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Hegseth and staff reprimanded by guard at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (apnews.com)
submitted 16 hours ago by to c/news@lemmy.world
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A soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier issued a verbal reprimand to a group of advisers and staffers with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Video shows Hegseth taking photos on the empty steps in front of the tomb with his wife, Jennifer, chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver and senior adviser Tami Radabaugh.

As the group broke from taking photos, a loud laugh could be heard, and the soldier guarding the tomb shouted that “all visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times.”

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[–] 157 points 16 hours ago (5 children)

Good man.

Kegsbreath will probably try to have him court martialed.

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    • [–] 147 points 16 hours ago* (2 children)

    The guards at the tomb of the unknown soldier are well known for this. There's videos of them yelling at people all over YouTube anyone wanted to see.

    Their entire job is to maintain the peaceful and respectful atmosphere in the cemetery, no matter who it may be disrupting that.

    The real story here is that the Secretary of the god-gamned Military and his entourage don't know that and had to be reminded to mind their manners at arguably the most important US military memorial in the world. That the headline is putting the focus not on the transgression, but on the soldier who called it out is disingenuous.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 minutes ago

    The real story here is that the Secretary of the god-gamned Military and his entourage don’t know that and had to be reminded to mind their manners at arguably the most important US military memorial in the world.

    On Veteran's Day, no less.

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    • [–] 54 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

    And especially so on Armistice Day.

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    • [–] 43 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (5 children)

    I’m genuinely elated at this headline.

    Simultaneously, I’m deeply concerned for the career trajectory of some random soldier who takes his (to be clear, extraordinarily solemn) duty seriously enough to tell a SecDef this fucking emotionally fragile to effectively fuck off. Despite the fact that it is very literally his explicit duty to do precisely that, regardless of whether it’s a tourist or the president.

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  • [–] 27 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago) (3 children)

    I don't want this soldier to get caught in the crossfire, but I'd kinda like to see them make the mistake of coming for his career. This guard position isn't just given to anyone. It's kinda like The King's Guards at Buckingham palace. This isn't some 18 year old boot, he's very likely a badass with a distinguished record.

    edit cause I'm redundant when tired

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  • [–] 22 points 11 hours ago (2 children)

    This guard position isn't just given to anyone, this guy very likely has an outstanding military record.

    They absolutely do. Very few have the opportunity to even try to train for the position.

    Twenty-four hours a day, soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as "The Old Guard," stand watch over the Tomb. The Tomb Guards, also called Sentinels, are chosen for this prestigious and highly selective post only after rigorous training and a demanding series of examinations. The Old Guard has held this distinguished duty since 1948.  

    The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, traditionally known as "The Old Guard," is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army, serving the United States since 1784. The Army's official ceremonial unit and escort to the president, it also provides security for Washington, D.C. in times of national emergency or civil disturbance. The unit received its name from Gen. Winfield Scott during a victory parade at Mexico City in 1847, following its valorous performance in the Mexican War. The black-and-tan "buff strap" worn on the left shoulder replicates the knapsack strap used by the unit's 19th-century predecessors to distinguish its members from other Army units.

    Would-be Tomb Guards must first undergo an interview and a two-week trial. During the trial phase, they memorize seven pages of Arlington National Cemetery history. This information must be recited verbatim in order to earn a "walk."

    New Sentinels learn the history of Arlington National Cemetery and the grave locations of nearly 300 veterans. They learn the guard-change ceremony, the manual of arms, and methods for keeping their uniforms and weapons in immaculate condition.

    The Sentinels must pass multiple tests to earn the privilege of wearing the silver Tomb Guard Identification Badge. First, they are tested on their manual of arms knowledge, uniform preparation and walks. Then, they take the badge test, consisting of 100 randomly selected questions from the 300 items memorized during training. The would-be badge holder must get more than 95 percent correct.

    The Tomb Guard Identification Badge is an upside-down, laurel-leaf wreath surrounding a depiction of the Tomb's front face, the words "Honor Guard," and figures representing Peace, Victory and Valor. Over 600 Tomb Guards have earned the badge since the late 1950s. 

    70 years, and only about 600 Sentinels. That means only about 10 new Sentinels per year make it through. For context, there are roughly 2,400 active Navy SEALs as of 2025.

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  • [–] 4 points 44 minutes ago*

    Yes, from what I understand they're basically the vestal virgins of the US Army. Their role is deeply ceremonial, intended to be a symbol of the ideal soldier so as to provide a worthy guard for their fellow symbols embodied by the unknowns. They even literally live right there by the tomb, and their name can be obliterated from the register if they fuck up too badly, even years after their particular tour with the "Old Guard" is done. Their weapons, particularly their pistols, are literally totemic ritual objects.

    Sentinels in particular get picked because they are true believers in the mission, physically look the part, have the physical tools to endure the monotony and weather, and they are wired to be the type of guys who get off on following regulations to the letter. For all those reasons, they are typically pretty young, as well. I've read a few accounts that suggest they're often not super pleasant people to work with later in their careers, but they're earnest AF.

    They're probably elite in a different way than special forces, but I'm sure their military skills are as good as they can manage with all the other requirements, and at any rate I doubt you'd want to cross the platonic ideal of a Dwight Schrute while on his turf.

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    • [–] 32 points 11 hours ago

    Obama, Hillary, Pete, Bernie ... any of those guys did this and Fox News would put this on the news cycle for a long time back in the day ...

    This will be forgotten in another day or so.

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    [–] 31 points 15 hours ago

    What happens next would be a test of the armed forces leadership. If the guard stays, it means at least one person in the chain of command have a spine. Otherwise the entire US armed forces leadership have become spineless.

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    [–] 12 points 5 hours ago (1 child)

    These guys respect no one, not even the dead.

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    • [–] 10 points 13 hours ago*

    Jeez, even the people left on Xitter are excoriating him (Nitter link). Also, is that a woodland camo tie, flag belt buckle, and a god-damn zip-up fleece under his suit jacket? I'm no fashion maven, but WTAF?

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    [–] 9 points 14 hours ago

    Based and respect the actual people that literally fought for people's freedoms pilled.

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    7 comments in c/politics@lemmy.world view that post
    [–] 27 points 16 hours ago

    What a god damn disgrace.

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    [–] 21 points 15 hours ago*

    Tomorrow's headline: "Department of War to court marshall soldier who reprimanded Hegseth and his associates because he's a trans, commie, Muslim fatty."

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    [–] 15 points 16 hours ago

    What a fuckin clown

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    [–] 8 points 15 hours ago

    Why would any US commander respect troops? It's like the one person least likely to value their lives. They sent them to die to cover up pedophilia. The difference between reverence in the Trump vs Biden admin is as diametrically opposed as possible and the party who strokes off the military the most is on board. Virtue signaling is all the entire party ever was.

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    [–] 5 points 15 hours ago

    The pentagons top spokesman, not Hegseth made a vanilla plain statement.

    That is in itself the statement which says "I will try to maintain the illusion respecting the lives given in the past and those we put at risk today".

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    [–] 5 points 15 hours ago

    That unmitigated fucking disgrace of a subhuman. A Tomb Guard had to reprimand the stupid fuck Secretary of Ineptitude. Retroactively revoke his honorable discharge and issue a dishonorable. Fuckass no respect idiot fucking clownfuck pissant.

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    [–] 4 points 6 hours ago

    They have no decency, no respect and no morals. Exactly as could be expected when Trump was elected.

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