A cavalry tradition lives on with the 2-1 CAV Spur Ride

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers of 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, carry a tow bar across an open field during a maintenance lane during the squadron’s spur ride on Nov. 20, 2014.  

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES

11.19.2014

Courtesy Story

1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The infantry have the Expert Infantryman Badge, the medics, the Expert Field Medical Badge and for the cavalry, the Silver Spur.

Soldiers with 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted a Spur Ride on Fort Carson Nov. 19-22, 2014.

The Spur Ride has its roots in the middle ages and the way of life of Knighthood. Traditionally, a squire would have to “win his spurs” in order to become a Knight. During the 1800s, new Cavalry Soldiers were given a horse with a shaved tail to indicate he was new to horse mounted operations and spurs would be too dangerous to use for a new rider. Only after the Soldier demonstrated he could control the horse and conducted mounted operations did the Soldier earn the right to wear the spurs. As in the past, the Soldiers of 2nd Sqdn., 1st Cav. Reg., 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div., had to prove they had the mettle, stamina, and knowledge to earn their spurs. The event is used to imbue the traditions and history of the Cavalry.

The purpose of the spur ride is, “to instill the Cavalry spirit (in Soliders), and to teach and maintain the Cavalry traditions,” said Maj. Jason Gallardo, an Operations Officer with, 2nd Sqdn., 1st Cav. Reg., 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div.

To begin the Spur Ride, Soldiers had to conduct a physical training test under the watchful eyes of the squadron’s spur holders Nov. 19. The test consisted of push-ups, sit-ups, and a 3-mile run, those that passed the test moved on to the Spur Ride.

For the Soldiers who made the cut, Nov. 21-22 consisted of events that would test the Soldiers at every level.

The spur ride was, “very physical…the stations were put together well. [And], the most difficult part of the spur ride was the random exercises between stations,” said Sgt. Brian Randolph, an Intelligence Analyst with, 2nd Sqdn., 1st Cav. Reg., 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div.

Events included a stress-shoot, Stryker maintenance, medical treatment and evacuation, radio operations, and a ruck march up Agony Hill.

During the two days, the spur candidates walked over 26 miles and slept for four hours in temperatures as low as 20 degrees. Once the event was complete, the spur candidates were treated to a dinner and awarded their spurs a dusk during a ceremony as family, friends and peers looked on.

“As the Cavalry gets smaller and smaller every year, it’s important to maintain the traditions of the Cavalry, and it (the spur ride) exposes non Cavalry Soldiers to what a Cavalry squadron does,” said 1st Sgt. Matthew Dilcher of A Troop, , 2nd Sqdn., 1st Cav. Reg., 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div.

• Date Taken: 11.19.2014
• Date Posted: 12.19.2014 11:34
• Story ID: 150735
• Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US