David B Gleason

Can I Tour the Pentagon?

The pentagon memorial is open to all visitors, and public tours inside the pentagon are available to us citizens with advance reservation..

Yes, but public tours inside the Pentagon are available to US citizens only with advance reservations. The Pentagon Memorial is open to all visitors.

How to tour the Pentagon

The Pentagon, located just outside Washington, DC in Arlington, Va., is the headquarters for the United States Department of Defense. It is open for official tours through the  Pentagon Tours program .

Pentagon tours must be reserved at least 14 days in advance and no more than 90 days in advance. Tours are conducted Tuesdays and Thursdays (excluding federal holidays) at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tours fill up quickly and it is highly recommended that you book well in advance of your visit. You can make a tour request online . International visitors must request a tour through their home country’s embassy.

Individuals who have a Pentagon badge and escort privileges are permitted to give a self-guided tours to friends or family. If you are assigned to the Pentagon or if you are visiting a Pentagon staff member, contact the Pentagon Force Protection Agency at (703) 697-1001 to determine escort status.

Nighttime at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Virginia

Nighttime at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Virginia

Touring the Pentagon

Tours are 60 minutes and cover about 1.5 miles inside the Pentagon, which is one of the largest office buildings in the world. Tours include the history of the four branches of the military and the opportunity to see the indoor memorial near the Sept. 11 crash site and the Sept. 11 Memorial chapel, as well as the Hall of Heroes (featuring the names of all the Medal of Honor recipients) and a number of other military displays.

Pentagon Memorial

@daily__ary

Parking, security and accessibility

There is no public parking at The Pentagon. The Pentagon can be reached via its own dedicated Metro stop on the Blue and Yellow lines or you may choose to park at Pentagon City Mall and make the five-minute walk to the Pentagon via pedestrian tunnel. Once you’ve arrived, check in at the Pentagon Tours window near the Metro entrance.

Visitors must check-in at least 60 minutes prior to their scheduled tour to allow time for security. You will be asked to present your tour confirmation email and photo ID. All visitors will go through security scanners. All purses are subject to search. Large bags, including backpacks, shopping bags and camera bags are NOT permitted on the tour. Cell phone, cameras, recording devices and other electronic devices cannot be used on the tour and no photography is permitted inside the building.

Ramps are available for visitors with disabilities. Tour visitors in wheelchairs must bring someone who can assist them on the tour.  A signer will be added to tours to assist hearing impaired visitors provided that two weeks' notice is given. Special tours for visually impaired visitors can also be arranged with two weeks' notice.

There are so many great tours and sightseeing opportunities in Washington, DC. Discover  your next tour adventure .

More About DC

You may also like..

How Do I Tour the U.S. Capitol and See Congress in Session?

Washington, DC Ghost Tours That Are Sure to Spook You

15+ Exciting Things to See & Do Along the Old Town Alexandria Waterfront

NBC4 Washington

After 2-Year Hiatus, Pentagon Reopens for Tours

The seat of national defense is also home to a spectacular display of military history, by eun yang, news4 anchor • published may 19, 2022 • updated on may 19, 2022 at 10:29 am.

The Pentagon has opened again for tours, more than two years after it last offered them. The tour guides are dedicated to informing the public about the many contributions of the country's servicemen and women.

Army Specialist Tyson Weichbrodt imparts the gravity and emotion of Sept. 11, 2001:

"It was at 9:37 in the morning, Sept. 11. Flight 77, a 757 under the control of terrorists, was deliberately crashed into the Pentagon. It killed all 59 people on board and 125 people working here at the building. Their names, in alphabetical order, are listed here...."

The America's Heroes Memorial is located where the plane crashed into the Pentagon, an essential stop on these tours, which recently reopened to the public to tours.

We're making it easier for you to find stories that matter with our new newsletter — The 4Front. Sign up here and get news that is important for you to your inbox.

'We want to impress on the public how seriously we've taken and remind them of the sobriety of that day," Specialist Weichbrodt said, "particularly for the younger generation, who was not born or perhaps very little. It's particularly impactful for them to understand what happened."

For Specialist Weichbrodt, sharing this defining moment in American history has personal meaning.

"It frames so much for me, that event, how I think of myself as an American, and it certainly contributed to my decision to join the military," he said.

Only the best in the building are selected to be tour guides. They have to go through an extensive process for which not even their military training could prepare them.

"So it was a 15-day process, 33 pages of scripts that we had to memorize verbatim, so every day we were learning about page and a half, I would say, front to back, of scripts," said Navy Seaman Ariana Diaz. "At the end of the process, you get three days to test out."

tour of duty pentagon

Catch Free Outdoor Movies in DC, Maryland and Virginia All Summer Long

tour of duty pentagon

The Weekend Scene: 10+ Things to Do in the DC Area May 20-22

That final test involves giving your colleagues a tour. It is a distinct honor, one that Seaman Diaz considers a highlight of her time at the Pentagon.

Her favorite section before is dedicated to women in service.

"It wasn't until 1901 with the Army nurses' corps, and 1908 with the Navy nurses' corps, when women were officially allowed to serve, and that was just as nurses," Seaman Diaz said. "Today, we're allowed to serve in every position, that being on submarines, on battleships, things of that nature. Thanks to these women, they were kind of being pioneers for me, specifically women in service."

