Cavalry Soldiers receive their combat spurs

Photo By 1st Sgt. Justin A. Naylor | Maj. Jose Martinez, the operations officer for 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, receives his gold spurs from Lt. Col. Chris Whittaker, the commander of 15th BSB, during an award ceremony at Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, Nov. 7. Gold spurs are awarded to Soldiers who deployed to a combat environment with a cavalry unit.  

KIRKUK, IRAQ

11.07.2009

Story by Spc. Justin A. Naylor 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, KIRKUK, Iraq— Since the mid-1800s, horse spurs have been a symbol of the cavalry Soldier. Soldiers have been presented with silver spurs for proficiency of Soldier skills and gold spurs for deploying in support of a cavalry unit.

As 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, prepares to send its advanced elements back to Fort Hood, Texas, in preparation for the Brigade's return from deployment, a group of Soldiers from the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team received their combat spurs during an award ceremony on Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, Nov. 7.

"We continue the longstanding tradition of the cavalry trooper today," said Lt. Col. Chris Whittaker, a Lexington, Va., native and the commander of the 15th BSB.

These spurs were awarded to Soldiers who have deployed with a cavalry unit for the first time in a combat zone, explained Whittaker.

"These Soldiers have done a phenomenal job supporting logistics, partnership and security in the Kirkuk province in support of the 'Black Jack' Brigade," he said. "We'd be amiss if we didn't recognize them for all of that hard work."

The history of the spur is intertwined in the history of the cavalry units who now present them to their Soldiers.

The cavalry spur can be traced to before the Civil War, when Soldiers in the U.S. Army were involved in keeping the "Wild West" safe.

During these times, a severe shortage in funds was experienced throughout the Army, and the most hard-hit were often the cavalry troopers on the frontier.

"It became tradition in the cavalry in the early 1800s to award the most deserving Soldiers in the unit with the best equipment," explained Sgt. 1st Class Fernanda Redwine, the personnel office non-commissioned officer in-charge with 15th BSB. "This was done to promote morale and increase the troopers' desire to perform well. It was the best of these Soldiers who were issued a very ornate set of spurs."

Today, these cavalry Soldiers received their gold spurs.

"It shows that everybody saw what they were doing and appreciated what they were doing," said Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Robinson, a Bossier, La., native and a medical planner with the 15th BSB.

For the Soldiers of 15th BSB, the spurs were presented in a rather unique manner.

Soldiers climbed on top of a custom-made metal horse and were presented their spurs by their battalion commander, Lt. Col. Whittaker.

"You climb on top of the 'horse', and you get your spurs for proficiency, because you've earned them," said Sgt. 1st Class Robinson.

After receiving these spurs, the Soldiers take away a piece of cavalry history with them.

A cavalryman's spurs remain a constant reminder of the responsibility a Soldier has assumed by joining the cavalry, said Sgt. 1st Class Redwine.

• Date Taken: 11.07.2009
• Date Posted: 11.10.2009 03:52
• Story ID: 41334
• Location: KIRKUK, IQ