November 5, 2020 – TAPS FOR VETERANS joins the National Salute
5 months ago
Please see the press release on the Veterans for Taps joining TUS100 efforts.
View press release here: November 5, 2020 – TAPS FOR VETERANS joins the National Salute
Latest News
April 16, 2021 - Centennial Tidbit #26 Released
Posted April 16, 2021 in CentennialSince our last update we have released new tidbit spotlighting on the answer to the question “What does the Tomb of the Unknow Soldier mean to you?” and “What does the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier...
TUS100 Update – April 14, 2021
Posted April 14, 2021 in CentennialCheck out the latest UPDATE on TUS100 as well as the release of Centennial Tidbit #25 - Special Drummers of The United States Army Band, Part...
March 23, 2021 – TUS100 Update
Posted March 23, 2021 in CentennialDid you know? On March 24, 1926 the Secretary of War issued orders to the Commanding General of the Military District of Washington to the "Establishment of an Armed Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown...
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Did you know?
How many Sentinels have been female?
There have been over 680 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 Johnson 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 five female Sentinels awarded the Tomb Guard Identification Badge:
SGT Danyell Wilson earned
her badge in 1997
SSG Tonya Bell received hers in 1998
SGT Ruth
Hanks earned her badge in June 2015
SFC Chelsea Porterfield earned her badge in 2021
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.
