ONE LAST RIDE: 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Soldiers Take on the Spur Ride
Photo By Barbara Wilson |
To kick off the Spur Ride Sept. 11-13 at Marseilles Training Center, 2nd Squadron,......read moreread more
Photo By Barbara Wilson | To kick off the Spur Ride Sept. 11-13 at Marseilles Training Center, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment Soldiers begin the Recon Fitness Test with a one-mile run. Soldiers must complete the Recon Fitness Test within 30 minutes to pass the event. see less
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ONE LAST RIDE: 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Soldiers Take on the Spur Ride
One hundred thirty-five ‘shave tails’ from the Illinois Army National Guard’s 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment began a mission Sept. 11 with the goal of earning their spurs at Marseilles Training Center, Marseilles, Illinois.
By the end of the Spur Ride, Sept. 13, 54 Troopers proved themselves worthy to wear spurs.
The tradition of the Spur Ride draws from the heritage of U.S. Cavalry units. When new Soldiers arrived at Cavalry units, they required extensive training in horsemanship and mounted swordsmanship. These Soldiers received a horse with a shaved tail, identifying them as a potential hazard and requiring extra space in which to train and operate.
While riding a “shave tail,” new Cavalry Soldiers were not permitted to wear spurs, as their undisciplined use would only worsen a problem. Only after extensive training and evaluation proving their skill at maneuvering a horse and wielding a sword would a Cavalry Soldier be presented with spurs and his horse be permitted to grow out their shaved tail.
The modern-day Spur Ride provides a Cavalry unit Soldier with a true gut-check; the means to do a personal assessment of their grit and determination. Wearing spurs means a Cavalry Soldier persevered.
“This Spur Ride is bittersweet for us as a Cavalry Regiment,” said 1st Lt. Jeremy Burhorn, the Spur Ride Officer in Charge. “As the cavalry units reorganize, this Spur Ride is pretty special to us since it is the last one.”
Burhorn said while there are only two requirements to participate in the Spur Ride, there are a series of physical and mental tasks Soldiers must pass to earn their spurs.
“To participate in the Spur Ride, the Soldiers must qualify with their weapons, and pass the Army Fitness Test,” he said.
Burhorn said a spur ride is a series of physical and mental tests over three days, giving the Cavalry Regiment Soldiers the opportunity to earn their spurs – not an easy feat, admittedly.
“Soldiers start day one with the Recon Fitness Test, followed by the confidence course, and end the day with written exams on reconnaissance and security, the history and lineage of the 106th Cavalry regiment, and land navigation,” Burhorn said. “Day two they are broken into small teams, taken out to a drop off point and from there they must navigate to, and complete eight Army Warrior Tasks, and finish the day performing patrol base operations through the night.”
Burhorn said the Soldiers start the third morning with a ruck march of an unknown distance within an unknown amount of time.
“We just tell them to be at the end on time,” he said. “Once they arrive at the end, their ruck sacks are weighed. This year’s ruck march was 4.3 miles in 65 minutes with a 35-pound ruck.”
At the finish line, Soldiers weighed their ruck sack and then recited Fiddler’s Green, a poem describing the legendary afterlife imagined by Cavalry Soldiers. To earn spurs, Soldiers must pass all tasks within two attempts.
Burhorn said planning the Spur Ride started a year ago.
“Our Soldiers had a year to train,” he said. “This was our cumulative training event, so we trained during drill weekends. Soldiers also trained on their own.”
Spc. Edward Tuma, Troop B, said he studied using flash cards and studied with his brother.
“Not being a 19D series Soldier and learning the different nomenclatures was probably the most difficult part,” Tuma said. Tuma, who served five years as a Rifleman in the U.S. Marine Corps, enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in January. “This is a great group of guys behind you, which made for a successful event.”
Tuma said earning his Spurs was especially nice because he was able to prove himself.
“This achievement pays homage to those who have earned their Spurs before me,” he said. “This is an accomplishment for me. I was able to finish the tasks and become a Spur holder.”
For Staff Sgt. Tyler Engebretson, the Spur Ride was a solid challenge.
“I’ve been in the Illinois Army National Guard since 2018, so I’ve been doing this for a while,” he said. “Through the years, I was able to develop a base line which pushed me over the line. It’s especially nice to see the younger Soldiers earn their Spurs, since they are relatively new to the unit.”
Engebretson said it was especially nice to earn the Spurs during this Spur Ride.
“It’s special to be part of the final chapter of a very long lineage,” he said.
Col. Mike Kowalski, Commander of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, said he was where the Soldiers was 19 years ago.
“In 2007, then-Captain Kowalski was where you are today,” he said. “What a weekend this has been. It was a wonderful feeling earning my spurs that weekend. To the Soldiers who didn’t earn their spurs, you put out a great effort. I was proud to have done it with you. To the Soldiers who earned spurs, you are the future leaders of this organization.”
Because the U.S. Army is deactivating and restructuring various cavalry units as part of the Army of 2030 force modernization, this ride also became the last opportunity for Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers to earn their spurs.
“As the Army evolves, and as the Squadron evolves, this is the last spur ride,” Kowalski said.
To end the spur ride, as the names of Soldiers earning spurs were called out, they were brought to the front of the formation and Spur Ride cadre placed the spurs on each Soldiers’ boots.
The Regiment also paid tribute to Spc. Aiden Mrotek who was killed in a car wreck Sept. 6. Throughout the weekend, a cross honoring Mrotek was carried from station to station.
“There is no doubt he would have earned his spurs this weekend,” Kowalski said as he placed a set of spurs on the cross.
