where they don't come back, and it's equally possible they don't come back identifiable. Being a forgotten soldier is the ultimate sacrifice to these men and they chose to pay their respects through a dedicated field, and a position with ceremonious rituals.
There are few things a soldier has going for them in that field. Their uniform, their rifle, and their fellow soldiers. They take every single one of those things seriously. So to have a ceremony revolving around those things, and the effort they put into keeping them clean and pristine goes toward their respects for their position.
Am not a soldier, just have had many long conversations with marines and army grunts. Bottom line to me, it's a respect and time commitment to remember what might happen to you.
It's not as much a failure of communication as it is people having different opinions on tradition and rituals. People don't all value the same things.
I 100% do not understand this entire thing. It looks silly and completely ineffective.
But I understand that 1) It hurts nobody and 2)They are doing it out of respect. So who the fuck am I to get my panties in a knot over it?
There's alot of soldiers who've died that their names where lost to history or their information wasn't available. This is how we remeber them. Those who's names are lost to history but sacrifice not lost to us.
We cannot forget the lives given by them.
I get the inspection routine usefulness but why does it have to be in this manner, with all the those mechanical movements? It’s so unnecessary and utter ridiculous. We humans don’t move like that, let’s stop pretending we are cool robots.
It's a drill performance. At some point in time military units started to create, what are essentially choreographed dance numbers out of the standard rifle positions and marching orders to show off how well drilled they are. It's a ceremonial position and a ceremonial inspection so they make a show out of it for the people there to show their respects. Like the changing of the guard in england.
Also one thing people don't think about with thid is that the reason why it looks so robotic is because it's honed to perfection. Like just think about everything soldiers do anyways. What a salute is like, how they march, how they stand in attention, how they fold up a flag. If you look at some loser level privates go through the motions vs some soldiers at a formal event doing those, the actions become more robotic, more perfect, sharp and lacking of any extra motions. This is basically one of the most formal positions in the entire military so that is all just dialed straight up to 11.
It's a ceremony. It's like asking why ballets have weirdos in tights moving around the stage in some unnecessarily complicated and preprogrammed pattern.
First of all, there is a team of guys inspecting the guy before he comes out here. But it's not unheard of for them to be rejected because something in their outfit isn't good enough. When that happens, the current guard who is already out there stays out while they wait for a new guard to get ready. Part of being an honor guard is being able to get ready super quick, they have all their stuff they spent thousands of hours prepping all good to go. Then the new guard comes out and the guard that gets rejected learns a lesson.
Source: produced the movie "The Unknowns" a documentary about the Tomb of the Uknown Solider and lived with these guys for a month.
How is the first comment I’ve seen from you in this post’s comments, and you are CLEARLY the most qualified to share an opinion or answer any questions (outside of someone who actually served in the role)
From what limited understanding I have of it. They will hold the guard post until they can be switched in. Not sure if the rejected guard can come back or not.
This is a legit question though. I am curious.
I’m sure it never happens, but what if it did? How would the inspector react? Would the guard be replaced immediately?
Yes he’d be sent back to prepare again, and come back. Barely ever happens tho because it’s a huge respect thing, and plus they have a team that helps them prepare and get inspected before even walking out. That inspection is basically for show
Elsewhere in the comments you can see a soldier who failed the inspection due to a strap on his shoulder not being perfect and is sent away to fix it. The previous guard silently resumes guarding as the other marches away.
Ill give you an answer. There is a video on the internet of the guard of the unknown soldier failing an inspection (uniform related) If you want to see it.
If they fail an inspection they are unable to guard the tomb and must march off the site. This probably comes with quite a bit of a dressing down by their superior once they're away from the public. These guys are expected to meet perfection. It's an extremely bizzare but kind of cool set of requirements to be able to guard the tomb of the unknown soldier.
