U.S. Army Caisson Platoon

U.S. Army Caisson Platoon
Unit name	U.S. Army Caisson Platoon
Caption	Caisson team at Arlington National Cemetery
Dates	1962–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Ceremonial unit
Role	Funeral honors, ceremonial transport
Garrison	Fort Myer

U.S. Army Caisson Platoon is a ceremonial unit of the United States Army assigned to duties at Arlington National Cemetery and other national ceremonies. The platoon provides horse-drawn caisson funerals, participates in state ceremonies, and supports honors for veterans and dignitaries. It maintains traditions linked to cavalry history and cooperates with units and institutions across the federal ceremonial community.

History

The platoon's lineage traces to cavalry and horse-drawn artillery elements active during the American Civil War, with institutional links to units such as the United States Cavalry, the Army of the Potomac, and later horse artillery formations that served in the Spanish–American War and World War I. Post-World War II reorganization and the preservation of ceremonial functions led to formal establishment of the caisson mission near the mid-20th century, influenced by precedents set at Arlington National Cemetery and observances related to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The unit's practice developed alongside ceremonial elements from the United States Army Old Guard, the 7th Cavalry Regiment traditions, and national memorial rituals like presidential inaugurations associated with the United States Presidential Inauguration.

Organization and Personnel

The platoon operates within the framework of elements drawn from the Old Guard (United States) and maintains reporting relationships with installation commands at Fort Myer and coordination with the Joint Chiefs of Staff protocol offices for state funerals. Personnel include noncommissioned officers, enlisted riders, farriers, harness technicians, and veterinary liaisons who coordinate with facilities such as the United States Army Veterinary Corps and military medical support from nearby installations. Leadership roles reflect Army rank structures including Sergeant Major and First Sergeant billets, and the platoon interfaces with civilian agencies like the Arlington National Cemetery administration and the United States Department of Defense ceremonial staff.

Roles and Mission

Primary missions encompass dignified transfer, military funeral honors, and participation in state ceremonial events. The platoon's operational duties intersect with protocols used at ceremonies involving the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of Congress such as the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, and federal law enforcement memorials like those coordinated with the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The unit also supports public commemorations tied to historical observances such as Memorial Day (United States) and Veterans Day (United States), and contributes to joint-service functions with the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy ceremonial detachments.

Equipment and Horses

The platoon operates horse-drawn caissons constructed to carry caskets and ceremonial loads, using harnesses, artillery wheels, and limbers that reflect 19th-century artillery design elements seen in collections at institutions like the National Museum of American History and Smithsonian Institution. Equine stock typically comprises breeds suited for draft and carriage work, with training and care managed in coordination with standards promulgated by the United States Army Veterinary Corps and veterinary partnerships with regional facilities near Alexandria, Virginia and Washington, D.C.. Maintenance equipment includes forge tools for farrier work, tack repair stations, and specialized horse trailers for strategic movement to national events such as parades on the National Mall (Washington, D.C.).

Training and Selection

Selection emphasizes equestrian skill, ceremonial drill, and knowledge of funerary protocols codified in Army regulations and ceremonial manuals maintained by entities such as the United States Army Military District of Washington. Candidates often come from cavalry, logistics, or ceremonial backgrounds with training in mounted drill comparable to instruction practiced historically by units like the 6th Cavalry Regiment and contemporary mounted ceremonial units in allied services. Training curricula cover mounted maneuver, caisson hitching procedures, stable management, emergency veterinary response, and interoperability for joint ceremonies with organizations like the United States Secret Service during state funerals.

Ceremonies and Protocol

The platoon performs in a range of events governed by diplomatic and military protocol, including state funerals for figureheads such as John F. Kennedy and participation in ceremonies associated with memorials like the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum commemorations, and national parades that traverse the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor. Protocol dictates precise formations, music coordination with bands such as the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own", and liaison with honor guard detachments from the United States Air Force Honor Guard and the United States Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard.

Notable Events and Incidents

The platoon has been visible at high-profile events including funerals of prominent figures interred at Arlington and expanded participation during national crises that required ceremonial continuity, paralleling historical responses by units during periods like the Assassination of John F. Kennedy and commemorations aligned with anniversaries of the American Civil War. Training and operations have occasionally intersected with investigations and after-action reviews involving animal welfare oversight performed by civilian agencies and military veterinary authorities, and the unit's public-facing role has resulted in extensive media coverage by outlets historically reporting on federal ceremonies in Washington, D.C..

Category:United States Army units and formations Category:Military units and formations in Virginia