Spurs of the moment

Photo By Sgt. Jesse Smith | Soldiers from the 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division place the spurs on a fellow Soldier who has just completed his “Spur ride” Dec. 11 here.  

PYEONGTAEK, 41, SOUTH KOREA

12.12.2014

Story by Sgt. Jesse Smith 

2nd Combat Aviation Brigade

PYEONGTAEK, South Korea - During the beginning of the cavalry, when new Soldiers arrived, they were given a horse with a shaven tail. The shaven tail was to warn other Soldiers that he was a novice, and they should give him more space. This coined the nickname “shave tail” for all new Soldiers in cavalry units. Novices could not earn their spurs until they were competent and proficient Soldiers, said 1st Lt. Mathew D. Bibasilio, a platoon leader with the 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade. He said this became the tradition of Soldiers having to go through a “Spur Ride” to earn their spurs.

On Dec. 10-11, eight teams of eight to nine Soldiers arrived at a field and placed their ruck sacks down and relaxed for a moment while spur holders, cavalrymen who already have their spurs, readied the field for a modified group physical fitness test. The Soldiers had sweat-soaked hair and uniforms, and tired looks on their faces. The spur holders started yelling and the Soldiers sprinted together at once to their designated cones on the field. The spur holders gave instructions on what the Soldiers had to do and then started the Army Physical Fitness Test. Each Soldier did push-ups and sit-ups, and then they ran around the track twice, as a team, all while the spur holders sent them to do extra physical events in an attempt to wear the Soldiers out.

That was just one event from the “Spur Ride” for these Soldiers from the 6-17th Cav. Regt. In total, the Soldiers [non-spur holders] had to do two lay-outs, a group APFT, small arms range, gas chamber, water survival training, weapons assembly, multiple ruck marches and cold weather training, said Sgt. Robert Sharpton, an ammunition guidance system operator with the 6-17th Cav. Regt.

“The spur ride is meant to push your boundaries,” Sharpton said. “You are going to fail at tasks, but you can just never give up.”

He said the biggest test of the whole right-of-passage that is a “Spur Ride” is to drive on and to not let yourself down. The Soldiers are there to prove that they are competent in basic cavalry skills, but they also need to show that they won’t give up when placed in difficult situations.

The “Spur Ride” is a way for the cavalry to show esprit de corps and continue its traditions, said Lt. Col. Matthew F. Ketchum, the commander of the 6-17th Cav. Regt. He said Soldiers don’t necessarily have to go through it to be part of the cavalry organization, but they do in order to earn their spurs.

The Soldiers went through more than 30 hours of arduous training, Ketchum said. He said the unit is divesting once it returns to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, so they wanted to give the Soldiers a chance to get their spurs before leaving the 6-17th Cav. Regt.

“The event gives Soldiers the chance to show, in a team environment, what they know and helps them understand what other Soldiers do,” Ketchum said.

Ketchum said the “Spur Ride” and earning your spurs is important due to its value as a sort of flare for the cavalry like the Stetson. He said it adds swagger to the overall look of the cavalry which makes it more appealing.

The “Spur Ride” is more than a right-of-passage, Ketchum said. It means that the cavalry spirit will live on.

• Date Taken: 12.12.2014
• Date Posted: 12.12.2014 01:27
• Story ID: 150128
• Location: PYEONGTAEK, 41, KR