US Navy Presidential Ceremonial Honor Guard Drill Team

The US Navy Ceremonial Guard Silent Drill Team was invited to compete in an International Tattoo in Norway, going up against military units from across NATO — and won first place. Once you see the video, you’ll understand why.

The U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard is the Navy’s official ceremonial unit, based at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C. Its Silent Drill Team performs a precise sequence of rifle movements — spins, tosses, and inspections — executed entirely without verbal commands. Every motion is cued by the sound and rhythm of the drill itself, using M1 Garand rifles fitted with fixed bayonets and chrome hardware. A military tattoo is a formal evening performance of massed drill, music, and pageantry by military bands and honor units, a tradition dating back centuries to the drumbeat that once called soldiers back to quarters for the night.

Performing before an international audience and a panel of judges, the sailors of the Ceremonial Guard carried out their routine flawlessly — the bayoneted rifles passing inches from one another in perfect timing — and took first place over the competing NATO teams. The full performance is in the video below.