Does the US Military Honor Guards use real weapons?

[roadman65]

I noticed that in many civilian honor guards, where many non profit groups like the VFW, American Legion,  Etc. they use prop or ceremonial swords or muskets when wearing the official uniform to denote battle even though not in battle.

Being the US military does fight real battles, I was wondering if the sword and rifle that the guards use, like at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, are also ceremonial types or real ammo used as ceremonial?

[1995hoo]

The Tomb Guards at Arlington carry fully-functional M-14s but don't divulge any information beyond that for security reasons. The military does not view their role as ceremonial.

[Scott5114]

The Tomb Guards at Arlington carry fully-functional M-14s but don't divulge any information beyond that for security reasons. The military does not view their role as ceremonial.

What security reasons could they possibly have? Someone's going to find out what kind of gun they use to guard the tomb and...do what exactly?

[Max Rockatansky]

The Tomb Guards at Arlington carry fully-functional M-14s but don't divulge any information beyond that for security reasons. The military does not view their role as ceremonial.

What security reasons could they possibly have? Someone's going to find out what kind of gun they use to guard the tomb and...do what exactly?

More than likely standard military need to know protocol. 

[1995hoo]

The Tomb Guards at Arlington carry fully-functional M-14s but don't divulge any information beyond that for security reasons. The military does not view their role as ceremonial.

What security reasons could they possibly have? Someone's going to find out what kind of gun they use to guard the tomb and...do what exactly?

I don't know, but that's the explanation they give. I assume it has something to do with protecting the tomb from vandals or foreign miscreants who would view damaging it as a blow to American pride.

[hbelkins]

Bet Alec Baldwin wishes movies didn't use real weapons as props. (ducking...)

[Scott5114]

Bet Alec Baldwin wishes movies didn't use real weapons as props. (ducking...)

A lot of movies don't. Some movies even give the actors props that are only vaguely gun-shaped and add in a CGI gun later.

[abefroman329]

Bet Alec Baldwin wishes movies didn't use real weapons as props. (ducking...)

A lot of movies don't. Some movies even give the actors props that are only vaguely gun-shaped and add in a CGI gun later.

But is this a case where the CGI gun doesn't exist in real life?

[qguy]

When I was an active-duty Air Force officer, at one place I was stationed I was an honor guard commander, in addition to my primary job. We performed various ceremonial functions, including the rendering of honors at funerals throughout our region.

One of the elements at funerals was a 21-gun salute followed by Taps. Seven enlisted Airmen fired rifles in unison three times. The rifle we used was the M-1 Garand. They were fully functional and capable of firing live rounds, but we used blank cartridges. We had to be very careful that we checked the proper ammunition from the armory.

Many military honor guards still employ functioning M-1s. So yes, they may not be the routine combat choice any longer (having been phased out by the early 1960s), but at least in many cases with military honor guards, they are real, operational weapons.

[triplemultiplex]

The Tomb Guards at Arlington carry fully-functional M-14s but don't divulge any information beyond that for security reasons. The military does not view their role as ceremonial.

What security reasons could they possibly have? Someone's going to find out what kind of gun they use to guard the tomb and...do what exactly?

More than likely standard military need to know protocol. 

Haven't you ever seen a zombie movie?