Photo By Lt. Col. Mikol Kirschenbaum | Spur Ride candidate, Spc. Devan Chambers with K Troop, performs a functions check on a...... read more read more
NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Driving out to the southern Nevada desert, two distinct groups emerged among the 1-221st Cavalry Soldiers for the annual Spur Ride.
One group was comprised of the Soldiers hoping to earn silver spurs and become full-fledged Cavalry troops. They were the ones equipped with all of their gear, including their Kevlar helmet and combat vests.
The other group included the squadron’s Spur Ride veterans clad in black shirts, Stetson hats and boots adorned with silver spurs. The confident, swaggering veterans were ready to put the spur candidates through numerous tests to see if the newcomers had what it takes to earn silver spurs.
The Order of the Spur is a cavalry tradition that allows Soldiers to earn spurs by successfully completing a Spur Ride or by serving in combat as a member of a cavalry unit.
Sunday’s ride marked the second consecutive year the 1-221st hosted its Spur Ride in Las Vegas. Before 2014, there had been a break of almost a decade between spur rides because of squadron deployments and scheduling conflicts.
A Soldier who has earned both silver and gold spurs is a Master Spur Holder. The spurs are worn with Army military uniforms during squadron or regimental ceremonies and events or as determined by the cavalry unit commander.
“The goal of the spur ride is to test the cavalry Soldiers’ knowledge, skills and abilities in challenging conditions,” said Sgt. Maj Scott Brown, the squadron’s top operations sergeant and the director of this year’s spur ride. Brown earned his own silver spurs over a decade ago.
In order to earn their spurs, cavalry Soldiers were historically required to become equestrian experts able to handle a sword even when horseback. The tails of their horses were shaved, a signal to those around them to give them a wide berth while they were in training. The trainees were known as “shaved tails.” Only after they had proven to be proficient while mounted could the cavalry Soldiers wear spurs.
Today, Soldiers don’t need to display their equestrian and swordsmanship skills to gain acceptance. These days, Soldiers need to prove that they can work as part of a team to earn their spurs.
“Earning spurs is the highest honor a cavalryman can attain,” said 1-221st Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Kinsey, himself a spur holder. “Few people realize how many Army traditions stem from cavalry traditions.”
In order to earn their spurs, sleep-deprived candidates had to demonstrate their skill in weapons proficiency, land navigation, medical evacuation, small unit tactics and equipment layout and inspection.
The Spur Ride had begun Friday with a strict Army Physical Fitness Test. Any total score under 250 or less than a score of 70 on a single event abruptly ended a candidate’s chances for silver spurs. After the fitness test came a written test on unit and cavalry history.
The ride ended Sunday with the Cav-Olympics and a six mile ruck march. The event culminated at the unit’s barbecue area where successful candidates received their spurs.
“To earn your spurs, it is all about heart, perseverance and motivating your teammates to never give up,” said squadron commander Lt. Col. Michael Peyerl, who earned his silver spurs last year.
In addition to testing candidates physically and mentally, Peyerl said spur rides help build unit cohesion and camaraderie. The spur ride bonds Soldiers, links them with their cavalry roots, and trains them to perform under stress, he said.
One of the youngest Soldiers to receive his spurs was Spc. Devan Chambers, who was pleased to have survived the cav’s grueling Spur Ride test.
“It was just what I expected,” Chambers said. “It was a lot of hard work, but it was great training”.
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.13.2015 11:34 |
| Story ID: | 181900 |
| Location: | NORTH LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, US |
| Web Views: | 122 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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