Cav families get fired up at Blacksmith spur ride

Courtesy Photo | Alexandra Butler, wife of Spc. Travonta Butler, a Blacksmith supply specialist executes a modified position of the abdominal exercise, the rower. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Victoria St. Brice, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team UPAR, 1st Cav. Div. (released)  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

04.29.2016

Courtesy Story

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

By Cpl. Victoria St. Brice
3rd BCT PAO, 1st Cav. Div.

FORT HOOD, Texas – In the early morning fog, the command team and family members of the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division kicked off the 2nd annual Blacksmith Family Spur Ride at the Warrior Skills Training Center at Fort Hood, Texas.
To earn their spurs, family members had to surmount a series of challenges, including assembling an M4 carbine, zeroing and qualifying on the M4, and caring for simulated casualties.
Before the events got underway, Lt. Col. Steve Erikson, the former battalion commander, had some words for the participants.
“Everything’s about Family,” said Erickson.“Before I leave, I want to do one last thing with my military Family. Take this as an opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and work together as a team and strengthen our Family bonds.”
The participants socialized, talked and laughed with each other until Erickson came to the position of attention and bellowed, “Fall in,” and in that moment, it was game on for the family members.
Forty-two family members scrambled to organize themselves into squads.
While 39 of the participants ran to get into formation, three brought up the rear and waddled their way to their respective squads.
"The bend and reach,” called 1st Sgt. Sammy Walker, the first sergeant of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 215th BSB.
As Walker counted out the pace of the exercise, the family members bent at the waist and swung their arms between their straddled legs.
But three of them couldn’t quite bend as far as the rest. In fact, they just barely bent at the waist and didn’t come close to swinging their arms. They had one thing in common. They were all at least seven months pregnant.
“I was totally up for the challenge,” said Eden Johnson, the wife of Pvt. Charltorio Johnson, a generator mechanic assigned to 215th BSB. “I felt this was an opportunity for me to show my husband that I understand what he’s required to be able to do. I care.”
Sufficiently warmed up after PT, the team members marched to their first challenge. Led by a spur holder and required to march at his pace proved challenging, especially for the three.
With their heart rates up and beads of sweat glistening on their foreheads, they shuffled along with the rest of the group, determined to complete the challenge.
“There was definitely some increased back and pelvic pain,” said Alexandra Butler, the wife of Spc. Travonta Butler, a Blacksmith supply specialist. “But I still was able to keep up with the rest of them.”
Zeroing and qualifying on the M4 at the Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 also proved challenging.
While the other family members engaged targets comfortably on their stomachs in the prone-supported position, Shanna Radosevich, the wife of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joseph Radosevich, the battalion ammunition officer, struggled to adjust and get into a comfortable position.
“It’s evident that I cannot lay on my stomach, so I ended up sitting up without any back support,” Radosevich said.
With no support and without a stable position, the recoil of the weapon pushed her backward with every shot, however she still qualified.
“My wife, she’s tough,” Joseph said as he watched his wife performing basic Soldier tasks. “She’s amazing.”
Erickson brought the challenge to a close with an award ceremony. Every family member who participated was awarded a silver spur and a certificate of achievement.
Exhausted but accomplished, the Blacksmith Family members had a stronger sense of belonging to the Blacksmith Family. Their husbands had a strong sense of pride that was evident on their faces.
“I am so proud of her,” said Johnson. “I didn’t expect her to be so confident.”
“To quote our former Chief of Staff, ‘The strength of our nation is our Army. The strength of our Army is our Soldiers, and the strength of our Soldiers is our Families,’” said Command Sgt. Maj. Ruth Drewitt, the battalion command sergeant major, before everyone was released. “Our Families are strong, and that was evident in the Blacksmith Spur Ride. The family members pushed each other, and paid extra attention to their pregnant teammates, pushing them through their exhaustion. Our strength lies within each other.”

• Date Taken: 04.29.2016
• Date Posted: 05.12.2016 15:50
• Story ID: 197962
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US