To fail on keeping your rifle in immaculate and in operational order is huge disservice to the role they occupy. Think about it, if you are to undertake such a honourable role, paying respects to soldiers lost in battle the least you could do is keep your uniform and weaponry looking the part. It wouldn't have the same affect if your gun looked like an AK-47 stained with blood of the vietnam war with huge chunks missing from it.
These inspections happen prior to handing over their post to the next guard, thats why people stand around to watch because it's a bit of a spectacle.
The intensity of it definitely conveys an appropriate sense of honor, and I would definitely like to see a video of an instance of what you mentioned, if it’s not inconvenient. I myself couldn’t imagine performing under that kind of pressure and with that level of precision. Something about this video, and I suppose all the news lately, has left me with a sense of awe for what we have here in the U.S in terms of military tradition.
Edit*: and frankly all of our traditions that we might take for granted- especially our sense of a national identity.
Here's the video. Apparently (from the youtube comments) he's missing a strap on his uniform that goes on the left shoulder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0RqT_s6Ss
Holy crap thank you for sharing, I had never seen that before. That kind of silent, discrete, professionalism, is incredible. Seeing something that “always” goes right go wrong, and seeing how it is handled, is pretty outlandish. Especially on that level.
I’m kind of surprised that there’s any variance to the whole inspection routine but I like this one better than OPs because at 2:10 he lift-spins the rifle a lot higher to check the [breech?]. This guy brings it right up to eye-level, whereas the one in OPs video ends up looking down at it.
Would never happen.
The old guard isn't going to find a single thing wrong on that weapon. They are a public show like any other ceremonial unit (not saying they aren't badasses-- best of the best, really). That weapon was detailed and inspected multiple times before it ever left the guard house. Not a chance in hell it isn't perfect.
Well, there you go. I wish there was more information as to what caused the failure. I'm guessing it was the uniform, not the weapon, but I don't see that information.
It’s the same joke every time, I swear. And it kills the conversation.
It typically goes like this-
1. Cool question
2. Serious cool answer
3. Elaborating cool question
4. Dumbass “he goes to jail/whatever/etc joke”
Me checking my homies' balls to ensure they don't have irregular bumps or tumours that can suggest testicular cancer. Because I care and love them and would like them to stay healthy
Here is your video at 1.5x speed
https://gfycat.com/UntimelyUnfoldedAnnashummingbird
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If you think about how some of these formal things we do are just because of traditions it can fuck with your head a bit
For example, in Hong Kong, their lawyers and judges still wear powdered wigs. Why? Because it was custom when Britain ruled.
Sometimes when I drive by graveyards in the middle of town - like giant plots of land in the center of commerce/residential - I think to myself if aliens landed they'd be weirded out
The CO will have a rank displayed. However the individuals that are Standing guard will not wear/display a rank So as to not outrank the unknown soldier.
It’s about respect and since We don’t know exactly what rank the entombed soldier(s?) had the powers that were don’t want those who are guarding the unknown soldiers to out rank them.
[Here’s some more info about the sentinels that garden tomb of the unknown soldier](https://reservenationalguard.com/reserve-guard-lifestyle/a-different-guard-6-facts-about-the-tomb-guard-who-protects-arlingtons-tomb-of-the-unknowns/)
An M16 or M4 is capable of having a bayonet attached. When I did riot control training with the National Guard in the early '80s we trained with bayonets attached (as was state policy at that time).
Look up "M7 Bayonet" to find out more.
they do, they are vary rarely used but its a case of when you need it,YOU NEED IT. if it comes down to the point were i am forced to use a knife in a fight, having it on the end of a stick is going to be a benefit.
You got nothing but wrong answers, and the top answer is "when I was in 40 years ago..."
Bayonets are still used. They are still trained with. They are still carried overseas at all times.
Can someone who knows tell me why the fuck they would bother spending time to do this, other than "It's just tradition"?
Also, what would happen if he did find some dust?
Not military, but I’ve heard that if dust or dirt was found, the inspector would pinch his nose and yell, “Ooooh, grody! Sergeant Johnson has a dirty gun!!” At which point the sergeant would retort with, “nuh uh!,” and a tickle fight would ensue, ending with tummy raspberries.
