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JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – Although cavalry soldiers do not ride horses to work anymore, spurs continue to be an important part of their military traditions.
More than 40 soldiers from 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, conducted a “Spur Ride” at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, July 23-24, for a chance to earn a pair of silver spurs.
Unlike gold spurs, which soldiers receive for finishing a combat deployment, silver spurs can only be earned by completing a "Spur Ride."
Staff Sgt. Cash Williams, a Round Rock, Texas, native, and grader for the event, said the Spur Ride tested participants on subjects including: clearing and checking a weapon, treating a casualty, using a navigation system and reading a map, and knowledge of cavalry history.
Organizers specifically tailored the Spur Ride events for a deployment because these are subjects leaders want their soldiers to be experts in, he continued.
Any soldier, regardless of their military occupation specialty, may be required to use their weapon in combat, guide their unit using a map, or operate the navigation system in a vehicle if the vehicle’s commander is injured, said Williams.
Williams earned his own set of silver spurs, and became a lifelong member of the Order of the Spur, nearly seven months ago.
The Order of the Spur is an organization comprised of spur-holding soldiers. Soldiers can only become members of the order if they are awarded a pair of gold or silver spurs.
“Trying to earn your silver spurs is a prestigious thing,” he said. “It’s part of the tradition of being a cavalry soldier.”
Cavalry historians trace the history of modern Spur Rides back to the beginnings of the American cavalry. During this period, troopers new to the cavalry were not allowed to wear spurs until they had completed extensive horsemanship training. Only when a trooper had proven to be proficient atop a horse were they allowed to don spurs.
While earning spurs in the early American cavalry might have been a more singular activity, modern spur rides like this one focus on individual skills as well as team building.
Spc. Lucio Flores, a wheeled vehicle mechanic from Fresno, Calif., assigned to 15th BSB, said that is one of the aspects he really liked about the Spur Ride.
“We start as a team and finish as a team, and when we work together as a team, we get things done,” he explained.
Staff Sgt. Marcus Gable, a platoon sergeant with 15th BSB, acted as a squad leader and led a group of his soldiers through the event.
“I encouraged everyone in my platoon to come out here and take part in this,” said the Fayne, La., native. “That way everybody feels like part of the team.”
It says a lot about soldiers who are willing to come out here and work together as a team to accomplish this Spur Ride, he said. “It sets them apart from their peers.”
Silver spurs also help a soldier stand out, said Flores. Being able to return from a deployment with both gold and silver spurs is something special. It shows those around you that you were willing to step up and take part in a Spur Ride even when you didn’t have to, he added.
For the participants, the Spur Ride offered a chance to be part of a long tradition.
“This keeps the legend going,” said Gable.
As older spur holders retire and leave the service, this new generation will be around to keep the tradition alive, he continued.
Once they earn their spurs, the participants will be entitled to wear them during cavalry unit events and in their formal attire. Soldiers retain their membership in the Order of the Spur even if they leave their cavalry unit.
“Silver spurs are something you get to keep forever,” said Williams.
Once soldiers earn spurs, they are part of a brotherhood of soldiers that earned them before, and one day, hopefully spur holders will help soldiers who come after them earn theirs, he added.
After the successful Spur Ride, the first by 15th BSB since deploying in support of Operation New Dawn earlier this summer, unit leaders are planning more Spur Ride events for their soldiers.
Williams said he hopes everyone will take part and earn their silver spurs.
| Date Taken: | 08.03.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.03.2011 07:21 |
| Story ID: | 74743 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 77 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Cavalry soldier live the legend during spur ride, by 1SG Justin A. Naylor, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
