Photo By Sgt. Angel Turner | First Lt. Jason Vaughn (left), former commander of the 1st Cavalry Division Horse...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas —Horses and troopers – these are two things that Capt. Elizabeth Rascon said she’s passionate about.
Under the Texas sun right outside the gates of “The Great Place,” she was able to bring those two things together when she took command of the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cav. Detachment during a change of command ceremony here June 13.
She is the unit’s first female commander, and she took the reins of the storied detachment from1st Lt. Jason Vaughn following his 18-month tenure at the horse det.
“It’s truly an honor, but it’s not something I think about,” said Rascon in regards to her being the first female commander. “My focus here is to take command and take care of my Troopers – my Family. It’s not something that I take lightly.”
Getting selected to command the 1st Cav. Div. Horse Cav. Det. was something the Mesquite, Texas, native had to work to obtain.
While deployed to Afghanistan, Rascon had to have her unit nominate her as a candidate, she had to conduct a phone interview with the 1st Cav. Div. deputy chief of staff, and upon her return to Fort Hood, she had to conduct a basic skills test at the detachment.
Each of the divisions’ brigades nominated someone to lead the unit that upholds much of the division’s heritage and tradition, and out of the potential candidates, Rascon made the cut.
“I’m very excited,” said Rascon, who is also the first in her Family to join the military. “This unit has a great mission – all kinds of really cool things with the community – and I hope to expand on that.”
Although the horse detachment brings a change of pace to Rascon’s four-year Army career, horses are familiar territory to her.
She began riding horses when she was about 4 years old and continued to perfect her horsemanship throughout college.
“Captain Rascon brings a great set of skills into the detachment, and she will be able to continue to take the horse detachment on its storied journey,” said Lt. Col. Jesse Phillips, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. “She is a qualified leader and knows how to take care of her Troopers.”
As friends, Families, and fellow Soldiers witnessed a new chapter being written within the “First Team’s” history, they also bid farewell to
Vaughn, and recalled some of the accomplishments during his reign.
Vaughn heads to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he will further his professional development at the Engineer Captain’s Career Course.
“The Horse Cavalry Detachment is one of those things that makes ‘The Great Place’ so special,” said Vaughn, who hails from Brooklyn, New York. “Sometimes I still can’t believe that I had the extreme privilege of commanding this amazing unit.”
The ceremony concluded with Rascon taking her place as commander among her Soldiers. Unlike the traditional change of command ceremony, the formation trotted off on horses, a reminder to everyone of the history of the 1st Cavalry Division: the mounted cavalry.
Unit History
The Horse Cavalry Detachment was designated by the Department of the Army as a special ceremonial unit in 1972
Currently, the 1st Cav. Div. Horse Cav. Detachment is the largest active duty mounted cavalry unit. It has a three-fold mission: represent the division and Army in public appearances throughout the country, assist in recruiting by demonstrating the professionalism of today’s Soldier, and maintain the traditions forged by the cavalry throughout history.
The detachment currently has 31 horses, two dogs and five mules.
| Date Taken: | 06.13.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.23.2014 11:21 |
| Story ID: | 134038 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 446 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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