Who is responsible for relieving sentries?

The Corporal of the Guard is responsible for relieving sentries during guard duty. In the structure of the guard detail, the Corporal plays a crucial role in ensuring that sentries are properly rotated and that they perform their duties effectively. This responsibility is part of maintaining security and readiness. The Corporal typically oversees the sentries, ensuring they are relieved at their designated times and that there is no lapse in security.

While other ranks, such as the Sergeant of the Guard or the Officer of the Day, have supervisory or command responsibilities, it is the Corporal who directly manages the operational aspects of sentry duty, including their rotation and relief. The roles of the Sergeant or Officer may encompass broader oversight and coordination, but the specific task of relieving sentries falls to the Corporal. Understanding this chain of responsibility is key to recognizing how duties are structured in a military context.