Now, Seaman Diaz is a role model herself.

"I'm the first woman in my family who served in the military. So being able to work here has definitely shown me what I can do for further generations," she said. "My nieces, I want them to be just as great, if not greater. Maybe one day, they'll be able to be the president or the secretary of defense."

That's just a fraction of what you'll see and learn on the entire guided tour.

Tours are offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. You must register online in advance.

For security reasons, you may not bring any electronics on the tour or take videos or photos. You also won't be able to store your electronics on-site, so remember to leave them behind. Prohibited devices include cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops, gaming devices, cameras, storage devices/flash drives, scanners, headphones, virtual reality devices, transmitters and GPS devices.

Take the Metro, because parking is a challenge. And wear comfortable shoes, because you'll be walking about 1.5 miles during the tour.

This article tagged under:

tour of duty pentagon

  • Subscribe Now (Opens in new window)
  • Air Force Times (Opens in new window)
  • Marine Corps Times (Opens in new window)
  • Navy Times (Opens in new window)
  • Pentagon & Congress
  • Defense News (Opens in new window)
  • Flashpoints
  • Benefits Guide (Opens in new window)
  • Military Pay Center
  • Military Retirement
  • Military Benefits
  • Discount Depot
  • Gear Scout (Opens in new window)
  • Military Culture
  • Military Fitness
  • Military Movies & Video Games
  • Military Sports
  • Transition Guide (Opens in new window)
  • Pay It Forward (Opens in new window)
  • Black Military History (Opens in new window)
  • Congressional Veterans Caucus (Opens in new window)
  • Military Appreciation Month (Opens in new window)
  • Military History
  • Vietnam Vets & Rolling Thunder (Opens in new window)
  • Honor the Fallen (Opens in new window)
  • Hall of Valor (Opens in new window)
  • Service Members of the Year (Opens in new window)
  • Create an Obituary (Opens in new window)
  • Medals & Misfires
  • Installation Guide (Opens in new window)
  • Task Force Violent
  • Battle Bracket
  • CFC Givers Guide
  • Photo Galleries
  • Early Bird Brief
  • Newsletters (Opens in new window)
  • Long-Term Care Partners
  • Navy Federal
  • Digital Edition (Opens in new window)

Guard, Reserve soldiers can now browse active duty jobs on their phones

tour of duty pentagon

Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers looking to secure their next stint on active duty orders are now able to do so from their own couches — and on their own mobile devices — thanks to Carrera , a new app developed by the Army Software Factory in Austin, Texas.

The app was developed to satisfy an order from Congress in the fiscal 2022 defense bill that  required the Army to make mobilization opportunities for reserve component troops available for browsing on personal devices. Previously, the opportunities were only accessible through the NIPR network-only Tour of Duty portal.

At any given moment, the Army is trying to fill hundreds, if not thousands, of temporary active duty tours with reservists.

tour of duty pentagon

But in late 2017, the portal for searching those vacancies moved onto the government network, meaning that Guard and Reserve troops without take-home government computers could only browse and apply for those vacancies from an armory. That put a burden on some who live hours away from where they serve.

The new app goes beyond the order, though, and delivers an unprecedented level of access: soldiers will now be able to browse listings from their mobile devices or other devices without Common Access Card readers after they initially set up a username and password through the service’s identity management portal .

Work on the application began in August, Army Software Factory officials told FedScoop last month. They developed it in coordination with the Army’s operations directorates and senior Army Reserve leaders, said Robyn Mack, an Army Futures Command spokesperson.

The development team also asked soldiers and units seeking reservists what they wanted to see from the new portal — and mobile accessibility was near the top of their list.

Mack added that Carrera will also allow the service to harness “data insights that the Army can use to inform job planning and outreach.”

Davis Winkie covers the Army for Military Times. He studied history at Vanderbilt and UNC-Chapel Hill, and served five years in the Army Guard. His investigations earned the Society of Professional Journalists' 2023 Sunshine Award and consecutive Military Reporters and Editors honors, among others. Davis was also a 2022 Livingston Awards finalist.

In Other News

tour of duty pentagon

Witches be crazy: How one WWII ship led to the UK’s last witch trial

One particular séance in 1941 attracted the attention of the british war office..

tour of duty pentagon

Costs, wait times up for military families after pharmacy cyberattack

Tricare beneficiaries asked to shoulder the entire cost of their prescriptions in the wake of a cyberattack have options to save money or be reimbursed..

tour of duty pentagon

Lawmaker presses Army to explore permanent armor presence in Europe

Rep. don bacon urged the army to “give serious consideration” to basing armor units overseas after army times investigated suicides in tank units..

Homeless U.S. veteran tents at the VA West Los Angeles Healthcare Campus Japanese Garden on September 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.

VA sets new goal of housing 41,000 veterans in 2024

Veterans affairs officials have set a goal to surpass the number of veterans they helped find permanent housing last year..

tour of duty pentagon

Services were slow to process COVID vaccine exemptions, watchdog finds

A pentagon evaluation found some services taking too long to process covid vaccine exemption paperwork..

  • Online Services
  • Agency Listing

Mississippi National Guard

Mobcop • tour of duty.

