Why the U.S. Army's oldest regiment is allowed to march with fixed bayonets

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Known as The Old Guard, the 3rd Infantry Regiment serves as the primary ceremonial face of the U.S. Army. Beyond its solemn duties at Arlington National Cemetery, this historic unit holds a unique military privilege granted in 1922: the exclusive right to march in parades with fixed bayonets.

Tracing its lineage to the First American Regiment formed in 1784, the 3rd Infantry Regiment is the longest-serving active unit in the Regular Army. While it was officially designated as the Army's primary ceremonial force in 1948, its identity is rooted in a complex history of reorganization. In 1815, following the War of 1812, the Army consolidated its forces based on geography rather than seniority, leading to the formation of the 3rd Infantry from several older units. This administrative shift is precisely why it holds the title of the oldest active infantry unit today.

The Old Guard balances two distinct worlds: high-stakes combat readiness and meticulous pageantry. Every soldier in the regiment must maintain certification for infantry combat roles, even as they perform duties like the twenty-four-hour watch at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The unit's ceremonial reach is vast, encompassing everything from dignified transfers at Dover Air Force Base to the historical reenactments of the Fife and Drum Corps. Their distinctive appearance—often featuring Colonial-style uniforms, powdered wigs, and cocked hats—serves to connect modern citizens with the foundational era of the Continental Army.

The regiment's unique traditions are hard-won. The authorization to march with fixed bayonets commemorates a specific 1847 bayonet charge during the Battle of Cerro Gordo in the Mexican War. Other anomalies include the drum major of the Fife and Drum Corps, who is the only soldier in the U.S. Armed Forces permitted to carry an espontoon and salute with the left hand. These customs, alongside the regiment's motto 'Noli Me Tangere' (Touch Me Not), underscore a culture of discipline that has persisted from the frontier outposts of the 18th century to the modern National Capital Region.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• The oldest continuous division in the US Army has a storied, bloody lineage
• Why the military regiment is both a tactical powerhouse and a stubborn administrative relic
• The National Guard is a dual-purpose military force with roots in 1636 colonial militias.
• From a small frontier guard to the world's largest military force
• The Ivy Division: From WWI trenches to the shores of Normandy
• Why a series of books about vinyl records became a literary cult phenomenon
• How 50 Cent dominated the US charts with five consecutive top five albums
• The Indianhead Division: A Century of Combat from Belleau Wood to the Korean Peninsula
• The two-decade rap war that started with a stolen chain and never truly ended
• The Latin Grammys are rewriting the rules of musical eligibility
• The 6.5mm Grendel: A Monster of Precision Designed for the AR-15 Platform
• How a New York pencil tower shrank from a supertall to a slender skyscraper

More in US culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics