Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., known as "8th & I", is the oldest active post in the Marine Corps. President Thomas Jefferson and Lt. Col. William Ward Burrows, the second Commandant of the Marine Corps, rode on horseback to select plot 927 as the new headquarters for the Marine Corps within walking distance from the capital and the Navy Yard. For 225 years, Marines of the "Oldest Post" have served at the center of American history, supporting Presidential honors, safeguarding senior leaders, laying fallen Marines to rest, and representing the Marine Corps to the nation's leaders, the American people, and visitors from across the globe.
Located at the corners of 8th and I Streets in southeast Washington, D.C., the Barracks supports both ceremonial and security missions in the National Capital Region. Through parades, dignified transfers, funerals, and security operations, the Marines of 8th & I uphold a legacy of discipline, precision, and service that connects 250 years of Marine Corps history to the present day.
The Barracks is home to many of the Corps' most recognized units, including the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, "The Commandant's Own" United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, "The President's Own" United States Marine Band, the official Marine Corps Color Guard, and the United States Marine Corps Body Bearers. It is also the site of the Home of the Commandants, which is a registered National Historic Landmark along with the Barracks itself.
Colonel Batson began her military career after graduating from Pepperdine University in 1999.
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Lieutenant Colonel Giger began his military career after graduating from Duquesne University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; concentration in Supply Chain Management.
Sergeant Major Juan P. Segura enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 2000 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island, SC.
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Still used for its original purpose, the Home of the Commandants has been home to all but the first two commandants, and is said to be the oldest, continuously occupied public building in Washington, D.C.
The selection of the site for the Barracks was a matter of personal interest to President Thomas Jefferson, who rode through Washington with Lt. Col. William Ward Burrows, the second commandant of the Marine Corps, in search of a suitable location. The site now occupied was approved due to its proximity to the Washington Navy Yard and because it was within easy marching distance of the Capitol.
The early 19th-century Barracks was arranged in a quadrangle as it is today, and the use of the building was similar. The areas on the south and east side of the quadrangle were used for offices, maintenance facilities and living spaces for troops, and a building on the west was the location of the officers' quarters. The Home of the Commandants at the north end of the Barracks was completed in 1806 and is the only original building still standing. It is the oldest public building in continuous use in the Nation's Capitol. The rest of the Barracks was rebuilt between 1900 and 1907.
The training of new officers and recruits started at the Barracks soon after it was established and continued throughout the 19th century. Until 1901, it was also the location of Marine Corps Headquarters. Marines from the Barracks participated in the defense of Washington in the War of 1812, and served in the Indian Wars of 1826-37, the war with Mexico, the Civil War and the Spanish American War. Most recently, Marines from the Barracks deployed to Southwest Asia and participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
"The President's Own" United States Marine Band's mission is to perform music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Founded in 1798 by an Act of Congress, the Marine Band is America's oldest continuously active professional musical organization.
Parade at Marine Barracks Washington
Color Guard on the Parade Deck of Marine Barracks Washington
"The Commandant's Own" U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps on the Parade Deck of Marine Barracks Washington
Aerial View of Marine Barracks Washington
Marine Band on the lawn of the Home of the Commandants
Home of the Commandants at Marine Barracks Washington
Front Gate of Marine Barracks Washington
Parade Deck at Marine Barracks Washington
Construction of "Quarters 2" at Marine Barracks Washington
Center House at Marine Barracks Washington
Lieutenant Colonel William Ward Burrows, Commandant, and President Thomas Jefferson riding on horseback searching for a site to place Marine Barracks...