Provides a portal to post, find and volunteer for Active Duty tours. Tour of Duty (TOD) is a system for advertising AD opportunities where RC Soldiers can look for available tours that match their skills and desire to serve. Soldiers can volunteer for consideration for the tours and the hiring commands can screen and recommend interested candidates as part of the TOD process. Soldiers recommended to fill the tours sign automatically generated request packets in DAMPS-A.

Soldiers that would like to volunteer for mobilizations should contact their unit and ask to be added to the G1 MOB Volunteer list.

HRC Contact Number:   1-888-ARMYHRC   ( 1-800-276-9472 )

MOBCOP -   https://mobcop.aoc.army.pentagon.mil/

TAG Release Process

  • Cover Letters
  • Jobs I've Applied To
  • Saved Searches
  • Subscriptions

Marine Corps

Coast guard.

  • Space Force
  • Military Podcasts
  • Benefits Home
  • Military Pay and Money
  • Veteran Health Care
  • VA eBenefits
  • Veteran Job Search
  • Military Skills Translator
  • Upload Your Resume
  • Veteran Employment Project
  • Vet Friendly Employers
  • Career Advice
  • Military Life Home
  • Military Trivia Game
  • Veterans Day
  • Spouse & Family
  • Military History
  • Discounts Home
  • Featured Discounts
  • Veterans Day Restaurant Discounts
  • Electronics
  • Join the Military Home
  • Contact a Recruiter
  • Military Fitness

New Pentagon Policy Expands In Vitro Fertilization Options for Severely Ill or Injured Troops

robotic hysterectomy for cervical dysplasia at Brooke Army Medical Center

The Defense Department has widened its fertility treatment benefit for severely ill or injured service members to include coverage for unmarried service members and those who need to use donor eggs and sperm.

Under the new policy, announced Friday by Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez, troops with serious wounds or an illness that contributes to infertility may qualify for in vitro fertilization , or IVF, regardless of marital status and may use donated gametes procured at their own expense.

The policy also allows coverage of IVF and artificial insemination for a spouse , unmarried partner or a third-party surrogate of a qualifying active-duty service member if that individual qualifies for or is enrolled in the Tricare health program.

Read Next: The Army Wants Congress to Supercharge its Barracks Budget to Fix Soldiers' Poor Living Conditions

But while the policy allows for surrogacy agreements, it prohibits any paid arrangements. Under the benefit, the DoD, as well as the service member, is specifically barred from paying a partner or surrogate any compensation, although they may request a waiver to cover travel expenses.

The new policy evolved as a result of a lawsuit brought against the DoD and the Department of Veterans Affairs by military and veterans advocates who said the benefit, originally for married service members and veterans, discriminated against single troops and same-sex couples.

As part of the case, attorneys for the DoD said in December they planned to change the policy but provided little detail. In January, VA officials said they would follow suit based on the DoD's policy.

On Monday, the VA announced that it would provide the same benefits to severely ill or injured veterans regardless of marital status and allow the use of donor eggs, sperm or embryos.

"Raising a family is a wonderful thing, and I'm proud that VA will soon help more veterans have that opportunity," VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in a statement. "This expansion of care has long been a priority for us, and we are working urgently to make sure that eligible unmarried veterans, veterans in same-sex marriages, and veterans who need donors will have access to IVF in every part of the country as soon as possible."

According to the policy, to be eligible, service members must have a "Category II" or "Category III" illness or injury -- serious enough to render a member unlikely to return to duty and likely to medically separate.

Such illnesses or injuries may be neurological, anatomical or physiological, according to the memo.

Military personnel who don't qualify and pursue IVF must pay a fee at one of eight military treatment facilities where it is offered or cover the entire cost at a private facility.

The VA previously covered in vitro fertilization and other types of assisted reproductive technology treatments for veterans with infertility related to a military-connected illness or injury.

Veterans who don't meet the requirements have access to fertility testing, medication, artificial insemination, cryopreservation of gametes and counseling.

In a statement, Kimberly Lahm, program director for the DoD's Health Services Policy and Oversight office, said the changes reflect the department's commitment to ensure equity in reproductive health services.

"We continue to identify ways to lean forward as much as we can in support of equity of access to reproductive health care for our service members," Lahm said.

The lawsuit plaintiffs, including representatives from the National Organization for Women, the Yale Law School Veterans Legal Services Clinic and the National Veterans Legal Services Program, said Monday that the coverage is welcome. But, they added, it does not go far enough and they will continue their litigation.

"This is substantial progress," Donovan Bendana, a second-year student at Yale Law School, said in a statement. "But the onerous requirement of linking infertility to a specific service injury will deny many service members the opportunity to build a family. This is especially arbitrary in light of the military's decades-long disinterest in studying women's health, including the impact of service on fertility."

Under the DoD policy, qualifying service members can seek fertility services at a military treatment facility or private sector with prior authorization.

The Defense Department will cost-share storage until a member separates from the service or retires, at which point the service member can continue storage at their own expense.

DoD also will have no role in issues regarding ownership, future use, donation or destruction of gametes or embryos, according to the memo. Those concerns are normally governed by state law.

The new policy allows for up to six cycles of intrauterine insemination, six egg retrieval treatments and three cycles of IVF.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., has worked more than a decade to expand veterans' access to fertility treatments. On Monday, she praised the VA for expanding coverage, calling it an "important step forward."

