Current Events > I wonder how those marines and guards do their job just standing for like 12hrs.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Like outside of the White House, or the tomb of the unknown soldier, etc... how do they just stand there for hours on end, being straight and still? Must be so damn boring.

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They imagine superheros fighting each other

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Like they can't even be listening to music or something on their phones; they literally have to stand there, straight, still, doing nothing for like how many hours their shift is. That must get super tiring, both physically and mentally.

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It takes an incredible amount of decipline

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I was a lifeguard for years in a very regimented, militaristic County Aquatics system. We had to sit on our stands, straight back, head on a constant swivel for sometimes 13 hours/day. It was hell and Id never want to go back to it.

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They get their strength knowing they are protecting the true essential heroes: fast food workers.

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metallica846 posted...

They shift change every 30 minutes.

https://www.wearethemighty.com/military-life/tips-for-white-house-guard/

Oh. Then not bad at all.

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Don't they move around, though? I know the Changing Of The Guard thing in England does this, but I thought the US ones at least moved once in awhile.

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They get broken mentally and then physically then do whatever theyre told to do

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It is a very boring job that probably requires you to be able to zone out big time.

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Reportedly, thousands of Marines apply to be White House sentries, but only four stand guard at one time. This working detail is considered an honor as the sentries represent themselves, their country, and their president.

Why is it even an honor just to stand there and do nothing but open doors for shitty people? They're just glorified doormen.

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DD Divine posted...

They get broken mentally and then physically then do whatever theyre told to do

It doesnt work like the Reese episode of Malcolm in the middle lol. Its a little bit of yelling and push ups for 3 weeks during bootcamp lol

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metallica846 posted...

Protecting the commander in chief is considered an honor in any country.

Protecting them from what? Nothing ever happened. Theyre just opening doors.

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It feels like youre intentionally missing the point of the honor and tradition to troll

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When I would have to pull guard duty in the cold rain for 4hrs or so in the field. We would have 1 of those airplane shots of liquor an hour and a pack of smokes to help us through.

I didn't pull guard with snitches though so I got lucky.

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Went to the tomb of the unknown soldier on July 4 this year and they change shifts every 30 minutes. The dude even had a little hut he could go into and get water because it was near 100 degrees that day.

But I mean there's a serious sense of duty that probably keeps them motivated the whole time. Getting that job is almost impossible so anyone that gets it is probably happy to do it or at least proud of it.

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darkprince45 posted...

It feels like youre intentionally missing the point of the honor and tradition to troll

I really am not trolling. I dont understand why its an honor to stand there to open doors for people.

I definitely see the Secret Service as more of an honor, but these sentinels? Dont get it.

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Once worked with someone who had a nephew that was one of the soldiers that stood watch at Regan's casket.

Claims that they said it was the hardest thing they did serving in the military.

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Its called discipline

metallica846 posted...

People have jumped the fence and run inside the White House before as well as taking shots at it. It might not seem glamorous but it is necessary.

Isn't that what the secret service is for?

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Secret service is there to protect the president not the white house itself.

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