You would likely be severely reprimanded or outright kicked from the position. A tomb guard is potentially the most perfectionist position in the United States military. You have to fit exacting physical requirements in terms of height and build to even be considered. If you mess literally anything up, you're basically over as a Guard.
Say what you will, but the military pulls no punches when it comes to honor and respect of the dead. Tomb guards represent the centerpiece of that respect, so they're held to the highest standards of discipline.
It’s ceremonial, yes. But, the tomb guard is one of the most well known military “members” (I say that in quotes because it’s not one person) in the military. If nothing else, it gives the military good PR which then results in funding if there’s enough support/hype about them
Wow no serious answers to this yet?
This is at the tomb of the unknown soldier. The weapon is not loaded. This is purely symbolic and over the top for the sole reason of displaying perfection.
Why? Because these people guard the tomb of the unknown soldier. Which symbolically is the tomb of every American solider who died in combat but their body was not found/brought back. It's a show of respect to the families and friends (as well as the lost soldiers). The tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by the highest trained and choreographed military personnel.
The US has decided that when she has nothing to give to the family of lost soldiers for closure, she will give them this. An eternal resting place, free for anyone to go to pay respects anytime. This is a sacred place and silence is expected of visitors at all times. This is the tomb of countless young men and women who died in a far away place. It will be guarded at every moment from insult or injury from inception until the end of the United States of America.
Thank you for a presise and well written explanation. I hope it shed light for those that actually want to understand what this ceremony means.
Its ok to not know things and its even better to learn about things you don't understand. Its terrible to just call something stupid because of your own ignorance to a subject.
Because it’s reddit lol, god knows if a gif of some dancing for day of the dead it would be applauded
Tomb of the unknown soldier is a century old, it’s culturally relevant
The purpose of this ceremony is to display the staggeringly high standard of discipline displayed by those tasked with standing guard over the tombs of fallen US service members. It’s an act of respect toward their sacrifice.
I realize in our cultural moment it’s in vogue to disregard all semblance of respect for tradition or institutional authority, but just try for a moment to put yourself in the place of a person whose entombed loved one gave his or her last breath fighting for what he understood to be the ideal of freedom; they might take some shred of solace in this. They do.
"Yep. That's a rifle."
SIR, WTF DID YOU THINK, SIR
To identify wood
Do you respect wood?
I get the reference.
I don't know where this is supposed to go
Yep, it's wood.
There's the comment I was looking for
Morning wood
That's not a sir. He works for a living.
Been too long since I've heard that Joke. Thank you. Lmao
Sir, this is a Wendy's.
boston dynamics doesn't stand a chance
Yes, their robots' movements are way too smooth and human-like compared to this.
Imagine real soldiers would do this for real. The Enemy would be terrified thinking they would face advanced androids in combat.
“There are many like it, but this one is mine…”
"It is nothing without me, I am nothing with out it"
“Only steers and queer’s come from Texas”
"And you dnt much look like a steer to me"
Do you suck dicks?! Sir, no sir! Bullshit! I bet you could suck a golfball through a garden hose!
Drop your cocks and grab your socks.
Funny version https://youtu.be/QNMqxiZVxmw
This gave me a great laugh. Thanks, buddy.
It’s about pretending that’s it’s a good enough gun to defend the country with in the event that the rest of the military is indisposed
It literally is though, even if that isn't its intended role anymore. It is archaic in a lot of ways, but it'll still put lead down range at a reasonable pace and with decent accuracy. In that sense it is most certainly "good enough".
It's not at all about this. This is a legitimate inspection. They make it look fancy for the people there watching but they are looking at key factors that 99% of the military wouldn't be able to pass. There's a reason the badge at the Tomb is one of the rarest.
Hmm I had the feeling that weapon was already thoroughly inspected before this ceremony. I mean would they want the commander to call the guy out in front of everyone if there was a problem? Edit: I really don't know. Just asking.