But given that the new rules continue to exclude many military service members, veterans and their families, Murray is pushing for a bill, the Veterans Families Health Services Act, which would require that the VA and DoD to expand treatment to more veterans and allow troops to freeze their eggs or sperm before deploying to combat or other hazardous assignments.

"Service members and veterans have sacrificed so much for our country -- but they should never have to sacrifice their ability to start a family," Murray said in a statement.

The new policy does not allow for cryopreservation of gametes prior to deployment , nor does it provide for extraction of gametes from deceased service members.

In 2019, the parents of a West Point cadet petitioned the court to have their son's sperm extracted while he was on life support following a skiing accident. A judge ruled in favor of the parents of Peter Zhu, giving them ownership of the cadet's frozen sperm for gestational purposes with a surrogate.

An attempt to reach Yongmin Zhu, Peter Zhu's father, for an update was unsuccessful.

Related: Nonprofits Are Filling a Void of Fertility Help for Service Members, But Hope Congress Steps Up

Patricia Kime

Patricia Kime

You May Also Like

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un drives a new-type tank in North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un joined troops training on a new model of tank and drove one himself, state media reported...

Mexican soldier show an explosive device used by the Jalisco Nueva Generacion Cartel

The series of blasts in the Tierra Caliente — an area along the border of Jalisco and Michoacán states — mark an alarming...

Marines exercise aboard the guided-missile submarine USS Ohio

The commanding officer of the USS Ohio sub's gold crew -- Capt. Kurt Balagna -- was relieved by Rear Adm. Nicholas Tilbrook...

Afghan and American evacuees board a C-17 at Kabul International Airport

Sources briefed on the negotiations told Military.com that House Speaker Mike Johnson has over the last week softened his...

Military News

  • Investigations and Features
  • Military Opinion

Select Service

  • National Guard

Most Popular Military News

U.S. Marines  during bi-lateral Close Quarter Battle training in Spain

U.S. Southern Command said that the need for the FAST came at the request of the State Department, and that it "is prepared...

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup

In an administrative message released with little fanfare, the Navy quietly embarked on an ambitious effort that leaders hope...

Four Dallas Police officers seen on video mocking a disabled veteran

Dallas police officials handed down written reprimands to four officers seen on video mocking a disabled veteran who urinated...

Former DeKalb County police officer Robert Olsen

Robert “Chip” Olsen was responding to a call of a naked man behaving erratically at an apartment complex 2015 when he killed...

Missiles outside the gate of F.E. Warren Air Force Base

The early results, shared by the service and reported for the first time here, indicate elevated rates of breast and prostate...

Latest Benefits Info

  • How Veterans Can Get Free Online Tutoring
  • The Medal of Honor
  • Learn All About the 2020 Tricare Open Season at Upcoming Online Event
  • Paying for School with Federal Aid
  • GI Bill Housing Allowances May Change Soon

More Military Headlines

President Joe Biden speaks at an event in Milwaukee

The Middle East conflicts have revived what's been a long-running clash between presidents and Congress, which holds the...

Parade Day at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point

Officials at the 222-year-old military academy 60 miles north of New York City recently reworked the one-sentence mission...

The entrance to Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton

Col. Seth "S.W." MacCutcheon, the commander of the School of Infantry-West, and Maj. Nicholas Engle, the commander of the...

  • Duty, Honor, Outrage: Change to West Point's Mission Statement Sparks Controversy
  • Soldiers Said Goodbye to Loved Ones as Army Ships Set Sail to Gaza to Build Pier for Aid Delivery
  • Army Planning Big Boost to Pacific Operations Next Year with More Training, Deployments and Equipment
  • Air Force Veteran David Harris, the First Black Pilot Hired by a Major US Airline, Has Died at 89
  • Air Force Missile Base Personnel Have Elevated Breast, Prostate Cancer Rates, Initial Study Results Indicate
  • Court Overturns Conviction of Former Police Officer Who Fatally Shot Naked Air Force Veteran
  • Navy Fires Commander of USS Ohio -- 3rd Submarine Skipper Relieved in 7 Months
  • Sailors Will Now Get 24/7 Access to All Base Gyms Under Navy's New Policy
  • Navy's Ambitious New Effort Aims to Give Sailors Understanding of 'What Right Looks Like'

Military Benefits Updates

  • Other Than Honorable Discharge: Everything You Need to Know
  • Honorable Discharge: Everything You Need to Know
  • PACT Act: Agent Orange Toxic Exposure
  • Two Commanders in Marine Corps' West Coast Infantry School Fired on Same Day
  • Marine Corps Sends Special Response Unit to Haiti After Partial US Embassy Evacuation
  • More Military Quality-of-Life Improvements Needed, Lawmakers Say, But Budget Caps They Passed Stand in the Way
  • Coast Guard Navigates Bureaucracy in Fight Against Illegal Fishing
  • FBI Looking into 'Debris' Found Off Alaska's Coast
  • His Shoes Went Viral. Now, the Coast Guard Member Is Back with New Designs

Entertainment

  • Survival Game Pacific Drive Steers You into an Eerie, Hostile Pacific Northwest
  • Rapper Shaggy Got His Distinctive Voice from Making Fun of His Marine Corps Drill Instructors
  • Harvey Keitel Stars in a New Adaptation of the Best-Selling Book 'Tattooist of Auschwitz'

VIP health system for top US officials risked jeopardizing care for rank-and-file soldiers

This file photo shows the Pentagon in Washington in 2008.

