Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has first all-female guard change

For the first time in history the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier had an all-female guard change last week, 84 years after the memorial was erected at Arlington National Cemetery.

The U.S. Army Old Guard announced in a tweet on Friday that history was made on a recent Autumn morning at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier when, on the 30,770th day of continuous guarding, an all-female guard change took place with the 28th Sergeant of the Guard.

Patrick Roddy, commander of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, which is also referred to as The Old Guard, said the historic event occurred last week.

On a recent Autumn morning at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in @ArlingtonNatl, history was made. For the first time in the 84-year vigil, on the 30770th day of continuous guarding, an all-female guard change occurred with the 38th Sergeant of the Guard.#Tomb100 pic.twitter.com/JndxF9VVuK

— The Old Guard (@USArmyOldGuard) October 1, 2021

The Tomb of the Unknown Circle is a memorial in Arlington National Cemetery that is meant to honor unidentified service members who died in combat. The memorial typically draws large crowds of tourists.

This week, at the Tomb Of The Unknown Solider @ArlingtonNatl history was made. For the first time in the 84-year vigil, on the 30,770th day of the continuous guard, an all-woman changing of the guard occurred under the direction of the 38th Sergeant of the Guard, SFC Porterfield. pic.twitter.com/8dRhqNdT1P

— Patrick Roddy (@PatrickRoddy4) October 1, 2021

The changing of the guard refers to when a Sentinel, which is a word used to refer to soldiers who stand and watch over the tomb, takes over for the individual standing guard, according to NPR. A third relief commander presides over the procession.

Roddy told Task and Purpose in an article published on Saturday that the first all-women guard change took place on Sergeant Chelsea Porterfield’s final walk.

Porterfield was the first ever woman to serve as sergeant of the guard. According to The Old Guard, her final walk took place on Sept. 29.

Today, Sergeant of the Guard SFC Chelsea Porterfield completed her final walk at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. As the 38th Sergeant of the Guard, she is the 1st female to hold this position. Thank you for your countless hours of service and leading the way for future Soldiers. pic.twitter.com/kWo7gAfDzY

— The Old Guard (@USArmyOldGuard) September 29, 2021

Roddy said that in honor of Porterfield’s service and at her request, schedules for the changing of the guard were aligned so the trio taking part in the SFC’s final walk would be all women.

He said that there was not an intention to “engineer” the all-female changing of the guard, but did recognize that the event “had significant meaning.”

“This was really about recognizing SFC Porterfield’s service to the Tomb during her tenure there,” Roddy told Task & Purpose.

“We recognized this is important, which is why we’ve shared it, but at the same time didn’t want to make it a spectacle due to the solemn nature of their mission and [the] continual dedicated service of all who walk and have walked the mat continuously for 84 years,” he added.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was erected in 1921. Five years later the Army started guarding the memorial, and 11 years after that soldiers started watching over the tribute 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

In the summer months the changing of the guard occurs every 30 minutes, according to the Society of the Honor Guard, and every hour during the winter months.

When the cemetery is closed, the guard is switched out every two hours.

According to the Society of the Honor Guard, the memorial has been guarded for every minute of every day since 1937.