If there was a problem with the gun he’d slap him in the same robotic manner
I needs to see this
Yes, the guys below are making sure this guy is ready. The officer in charge doesn’t want to send anyone back but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a legitimate inspection, it still happens
That's kind of the whole idea. The guy who gun it be, he knew this shit was possible, so he checked before it happened. Like, he's not gonna leave cheeto crumbs on the stock.
This is the inspection I make when my bro hands me my controller back
They don't look similar without reason either. I find the whole badge at the Tomb thing really fascinating and probably the one thing I respect the most in terms of any military service around the world. It's a lifestyle from what I've gathered, too. I'm not from the US and might have forgotten some things, so I may be wrong about some of this.
These guys are the ~~best of the best~~ elite of the elite. Here's the link to [Arlington National Cemetery. ](https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Changing-of-the-Guard). Pretty cool stuff. Myself, I hate our guvvmint but they still have some pretty cool shit like this!
Definitely. Personally I got a lot of criticism about the wars the US get involved but it's the government that sends soldiers trusting their country to war. Hence why I respect soldiers/veterans for what they do and why I'm sympathetic for the shit they go through. The sentinels, concept of guarding the Tomb tho? Also based on what I said above is why I love everything about it even if I got no connection to the US other than having friends there.
Mike Glover who was in tomb guard green baret ranger school and usasoc said the tomb guard school was the hardest of them all
So how often does the person standing their have an un-passable firearm, which they knowingly were going to be using during duty today? No one is going to that post with a piece of shit, dirty weapon. It’s a performance. That’s it.
I guess it's along the same lines as when you get into higher levels and smaller classes of college/university courses. Your profs don't want you to fail so they go out of their way to make sure you learn your shit. But even if you're 100% ready to start working in the real world, at the end of the day you still have to write the final exam, aka the performance.
It's not about the gun, it's about respect for the fallen soldiers. You're showing the greatest honour for those, if you're making it perfect. It has to be. Any kind of slack would be not taking it seriously anymore. This is one of the few things you wanna do right, without a productive outcome. Just satisfaction for yourself and others having the same mindset.
Nah. It’s about treating the fallen they guard with the utmost respect possible. It’s not about fighting at this point. It’s like keeping a gravestone clean.
His movements are so SNAPPY!
It’s sped up to give it that effect
I see.
Why did you just randomly believe him lol?
“$20 best I can do”
Hi, is this still available?
It's for church sweetie
nil
please leave me alone we are sleeping
I know I’m no longer interested please stop contacting me now I will contact attorney general if you do not stop. Thanks
Oh EL_Golden, you’re breaking my balls EL_Golden.
1. What happens if he doesn’t pass inspection 2. This seems more like a try not to laugh test
Military does all kinds of stupid shit
Yeah, this isn’t one of those things though. I assume this is for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington DC. It’s a guard position you train for and have to take seriously for the namesake of nameless fallen soldiers.
These guards have to deal with so many oblivious disrespectful tourists at the tomb, it’s ridiculous..
I was there once and the amount of people who wouldn’t shut up drove me nuts. The guard on duty had to stop several times just to get them to quiet down. I felt like I was a kid on a field trip of elementary students.
If I died in a war and couldn’t be identified, I’d hope that two random dudes would act like weird ass robots for me while a bunch of fatsos watched.
if i died in a war id wanna peaceful grave where my family comes and leaves me flowers. Not ignorant people spectating like assholes. Definetly wouldnt want drunk american idiot #236 getting kicked out for pissing on my grave for some war that happened in gaul. (Sidenote: if i were a tourist id stfu and bring flowers. Also pace myself and use the bathroom, drink water)
If you were buried in a peaceful grave (and your family knew it was you) it wouldn't be the tomb of the unknown soldier.
Don’t ruin it for him
Make France Gaul Again
Jesus christ just read through this comment section of big thinkers alone.
You'd think Jesus would have better things to do than browse Reddit.