Top U.S. officials in the Washington area have received preferential treatment from a little-known health care program run by the military, potentially jeopardizing care for other patients including active-duty service members, according to Pentagon investigators.

White House officials, senior military and other national security leaders, retired military officers, and family members have all benefited. The Washington elite could jump the line when filling prescriptions, book appointments through special call centers, and receive choice parking spots and escorts at military hospitals and other facilities, including Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, according to the Pentagon’s inspector general.

Through a unit at the White House, government personnel were routinely allowed to receive treatment under aliases, providing no home address or insurance information. For some of them, the care was free, as Walter Reed had no way to bill for it or waive charges.

The so-called executive medicine program was described in a report the Pentagon’s inspector general released in January. The investigation drew extensive media attention for spotlighting a history of loose prescribing practices and poor controls of powerful drugs including opioids in the White House Medical Unit , a military outfit that attends to the president, vice president, and others in the White House compound.

But the White House Medical Unit is just the tip of the broader executive medicine program, intended to provide VIP treatment to senior government and military officials. Though the program is meant largely to accommodate top officials’ busy schedules, the privileges have followed many patients into retirement. According to data from late 2019 and early 2020, the inspector general reported, that 80% of the executive medicine population in the national capital region were military retirees and members of their families.

Some facilities “provided access to care for executive medicine patients over active-duty military patients that had acute needs,” according to the report, which added that prioritizing medical care by seniority rather than medical need “increased the risk to the health and safety of non‑executive general patient population.”

Investigation Trump-era White House Medical Unit improperly dispensed drugs, misused funds, report says

Much of the report was written in past tense, leaving unclear whether all the practices it described continue. Before the report was made public, a draft was under review by the White House Medical Unit for more than three years – from May 2020, when Donald Trump was in office, to July 2023. The delay isn’t explained in the report, and White House spokespeople didn’t respond to questions for this article.

A spokesperson for the inspector general’s office, Deputy Assistant Inspector General Reishia Kelsey, declined to elaborate on the report. A spokesperson for the Pentagon, James P. Adams, also declined to comment.

In a response included in the inspector general’s report, a Pentagon official said there were “new procedures already put in place by the White House Medical Unit.” The report didn’t detail those changes.

At Walter Reed, the program is available to Cabinet members; members of Congress; Supreme Court justices; active-duty and retired generals and flag officers and their beneficiaries; members of the Senior Executive Service who retired from the military; secretaries, deputy secretaries, and assistant secretaries of the Department of Defense and military departments; certain foreign military officers; and Medal of Honor recipients.

Walter Reed’s executive medicine program caters to the “time, privacy, and security demands” of leaders’ jobs, the hospital says on its website. The inspector general's report makes clear that the program has, at times, provided extraordinary privileges to the government’s most elite officials.

For example, one unnamed executive medicine patient asked to have a prescription for an unspecified “controlled medication” refilled two weeks early – and complained when pharmacy staff at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital said that wasn’t allowed.

Hospital leaders told hospital staff to fill the prescription as requested. According to the report, the staff said the task required an estimated 30 hours of extra work.

Controlled medications are subject to abuse, and some, such as opioids, can be addictive. Defense Department health policy calls for minimizing the use of opioids and prescribing them only when indicated.

A spokesperson for the Fort Belvoir hospital, now known as Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center, said every patient is seen through the same lens and treated with the care they deserve.

The spokesperson, Reese Brown, said the facility shows military deference to top officers on account of their rank. For example, they don’t have to sit with the general population of patients.

The facility’s website mentions an “ Executive Medicine Health & Wellness Clinic ” for authorized patients, including eligible family members.

Brown said he was unaware of the inspector general’s account of the prescription refill and had no information about it.

The report said that at one unidentified pharmacy site, “all pharmacy staff members expressed frustration about the prioritization and filling of executive medicine prescriptions. This prioritization of executive medicine prescriptions diverted the pharmacist from filling prescriptions for patients diagnosed with conditions that are more urgent.”

Executive medicine services are also provided at the DiLorenzo Tricare Health Clinic at the Pentagon, Fort McNair Army Health Clinic, and Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic, the report said.

Share your story Tell KFF Health News about your experience with the federal executive medicine program

The inspector general recommended the Department of Defense take steps such as establishing controls for billing nonmilitary senior officials for outpatient services. The assistant secretary of defense for health affairs agreed but said the department would consider “the historical practices of the White House Medical Unit, the DoD’s health care support for non‑military U.S. Government senior officials, and the need for strict security protocols to protect the health and safety of White House principals.”

