Photo By Maj. Jacqwayne Griffin | U.S. Army Reserve Drill Sergeants and candidates assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 415th...... read more read more
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The event began at sunrise on June 5, 2026. For the Soldiers of the 2nd Squadron , 415th Regiment, Operation Iron Spur delivered an immediate physical and mental test. As a team, they first tackled a difficult 10-station Combat Fitness Test, a fast-paced trial of group runs, burpees, farmer carries, and pull-ups. With muscles already burning, they moved directly to the Confidence Course at Camp Parks, California, hauling themselves over towering wooden walls and navigating complex obstacles. Yet this event carried weight beyond the physical challenge alone. As the Army Reserve consolidates its training commands, this event marked the final Spur Ride for the 2-415th Squadron, the last chance for these Soldiers to earn their spurs under the historic "Old Faithful" colors before the unit's inactivation.
Established in 1921, the 415th Infantry Regiment, known as “Old Faithful,” earned its pedigree in the mud and snow of the European Theater during World War II. Fighting under the 104th “Timberwolf” Division, the Regiment secured two Presidential Unit Citations for gallantry. Today, under the 98th Training Division, the unit’s mission has evolved from front-line combat to preparing the future of the force through Cavalry One Station Unit Training (OSUT). This final Spur Ride would test whether today’s trainers possessed that same indomitable spirit.
Mirroring the combat their Timberwolf predecessors faced in Europe, the Cadre immediately transitioned the candidates into a series of continuous tactical scenarios. They executed battle drills to react to enemy contact and methodically assaulted simulated bunkers. Moving into complex urban environments, the Soldiers demonstrated close-quarters proficiency during Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) lanes.
The training environment created a chaotic, battlefield-like atmosphere to test cognitive function under extreme stress. In between firefights, candidates rapidly assembled weapon systems, donned protective gear to operate in CBRN environments, and executed complex Call for Fire radio procedures. During the medical lanes, evaluators tested the Drill Sergeants’ ability to perform Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), requiring them to apply tourniquets and drag casualties to safety while under fire.
“The Cadre leading this Spur Ride and many of the competitors are the very same professionals, as US Army Reserve Drill Sergeants, who mold civilian volunteers into combat-ready Soldiers,” said Brig. Gen. Gregory C. Glasow, commanding general of the 98th Training Division (IET). “The grit and standard of excellence displayed out here at Camp Parks is a direct reflection of the caliber of the Drill Sergeants we provide to the Army as a whole every single day.”
The Army Reserve’s priority is building combat-ready formations, which requires leaders who can think clearly and make the right call even when completely exhausted. The Cadre of the 2-415th proved that lethality isn’t just a buzzword; it is a standard built on shared hardship.
The true test of that standard arrived in the darkest hours. At 0200 on June 6, with candidates already operating on zero sleep, the final push began: a demanding overnight Land Navigation course that lasted until 0830. Upon completion, having already covered 20 miles and with little physical strength remaining, the challenge was no longer about stamina; it had become a test of pure heart, determination, and grit. With only six miles standing between them and the finish line, the candidates shouldered their rucks one last time and stepped forward.
However, finishing the march offered no immediate relief. Evaluators quickly ushered the candidates into a final, intense physical challenge. With their bodies pushed to the breaking point, the Soldiers then had to report to the “MSG Table.” Standing rigidly at attention, they faced a board of Master Sergeants who questioned them on deep Army and Cavalry history. Passing this last test signaled the end of the event. In a time-honored rite of passage, each successful candidate “rode the pony” before leadership formally presented them with their Stetson hats and pinned silver spurs to their boots. This ritual is more than a display of pride; it is a profound investment in the people of the Army Reserve.
The 2-415th Squadron successfully executed its final Spur Ride, closing a storied chapter in the history of the “Old Faithful” Regiment. As the Army Reserve’s evolving force structure brings this tradition to its final ride under the 2-415th lineage, the legacy created by generations of Soldiers will carry on. From the battlefields of the Rhineland to the training grounds of Camp Parks, that legacy remains evident in the grit, professionalism, and unwavering readiness displayed throughout Operation Iron Spur. The spurs awarded during this event will stand as a lasting testament to the standards upheld by the Regiment and to the Soldiers entrusted to carry that standard forward.
Do you have the grit to wear the campaign hat and forge the future of the force? Become a U.S. Army Reserve Drill Sergeant. Start your journey here: https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fdvidshub.net%2Fr%2Fybu7d2
(Note: To view the complete, photo gallery and multimedia coverage of the historic final Spur Ride, visit the official DVIDS Feature Page at https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dvidshub.net%2Ffeature%2FFinalSpurRide2415)
#IfYouAintCav | #OrderOfTheSpur | #StetsonAndSpurs | #USARDrillSergeant | #ArmyReserve
| Date Taken: | 06.09.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 06.09.2026 13:56 |
| Story ID: | 567208 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 214 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Beyond the Trail: USAR Drill Sergeants Conquer Final Spur Ride, Cementing the 2-415th Legacy, by MAJ Jacqwayne Griffin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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