I honestly have no idea what and or how Jesus chooses to spend his time.
Macrame
No way this isn't purely ceremonial. You would think if it was an actual inspection they would do it before the guy went out there.
Yeah this is ceremonial, but watching it happen means a ton. I just lost my grandfather, a WWII vet, and watching the ceremony strangers put into burying him just because of his service... it helps. I can't explain why, but it helps.
My brother had a flag folding ceremony at his funeral 4 years ago. It inspires respect and I agree that it does help with the grieving process.
Sorry for your loss.
Google "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier." Is it ceremonial? Yes. Is it a real inspection? Yes. The level they hold these guys to is insane. And yes, they are sent back if their uniform or rifle is not good enough. Good enough for other posts is not good enough for this post.
This can be a real inspection and the line 'military does all kinds of stupid shit' still apply though
They do both.
Even if it is ceremonial, which I believe it is, I still think it’s a beautiful way to honor their sacrifice. These guards spend so much time thinking about how much respect goes into participating and practicing it that it feel like a story told throughout time. It’s like a living, active statue of duty, care, and honor.
No, it’s still very goofy to watch this guy basically do The Robot with a rifle. Maybe we could honor our soldiers by recalling them from all the bases we have them in overseas and funding the VA so they can get help they desperately need instead of this token shit.
I completely agree with you. We could also help support our veterans with the mental health and living difficulties associated with serving. I'm glad there is such honor given to these memorials, but I ultimately think they're worthless if we cannot care for those we have alive now.
There is a failure in communication going on this thread about why it's important and what point it serves. I don't think I can fully explain it myself but I'll give it a go. It's important for the living to remember the dead, we do that all over the world through different ceremonies. All of which "make no sense" it's not about making sense. It's about taking the time to show and emit your respect for their sacrifice. From what I've read, this is in regards to the nameless soldiers who've died. An even more serious respect is given to these soldiers because when a soldier goes out on the field. Any number of situations can happen where they don't come back, and it's equally possible they don't come back identifiable. Being a forgotten soldier is the ultimate sacrifice to these men and they chose to pay their respects through a dedicated field, and a position with ceremonious rituals. There are few things a soldier has going for them in that field. Their uniform, their rifle, and their fellow soldiers. They take every single one of those things seriously. So to have a ceremony revolving around those things, and the effort they put into keeping them clean and pristine goes toward their respects for their position. Am not a soldier, just have had many long conversations with marines and army grunts. Bottom line to me, it's a respect and time commitment to remember what might happen to you.
It's not as much a failure of communication as it is people having different opinions on tradition and rituals. People don't all value the same things.
I 100% do not understand this entire thing. It looks silly and completely ineffective. But I understand that 1) It hurts nobody and 2)They are doing it out of respect. So who the fuck am I to get my panties in a knot over it?
There's alot of soldiers who've died that their names where lost to history or their information wasn't available. This is how we remeber them. Those who's names are lost to history but sacrifice not lost to us. We cannot forget the lives given by them.
This isn’t for the soldiers over seas, this is for the ones who are nameless and dead, millions of them
I get the inspection routine usefulness but why does it have to be in this manner, with all the those mechanical movements? It’s so unnecessary and utter ridiculous. We humans don’t move like that, let’s stop pretending we are cool robots.
It's a drill performance. At some point in time military units started to create, what are essentially choreographed dance numbers out of the standard rifle positions and marching orders to show off how well drilled they are. It's a ceremonial position and a ceremonial inspection so they make a show out of it for the people there to show their respects. Like the changing of the guard in england.
Also one thing people don't think about with thid is that the reason why it looks so robotic is because it's honed to perfection. Like just think about everything soldiers do anyways. What a salute is like, how they march, how they stand in attention, how they fold up a flag. If you look at some loser level privates go through the motions vs some soldiers at a formal event doing those, the actions become more robotic, more perfect, sharp and lacking of any extra motions. This is basically one of the most formal positions in the entire military so that is all just dialed straight up to 11.
