0376
Michael R Belton
Tomb Position
SentinelTomb Relief
3rdHighest Military Rank
LTCTomb Dates
Jul 1991 - Jun 1992Society Membership
Lifetime MemberHome City / State
Live Oak, FLTomb Reflections
Becoming a SentinelMy First Walk
My Last Walk
And everything in-between...
Units & Campaigns
Special Operation Command Europe (SOCEUR)- Stuttgart, Germany (Jul 12-Present)HQ USAF, Air Staff, Pentagon- Washington DC (Jan 10-Jun 12)
Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory- Laurel, MD (Aug 08-Aug 09)
Space and Missile Defense Command- Huntsville, AL (Aug 03-Aug 08)
Company Commander- A/203rd FSB, Ft Benning, GA (Nov 01-Aug 03)
Company Commander- E 1/507th PIR, Ft Benning, GA (Jun 00-Nov01)
SETAF, 22nd Area Support Group- Vicenza, Italy (Apr 99-Oct 99)
SETAF, 24th QM Co Parachute Rigger- Vicenza, Italy (Oct 96-Apr 99)
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery- (Jul 91-Jun 92)
Alpha Company, The Old Guard- Ft McNair, Washington DC- (Dec 88-Jul 91)
Awards & Decorations
Bronze Star (1 OLC)Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC)
Army Commendation Meda1 (2 OLC)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC)
Presidential Unit Citation
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal (1 Star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
NCO Professional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
Air Assault Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Master AF Space Badge
Master Parachutist Wings
Parachute Rigger Wings
Italian Jump Wings
German Jump Wings
Tomb of the Soldier Identification Badge
3rd Infantry Division Combat Patch
Special Operations Command-Europe (SOCEUR) Combat Patch
Support the Society
The Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (SHGTUS) is able to provide our programs, events, assistance, scholarships, and services due to the generosity of its members, organizations, and individuals. SHGTUS does not receive institutional funding. Note: The Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your contributions may be fully tax deductible.
Learn More
Did you know?
How many Sentinels have been female?
There have been over 700 tomb guards awarded the badge since 1958 when we started counting. There are hundreds more from the year 1926 when the Army started guarding the Tomb. The 3rd US Infantry (The Old Guard) is the unit that has been given the duty of guarding the Tomb. It was given this sacred duty in 1948. The Old Guard was -- and still is -- considered a combat unit. As an Infantry unit, females were not permitted in the ranks for many years. It wasn't until 1994 that females were permitted to volunteer to become a Sentinel when the 289th Military Police Company was attached to the Old Guard. The MP branch is a combat support unit and includes females.
In 1996, SGT Heather Johnsen became the first female to earn the Tomb Guard Identification Badge. She volunteered for duty in June 1995 and earned her badge in 1996. However, SGT Johnson was not the only female Sentinel. Since then, there have been a total of eight female Sentinels awarded the Tomb Guard Identification Badge:
SGT Danyell Wilson earned her badge in 1997SSG Tonya Bell received hers in 1998
SGT Ruth Hanks earned her badge in June 2015
SFC Chelsea Porterfield earned her badge in 2021
SGT Kamille Torres earned her badge in 2022
SPC Jessica Kwiatkowski earned her badge in 2023
SGT Kaylee Johnston earned her badge in 2024
Several other units have since been attached to the Old Guard -- food service, transportation, medics, etc. -- so now females have an ever-greater opportunity to become a Sentinel. Females must meet the same requirements as the male soldiers to be eligible to volunteer at the Tomb. the only difference is that females have a minimum height of 5'8" -- which is the same standard to be a member of the Old Guard.