KFF Health News , formerly known as Kaiser Health News, is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF – an independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

  • Subscribe Now (Opens in new window)

Your Marine Corps

  • Air Force Times (Opens in new window)
  • Army Times (Opens in new window)
  • Navy Times (Opens in new window)
  • Pentagon & Congress
  • Defense News (Opens in new window)
  • Flashpoints
  • Benefits Guide (Opens in new window)
  • Military Pay Center
  • Military Retirement
  • Military Benefits
  • VA Loan Center (Opens in new window)
  • Discount Depot
  • Military Culture
  • Military Fitness
  • Military Movies & Video Games
  • Military Sports
  • Transition Guide (Opens in new window)
  • Pay It Forward (Opens in new window)
  • Black Military History (Opens in new window)
  • Congressional Veterans Caucus (Opens in new window)
  • Military Appreciation Month (Opens in new window)
  • Vietnam Vets & Rolling Thunder (Opens in new window)
  • Military History
  • Honor the Fallen (Opens in new window)
  • Hall of Valor (Opens in new window)
  • Service Members of the Year (Opens in new window)
  • Create an Obituary (Opens in new window)
  • Medals & Misfires
  • Installation Guide (Opens in new window)
  • Battle Bracket
  • CFC Givers Guide
  • Task Force Violent
  • Photo Galleries
  • Newsletters (Opens in new window)
  • Early Bird Brief
  • Long-Term Care Partners
  • Navy Federal
  • Digital Edition (Opens in new window)

Marine general taking steps to return to full duty as commandant

tour of duty pentagon

Gen. Eric Smith is taking steps to return to full duty as commandant of the Marine Corps, about four months after being sidelined due to a heart attack , according to defense officials.

Smith quietly returned to the Pentagon on one occasion a few weeks ago, and was again in the building for a few hours on Friday.

Officials said he has been listening in on meetings in recent weeks and getting updates in order to be prepared when he eventually returns to full duty as commandant.

They said that return could happen in the coming weeks. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans not yet made public.

On Oct. 29, 2023, Smith suffered cardiac arrest near his home at Marine Barracks Washington and was hospitalized. He underwent successful surgery in early January to repair a bicuspid aortic valve in his heart, which was the cause of his cardiac arrest.

tour of duty pentagon

New in 2024: Eric Smith plans a return to the job of top Marine leader

At various points in 2023, four different generals were in charge of the marine corps..

At that time, the Marine Corps said he “will return to full duty status as Commandant.”

The assistant commandant, Gen. Christopher Mahoney, has been serving as the acting head of the Marine Corps since Smith’s hospitalization. He will continue to do so until Smith returns to full duty, which officials said will be done after consultation with medical doctors.

Smith was confirmed as the new commandant on Sept. 21, 2023.

His heart attack came just two days after he’d talked publicly about the stress of having to do the Marine Corps’ top two high-level jobs for the service — commandant and assistant commandant — for several months because Mahoney’s nomination for the No. 2 job had been held up by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville.

Tuberville had blocked hundreds of military promotions and nominations for months due to his opposition to Pentagon policy paying for troops’ travel for abortions and other reproductive care. Under pressure from lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle, Tuberville ended his holds in December 2023, allowing the Senate to confirm more than 435 nominations.

In Other News

tour of duty pentagon

Marine receives rare heroism award for saving victim shot 23 times

Sgt. amed issa, a marine infantryman, ran toward gunfire to save a man who had been shot 23 times outside a bar in honolulu..

tour of duty pentagon

Witches be crazy: How one WWII ship led to the UK’s last witch trial

One particular séance in 1941 attracted the attention of the british war office..

tour of duty pentagon

Tell us, Marines: How did the barracks inspections go?

We want to hear from you about the servicewide inspections of marine corps living facilities..

tour of duty pentagon

Costs, wait times up for military families after pharmacy cyberattack

Tricare beneficiaries asked to shoulder the entire cost of their prescriptions in the wake of a cyberattack have options to save money or be reimbursed..

Homeless U.S. veteran tents at the VA West Los Angeles Healthcare Campus Japanese Garden on September 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.

VA sets new goal of housing 41,000 veterans in 2024

Veterans affairs officials have set a goal to surpass the number of veterans they helped find permanent housing last year..

Skip to Content

  • Operational Support
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Meet the Team
  • News & Events

Other ways to search:

  • Events Calendar

Meet NSI: Angie Crews, Principal Research Associate

Please meet  Angie Crews, Principal Research Associate  for NSI. Her research area is Remote Sensing. We are very lucky to have her aboard. 

Angie Crews

Hi, thank you for chatting with us.

My pleasure, thank you for reaching out!

Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Sure!  My family and I recently moved to Boulder last October when I accepted the position at NSI.  So far we are loving the area. I have two daughters. 2 and 4 years old, and an 18 year old stepson. Some of my hobbies are long distance running, hiking, and snowboarding.  I also have my private pilot’s license and enjoy flying when I have the opportunity.

Prior to coming to NSI, I spent 11 years Active Duty in the Marine Corps as an EA-6B Electronic Countermeasures Officer and then as a Space Operations Officer. I deployed twice to Al Asad, Iraq and had tours at the Pentagon and the National Reconnaissance Office. I then transitioned to the Marine Corps Reserves and attended MIT.  I received my Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, and I had the opportunity to support several flight CubeSat projects.  In my thesis I demonstrated that CubeSats have the potential to be used as operational weather monitoring platforms, and the algorithm I developed to correct calibration drifts is used on-orbit the TROPICS constellation today. After graduating MIT, I spent 4 years as a defense contractor supporting the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) as a Space Subject Matter Expert before transitioning to my current role at NSI. 

Q: What excites you about your current role in NSI?

I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with world class faculty at an R1 research university. Working at NSI allows me to conduct high impact, cutting edge research in support of the DOD and IC.

