Arlington Cemetery Guards: 24-Hour Shifts, Not Hourly Limits

Sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery do not work fixed hourly shifts. Instead, they serve:

• 24-hour duty shifts (on post)
• Followed by 24 hours off

This ensures continuous, unbroken vigilance. The guard change ceremony occurs every 30 minutes (summer) or 60 minutes (winter), but the same sentinel remains on duty for the full 24-hour period, rotating through walking, rest, and preparation cycles within the tomb quarters.

This elite unit (3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment "The Old Guard") volunteers for this sacred duty, meeting exacting physical and disciplinary standards.