Distinctive Unit Crest of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)
One of the oldest of military traditions
is
the Old Guard’s “riderless horse,”
which follows the casket at the
funerals
of
general officers and
Presidents
of the United States.
A flag of The United States of America, folded with Old Guard precision, will move from casket to the hands of the next of kin, presented in the name of the Commander-in-Chief and a grateful nation.
Readiness
The Old Guard is ready to deploy when ordered. Its soldiers maintain the same level of proficiency in their specialties as any other Infantry member. The Regiment responds to emergency situations within the Military District of Washington, as was the case on 9/11 when it deployed to the Pentagon to establish security, rescue survivors and remove the dead.
The Old Guard
"Always Ready"
A Fighting Tradition
Old Guard units served in the British, Mexican, Spanish, European, Korean and Vietnam conflicts. In both 2003 and 2007 an Old Guard Infantry Company deployed to Djibouti, Africa, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Currently an Old Guard company is deployed to Iraq.
Individuals who volunteer for The Old Guard are among the Army’s best soldiers, most of whom have proven themselves in previous military assignments, often in combat. They are selected based on their military bearing and special skills. Among the soldiers of this elite unit are musicians, wranglers, marksmen, historians and experts in security, military drill and the dispatch of ordnance. It is a self-contained unit of some 1,700 soldiers, with an autonomous command and a logistical structure.