Q: Thank you. Do you have anything else to add about NSI or your current goals/work?

I’m excited to be part of the team here at NSI, and I look forward to growing my research portfolio and working with everyone!   

Official websites use .gov

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

Logo for U.S. Department of Defense

Military Hospitality Returns as Pentagon Reopens for Guided Tours

The Defense Department has reopened its doors to military-style hospitality. Beginning May 10, and on a limited basis, visitors will again be able to take a guided tour of the Pentagon and see  where the world's greatest military minds plan the defense of the nation. 

Play

In years past, school groups, scouts and others could sign up to take a guided tour of one of the largest office buildings in the world and visit the multiple displays in the building which, among other things, pay tribute to military services, commemorate military conflicts and veterans, highlight U.S. military relationships with partner nations, recognize the contributions of outstanding individuals and provide information about topics important to the defense of the nation 

Tours were stopped in March 2020 due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19 . But the doors are opening again, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby told reporters today during an afternoon briefing. 

"I'm pleased to announce that on the 10th of May, the Pentagon will reopen tours on a limited basis," Kirby told reporters, flanked by a group of Pentagon tour guides from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. 

"They've been ... preparing for quite some time here to showcase the more than 30 exhibits that provide the history and the accomplishments of the U.S. armed forces and the Department of Defense," Kirby said of the tour guides. "These are our finest young men and women. ... They represent the very best of the best of each service. It takes a lot to become a member of the Ceremonial Guard and then to go from that to becoming a Pentagon tour guide. I know how excited they are about getting back to work and getting back at it. And I know how proud they're all going to continue to make us." 

A man stands behind a lectern. Behind him are six military personnel in various uniforms.

Kirby said tours in the Pentagon will take place at 10am and 1pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays — a limited schedule from what was the pre-COVID-19 norm — and that those interested can schedule a Pentagon tour by visiting the Defense Department website . 

The detail-rich Pentagon tours involve approximately 1.5 miles of walking and last about an hour. 

Subscribe to Defense.gov Products

Choose which Defense.gov products you want delivered to your inbox.

Related Stories

Defense.gov, helpful links.

  • Live Events
  • Today in DOD
  • For the Media
  • DOD Resources
  • DOD Social Media Policy
  • Help Center
  • DOD / Military Websites
  • Agency Financial Report
  • Value of Service
  • Taking Care of Our People
  • FY 2024 Defense Budget
  • National Defense Strategy

U.S. Department of Defense logo

The Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security.

IMAGES

  1. Pentagon tour guides rely on precision, practice to enhance visitors

    tour of duty pentagon

  2. Pentagon tour guides rely on precision, practice to enhance visitors

    tour of duty pentagon

  3. Your Guide to the Pentagon

    tour of duty pentagon

  4. Your Guide to the Pentagon

    tour of duty pentagon

  5. Tour of Duty (1987)

    tour of duty pentagon

  6. Tour of Duty (1987)

    tour of duty pentagon

COMMENTS

  1. U.S. Department of Defense

    MOBCOP is a web-based system that provides mobilization information and tools for Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers, units, and family members. MOBCOP allows users to access orders, volunteer for opportunities, track their status, and manage their mobilization records. MOBCOP is part of the Army Reserve Portal and requires a CAC card for login.

  2. U.S. Department of Defense > Pentagon Tours

    Congress authorizes construction of the Pentagon, and ground is broken Sept. 11. The land belonged to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee before it was confiscated during the Civil War. 1400 Defense ...

  3. PENTAGON TOURS

    The Pentagon Visitor Entrance is located adjacent to the Pentagon Metro Entrance. Pentagon Visitor Entrance hours: Monday - Friday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prohibited Items Prohibited items include, but are not limited to: Mobile devices will not be allowed on the tour. A locker will be provided before the start of the tour to secure phone, tablets, etc.

  4. Pentagon Tours > U.S. Department of Defense > Article

    Each adult member of your tour group must then register as a Pentagon Visitor and be cleared by the Pentagon Force Protection Agency to visit the Pentagon for your tour. Tours can fill up quickly ...

  5. PFPA

    Yes, a visitor who is denied access can request an appointment to appeal the decision by calling the Pentagon Pass Office at 703-695-2266 between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday - Friday. The appeal request must be made within three business days of the access denial notice.

  6. Guidelines

    To reserve a Pentagon Tour, you must be an adult (18 years or older) and a United States citizen or alien admitted for permanent residence in the United States under 22 U.S.C. 6010. Each member of ...

  7. Can I Tour the Pentagon?

    The Pentagon, located just outside Washington, DC in Arlington, Va., is the headquarters for the United States Department of Defense. It is open for official tours through the Pentagon Tours program. Pentagon tours must be reserved at least 14 days in advance and no more than 90 days in advance. Tours are conducted Tuesdays and Thursdays ...

  8. PDF Pentagon Self Guided Tour Brochure 2023 -Final

    the Pentagon chapel. Exit memorial to corridor 4, follow corridor 4 back A Ring in front of escalators and exit building to the center courtyard. Walk through center courtyard to apexes 9 and 10. The center courtyard of the Pentagon is 5.5 acres and is used quite a bit by the people who work here. It is one of the largest no-hat, no-salute zones

  9. Can I Tour the Pentagon?

    The Pentagon, located just outside Washington, DC in Arlington, Va., is the headquarters for the United States Department of Defense. It is open for official tours through the Pentagon Tours program. Pentagon tours must be reserved at least 14 days in advance and no more than 90 days in advance. Tours are conducted Tuesdays and Thursdays ...

