Photo By Creighton Holub | The tradition is the Spur Ride, and it began for Soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 9th...... read more read more
"Shouts of Yes, spur holder, and No, spur holder," pierced the brisk, winter morning as the nine assembled Cavalrymen's only response to the demanding mob of Stetson-and-spur wearing troopers encircling them. "Are you ready,"asked the tall one with the gold spurs to no one in particular. "Yes, spur holder," boomed the standard response from all nine. "We'll see,"he replied; thus signaling a start to a tradition that traces its roots back before medieval times.
The tradition is the Spur Ride, and it began for Soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment "Headhunters", with a pre-dawn physical training test on Dec. 7 at Biggs Army Airfield on Fort Bliss, Texas, home of the newly formed 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
Next on the schedule came a written test of 7th Cavalry Regiment history and a board in which the candidates had to answer questions pertaining to the functions of the Cavalry.
"The purpose of the Spur Ride is to build esprit de corps and make the troopers feel more a part of the unit," explained Staff Sgt. Tim Deberry, B Troop, 1-9 Cavalry, and one of the administrators of the Spur Ride.
"This is our first Spur Ride (as part of the 4th BCT), this is a part of history for those guys that are going through it,"added Sgt. 1st Class Harold Trent, first sergeant of C Troop, 1-9 Cavalry.
Following the first three events, the candidates were given some down time to check their equipment and prepare for the actual nine stations that they would have to navigate their way to, and execute upon arrival. The actual ride of the Spur Ride would be plotting their points from grid coordinates and moving out, all beginning at 6 p.m., after the sun had gone down and the temperature had dropped. They would proceed until they completed all the tasks, sometime early the next morning.
"Our stations included room clearing, mine clearing, call for fire, and individual maneuver techniques, to name a few,"said Trent.
When asked the significance of the Spur Ride to a cavalryman, Deberry summed it up in one sentence. "It's a pride thing, It's not something you will see on your enlisted record brief, It's clearly a pride thing."
Earning one's spurs traces its tradition to medieval times when a squire, aspiring to knighthood, had to perform some deed or task on the battlefield or tournament to win their spurs. It was the spurs that symbolized that a man was a knight, not his sword, horse, or armor. No matter how fortune dealt the knight a bad hand, he would part with everything else before his spurs.
The modern Army revived the Spur Ride tradition in 1942 with the active component horse-riding Cavalry. Commanders wished to keep the horse traditions alive.
The modern Cavalry currently has two ways in which to earn your spurs. First is being invited on the Spur Ride by your sponsor. In this way, you will be challenged, and upon proving your worth, will be presented your silver spurs, a challenge coin, and a certificate into the Order of the Spur. Second is to deploy into combat with a Cavalry unit. Upon return, you will be authorized to wear the gold spurs, signifying combat service.
"Any member of 1-9 Cavalry can participate,"said Trent. "You just have to be invited and meet the requirements."
The Spur Ride culminates with a banquet in which the successful candidates who weathered the trial are presented with their spurs.
"There is a sense of pride when you are the first to go through with something," said Capt. Ellis Gales, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop commander, 1-9 Cavalry, and one of the successful candidates. "The main challenge was the weather; trying to disassemble and reassemble the M-16 in the cold was a task. But we focused as a team and tried to do all things together. I can now take this back to my unit and let them know that all things are possible."
Sgt. Louis T. Siciliano, C Troop, 1-9 Cavalry echoed the sentiment. "The biggest challenge was rucking around when it felt like nine below zero. Everything we did was based on teamwork. When one person drops, we all drop. When one person is wrong, we are all wrong. I feel honored that I was selected to participate."
At the end of the ordeal, all nine candidates earned their spurs and set the stage for future spur rides within the new Long Knife brigade.
"The next candidates are mine," warned Siciliano, who will now assume his role in conducting future spur rides within the battalion.
| Date Taken: | 06.01.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 06.01.2006 11:05 |
| Story ID: | 6625 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 564 |
| Downloads: | 82 |
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