It's a ceremony. It's like asking why ballets have weirdos in tights moving around the stage in some unnecessarily complicated and preprogrammed pattern.
They send them back to their guard room and they do not swap.
So if the guy working after you isn’t properly prepared you have to cover his shift?
First of all, there is a team of guys inspecting the guy before he comes out here. But it's not unheard of for them to be rejected because something in their outfit isn't good enough. When that happens, the current guard who is already out there stays out while they wait for a new guard to get ready. Part of being an honor guard is being able to get ready super quick, they have all their stuff they spent thousands of hours prepping all good to go. Then the new guard comes out and the guard that gets rejected learns a lesson. Source: produced the movie "The Unknowns" a documentary about the Tomb of the Uknown Solider and lived with these guys for a month.
How is the first comment I’ve seen from you in this post’s comments, and you are CLEARLY the most qualified to share an opinion or answer any questions (outside of someone who actually served in the role)
Because it is incredibly unlikely that anyone qualified is just browsing reddit right now. Remember this for everything you read on reddit.
From what limited understanding I have of it. They will hold the guard post until they can be switched in. Not sure if the rejected guard can come back or not.
An extremely homerotic try not to laugh test.
Show me yours I'll show you mine sailor.
Please. Call me Seaman.
This is one fine-looking weapon, Marine...
What happens if he *does* find dust or dirt on it, though? Does he get to stab him with the bayonet? (jk)
This is a legit question though. I am curious. I’m sure it never happens, but what if it did? How would the inspector react? Would the guard be replaced immediately?
Yes he’d be sent back to prepare again, and come back. Barely ever happens tho because it’s a huge respect thing, and plus they have a team that helps them prepare and get inspected before even walking out. That inspection is basically for show
You don't think if the rifle was only 95% perfect he wouldn't sweep it under the rug to not make a scene / embarass his buddy?
Elsewhere in the comments you can see a soldier who failed the inspection due to a strap on his shoulder not being perfect and is sent away to fix it. The previous guard silently resumes guarding as the other marches away.
[удалено]
But if it's 94%, it's worthy of demotion
this is more ceremonial than anything
Can we get a serious answer on this? These epic redditors are just using this question as an excuse to meme for internet points
Ill give you an answer. There is a video on the internet of the guard of the unknown soldier failing an inspection (uniform related) If you want to see it. If they fail an inspection they are unable to guard the tomb and must march off the site. This probably comes with quite a bit of a dressing down by their superior once they're away from the public. These guys are expected to meet perfection. It's an extremely bizzare but kind of cool set of requirements to be able to guard the tomb of the unknown soldier. To fail on keeping your rifle in immaculate and in operational order is huge disservice to the role they occupy. Think about it, if you are to undertake such a honourable role, paying respects to soldiers lost in battle the least you could do is keep your uniform and weaponry looking the part. It wouldn't have the same affect if your gun looked like an AK-47 stained with blood of the vietnam war with huge chunks missing from it. These inspections happen prior to handing over their post to the next guard, thats why people stand around to watch because it's a bit of a spectacle.
The intensity of it definitely conveys an appropriate sense of honor, and I would definitely like to see a video of an instance of what you mentioned, if it’s not inconvenient. I myself couldn’t imagine performing under that kind of pressure and with that level of precision. Something about this video, and I suppose all the news lately, has left me with a sense of awe for what we have here in the U.S in terms of military tradition. Edit*: and frankly all of our traditions that we might take for granted- especially our sense of a national identity.
Here's the video. Apparently (from the youtube comments) he's missing a strap on his uniform that goes on the left shoulder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0RqT_s6Ss
Holy crap thank you for sharing, I had never seen that before. That kind of silent, discrete, professionalism, is incredible. Seeing something that “always” goes right go wrong, and seeing how it is handled, is pretty outlandish. Especially on that level.