  10. Welcome! Thank you for your interest in touring the Pentagon

    If you need additional assistance using this website or have questions about the Pentagon visitor registration and pre-visit security review for your tour group, please call the Pentagon Force Protection Agency - Pentagon Tours Service Desk at 1-888-623-7457 to request a support ticket. A user guide for this portal is available here.

  11. HRC

    The security accreditation level of this site is UNCLASSIFIED and below. Do not process, store, or transmit any Personally Identifiable Information (PII), UNCLASSIFIED/CUI or CLASSIFIED information on this system.

  12. Congress orders Army to open Tour of Duty portal to ...

    This article was updated at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 30, 2021, to clarify that Tour of Duty was accessible from non-government devices until late 2017. About Davis Winkie. ... the Pentagon said.

  13. Center for Army Analysis

    Tours can be up to 365 days long with the ability to extend but not to exceed 1825 consecutive days. Apply on Tour of Duty (TOD at mobcop.aoc.army.pentagon.mil or Carrera at Carrera.swf.army.mil Military Personnel Positions 59A STRATEGIST. Combines strategic analysis, wargaming techniques, and operations research tools to influence strategic ...

  14. Pentagon Tours

    A detailed user guide is available at this link. If you need additional assistance using the Pentagon Tour Reservation Portal or have questions about the Pentagon Visitor registration process and ...

  15. Your Guide to the Pentagon

    Spc (P) Daryl D. Willard a former Pentagon Tour Guide that performed over 700 tours, also performed the duties of a Tomb Sentinel. "Training-wise, Pentagon tour probably required as much, if not ...

  16. After 2-Year Hiatus, Pentagon Reopens for Tours

    By Eun Yang, News4 Anchor • Published May 19, 2022 • Updated on May 19, 2022 at 10:29 am. After a two-year hiatus, the Pentagon is open for tours again. News4's Eun Yang reports the seat of ...

  17. Guard, Reserve soldiers can now browse active duty jobs on their phones

    Previously, the opportunities were only accessible through the NIPR network-only Tour of Duty portal. ... The pier to bring aid ashore to Gaza will be operational within 60 days, the Pentagon said.

  18. MOBCOP • Tour of Duty

    MOBCOP is a system for advertising Active Duty (AD) opportunities for RC Soldiers in Mississippi. Soldiers can post, find and volunteer for AD tours that match their skills and desire to serve, and the hiring commands can screen and recommend interested candidates.

  19. Pentagon tour guides rely on precision, practice to enhance visitors

    An intense duty. Spc. Daryl D. Willard, a former Pentagon tour guide who performed over 700 tours, also performed duties as a Tomb Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National ...

  20. Tour Creation

    If you need additional assistance using this website or have questions about the Pentagon visitor registration and pre-visit security review for your tour group, please call the Pentagon Force Protection Agency - Pentagon Tours Service Desk at 1-888-623-7457 to request a support ticket. A user guide for this portal is available here.

  21. New Pentagon Policy Expands In Vitro Fertilization Options for Severely

    Active-duty service members whose infertility was caused by a significant military-related injury or illness no longer have to be married to access in vitro fertilization and can use donor eggs or ...

  22. PDF VISITING THE PENTAGON

    City Mall. • Once parked, walk across Army Navy Dr. and proceed through the. Hayes St. Pedestrian Tunnel to the Pentagon South parking lot. • Walk through the Pentagon South parking lot and ...

  23. Pentagon officials tour Picatinny, aim to maintain its status as the

    PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. - Two top Pentagon officials visited Picatinny Arsenal on March 1 to learn about mission, initiatives, and lines of effort in support of the Army's priorities of people ...

  24. Pentagon health care system prioritized DC elites over rank-and-file

    A health care system run by the Pentagon has given preference to Washington elites, potentially compromising care for rank-and-file military members. ... Supreme Court justices; active-duty and ...

  25. PDF Pentagon Tour Reservation Portal User Guide

    The Pentagon Tours Program hosts more than 106,000 visitors annually. This guided tour takes 60 minutes to complete and is approximately one-and one-half miles in length. Highlights for each tour ...

  26. Marine general taking steps to return to full duty as commandant

    He will continue to do so until Smith returns to full duty, which officials said will be done after consultation with medical doctors. Smith was confirmed as the new commandant on Sept. 21, 2023.

  27. Meet NSI: Angie Crews, Principal Research Associate

    Prior to coming to NSI, I spent 11 years Active Duty in the Marine Corps as an EA-6B Electronic Countermeasures Officer and then as a Space Operations Officer. I deployed twice to Al Asad, Iraq and had tours at the Pentagon and the National Reconnaissance Office. I then transitioned to the Marine Corps Reserves and attended MIT.

  28. Military Hospitality Returns as Pentagon Reopens for Guided Tours

    The Defense Department has reopened its doors to military-style hospitality. Beginning May 10, and on a limited basis, visitors will again be able to take a guided tour of the Pentagon and see ...