Army Staff Sergeant Shane Vincent, assigned to the regiment that guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, spoke to veterans at The Carriage House on Wednesday afternoon. Vincent came to The Villages at the invitation of Gary Kadow, VP of Administration of Villages Honor Flight. Kadow heard him speak at the National Honor Flight Summit last month in Baltimore and thought he was so impressive he wanted to get him down here.
The audience watched the documentary film, “UNKNOWN,” in which Vincent is interviewed and then he took questions from the audience. Vincent, originally from Wyoming, gave some interesting behind-the scenes information about the actual job and the honor he feels to be a guard. Being a Tomb Guard is the least awarded badge in the Army and that was the original reason Vincent wanted to become a Tomb Guard.
“After being there and talking to veteran visitors and realizing what the Tomb means to them it becomes so much bigger than yourself,” said Vincent. The guards work in 26-hour shifts which begin at 4:30am and include physical training for the first hour. Anyone wanting to become a Tomb Guard has a nine-month training program to learn the drills and the extensive history of Arlington National Cemetery. While training, a soldier can earn “walks” if he or she comes up with a fact about Arlington that is new to the instructor. If the instructor approves the trainee to walk, the soldier has three minutes to change into the dress uniform.
“Everything on the uniform is measured to 1/64th of an inch,” said Vincent. “That is how much attention we pay to detail.”
Vincent is a relief commander, in charge of the squadron during his shifts. He watches for major and minor gigs. A major gig is a mistake the visitors would notice, a minor gig that is only obvious to the soldiers. Other duties include briefing foreign dignitaries, the presidential wreath laying ceremonies, VIP tours which include a history lesson on the tomb and raising and lowering the flag.
Regardless of the weather, the guards are at the Tomb. When the cemetery is closed the guards are there but they walk the perimeter not staying in one place. Vincent remembers during Hurricane Sandy, even though the cemetery was closed, he felt called to guard and stayed on the plaza without leaving for 23 hours.
The least awarded badge that originally drew Vincent in to being a gurad has been given to 648 soldiers since 1958. It can be revoked later in life.
“Even if you are 60 and caught for drunk driving, you can be revoked,” said Vincent. “It keeps you on your toes. If you are revoked, your name is removed from the board that lists all those that have received the badge. It is as though you didn’t exist.”
Vincent enjoys talking with the Honor Flight groups that come to Arlington Cemetery; it is what has made this job especially meaningful to him.
“I have the utmost respect for these veterans and it is my honor to answer any questions,” he said.