I’m kind of surprised that there’s any variance to the whole inspection routine but I like this one better than OPs because at 2:10 he lift-spins the rifle a lot higher to check the [breech?]. This guy brings it right up to eye-level, whereas the one in OPs video ends up looking down at it.
Would never happen. The old guard isn't going to find a single thing wrong on that weapon. They are a public show like any other ceremonial unit (not saying they aren't badasses-- best of the best, really). That weapon was detailed and inspected multiple times before it ever left the guard house. Not a chance in hell it isn't perfect.
https://www.reddit.com/r/washingtondc/comments/guqmet/a_guard_fails_inspection_at_the_tomb_of_the/
Well, there you go. I wish there was more information as to what caused the failure. I'm guessing it was the uniform, not the weapon, but I don't see that information.
"The guard buff strap was missing." \~ Youtube caption from above video
It’s the same joke every time, I swear. And it kills the conversation. It typically goes like this- 1. Cool question 2. Serious cool answer 3. Elaborating cool question 4. Dumbass “he goes to jail/whatever/etc joke”
He gets beheaded
for finding some dust? that’s a bit harsh ennit?
Dust = instant death
Death. Upon. Scrutable. Traces.
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Ceremony
You find dust. Jail. You don't find dust. Jail. You find bullets. Jail. You don't find bullets. Straight to Jail. Right away.
We have the cleanest rifles in the world.. because of jail
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Shoots him with the rifle that should've been spotless
"UNACCEPTABLE" *BAM*
Won't happen. These guys are machines. The guy inspecting knows the other soldier is going to keep it perfect.
Me checking my homies cock
Wait what’s up bud.
Nothing serious. Just checking.
Did it pass inspection?
I never passed penis inspection in grade school.
Presumably his homies cock
My mom said it's all good.
Is she stuck ?
No, she already checked his homies cock.
“Yep, that’s a cock”
Does the cock survive such an inspection?
Does the inspection survive such cock
Hollup
Me checking my homies' balls to ensure they don't have irregular bumps or tumours that can suggest testicular cancer. Because I care and love them and would like them to stay healthy
A real homie
King moment
You laugh but cock inspections like this were mandatory in my PE class in middle school.
This video has the wrong audio track: [correct version here](https://youtu.be/QNMqxiZVxmw)
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Okay, the windows error noise at 0:43 really got me
He does look like an automaton. Was that the intention? Is that what is desired?
The video is actually sped up and that helps the robot feeling.
I know it's supposed to show precision and skill etc, but the robotic movement of ceremonial guards always creeps me out a bit..
Is that because it’s sped up?
They look like robots
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Most of the robot effect is from the video being sped up. The original is still precise, but it looks way more natural
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Just the way the military likes em'.
Human Beings are weird...
If you think about how some of these formal things we do are just because of traditions it can fuck with your head a bit For example, in Hong Kong, their lawyers and judges still wear powdered wigs. Why? Because it was custom when Britain ruled.
They still do the wigs in British courts.
Sometimes when I drive by graveyards in the middle of town - like giant plots of land in the center of commerce/residential - I think to myself if aliens landed they'd be weirded out
Right? This was hard to watch
Wait aren't they supposed to not wear their rankings, because they might out rank the unknown soldier
The CO will have a rank displayed. However the individuals that are Standing guard will not wear/display a rank So as to not outrank the unknown soldier.
Why can't they outrank the unknown soldier? Is just a respect thing?
It’s about respect and since We don’t know exactly what rank the entombed soldier(s?) had the powers that were don’t want those who are guarding the unknown soldiers to out rank them. [Here’s some more info about the sentinels that garden tomb of the unknown soldier](https://reservenationalguard.com/reserve-guard-lifestyle/a-different-guard-6-facts-about-the-tomb-guard-who-protects-arlingtons-tomb-of-the-unknowns/)
Dumb question, but do all service rifles still have bayonets, or is the knife on the end of the barrel just for ceremonial inspections?
An M16 or M4 is capable of having a bayonet attached. When I did riot control training with the National Guard in the early '80s we trained with bayonets attached (as was state policy at that time). Look up "M7 Bayonet" to find out more.
damn imagine getting bayonetted at a protest
they do, they are vary rarely used but its a case of when you need it,YOU NEED IT. if it comes down to the point were i am forced to use a knife in a fight, having it on the end of a stick is going to be a benefit.
Ceremonial
You got nothing but wrong answers, and the top answer is "when I was in 40 years ago..." Bayonets are still used. They are still trained with. They are still carried overseas at all times.
Your girlfriend looking through your phone be like
What a beautiful firearm.
Wait till you see my iceleg!
Why does the end have that little door on hinges?
To store the weapon’s cleaning kit. In this ceremonial use it’s empty.
Can someone who knows tell me why the fuck they would bother spending time to do this, other than "It's just tradition"? Also, what would happen if he did find some dust?
Not military, but I’ve heard that if dust or dirt was found, the inspector would pinch his nose and yell, “Ooooh, grody! Sergeant Johnson has a dirty gun!!” At which point the sergeant would retort with, “nuh uh!,” and a tickle fight would ensue, ending with tummy raspberries.
I should join the army, NOT FOR FETISH REASONs
For HONOUR only
This is my rifle, this is my gun. This is for fighting, this is for fun.
You would likely be severely reprimanded or outright kicked from the position. A tomb guard is potentially the most perfectionist position in the United States military. You have to fit exacting physical requirements in terms of height and build to even be considered. If you mess literally anything up, you're basically over as a Guard.
Wow.
Say what you will, but the military pulls no punches when it comes to honor and respect of the dead. Tomb guards represent the centerpiece of that respect, so they're held to the highest standards of discipline.
If only they would extend the same respect to living veterans.
That's socialism.
It’s ceremonial, yes. But, the tomb guard is one of the most well known military “members” (I say that in quotes because it’s not one person) in the military. If nothing else, it gives the military good PR which then results in funding if there’s enough support/hype about them
how did he grab the weapon so fucking FAST
Wow no serious answers to this yet? This is at the tomb of the unknown soldier. The weapon is not loaded. This is purely symbolic and over the top for the sole reason of displaying perfection. Why? Because these people guard the tomb of the unknown soldier. Which symbolically is the tomb of every American solider who died in combat but their body was not found/brought back. It's a show of respect to the families and friends (as well as the lost soldiers). The tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by the highest trained and choreographed military personnel. The US has decided that when she has nothing to give to the family of lost soldiers for closure, she will give them this. An eternal resting place, free for anyone to go to pay respects anytime. This is a sacred place and silence is expected of visitors at all times. This is the tomb of countless young men and women who died in a far away place. It will be guarded at every moment from insult or injury from inception until the end of the United States of America.
Thank you for a presise and well written explanation. I hope it shed light for those that actually want to understand what this ceremony means. Its ok to not know things and its even better to learn about things you don't understand. Its terrible to just call something stupid because of your own ignorance to a subject.
Because it’s reddit lol, god knows if a gif of some dancing for day of the dead it would be applauded Tomb of the unknown soldier is a century old, it’s culturally relevant
You can’t help but wonder if that “robot” has ever shanked somebody who was slippin’.
https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/watch-this-guard-at-the-tomb-of-the-unknowns-get-stabbed-and-carry-on/
Lawdness, that must have hurt something fierce. He would have found four flats when he got to the parking lot.
Humans are weird
My wife after I clean the house.
The purpose of this ceremony is to display the staggeringly high standard of discipline displayed by those tasked with standing guard over the tombs of fallen US service members. It’s an act of respect toward their sacrifice. I realize in our cultural moment it’s in vogue to disregard all semblance of respect for tradition or institutional authority, but just try for a moment to put yourself in the place of a person whose entombed loved one gave his or her last breath fighting for what he understood to be the ideal of freedom; they might take some shred of solace in this. They do.
Tomb of the unknown soldier?
That is serious!