Photo By Sgt. Samantha Cate | A board displays the names of Soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army Caisson Detachment,...... read more read more
Subscribe
JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. – Thousands of headstones, six horses, three riders, and one American flag-draped casket in a black artillery caisson. This iconic image embodies the essence of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment’s “The Old Guard” Caisson Detachment, a unit steeped in tradition and ceremony. Recently, this storied detachment marked a milestone with significant advancements in its training program.
On Oct. 25, 2024, after 12 weeks of rigorous, hands-on training, the Caisson Detachment awarded their badge to the inaugural graduating class of the newly implemented Basic Horsemanship Course (BHC).
The highly anticipated course, was developed by the Caisson Detachment under the guidance of David O’Connor, an Olympic Gold Medalist and former president of the US Equine Federation, and is held in collaboration with Tamarack Stables out of Lorton, Virginia. Over the course of 12 weeks, the soldiers train on how to care for the horses and their equipment, while developing intermediate riding skills.
“I think the [Caisson] instructors and staff here at Tamarack have done an excellent job of training us, teaching us through a variety of different types of horsemanship, just how to be comfortable on the horse,” said Spc. Kirk Bryce, an Infantryman and recent graduate of the program.
Many Soldiers arrive at the Caisson Detachment, which is primarily composed of infantry soldiers, with little to no prior experience with horses.
“I’m not too scared to admit it’s terrifying,” admitted Bryce. “I never even really touched a horse before joining the army…now I feel completely comfortable on them.”
The course prides itself on building riders from the ground up. Bryce, who graduated top of his class and earned the coveted Distinguished Honor Graduate title, is a testament to that effort.
“Watching them grow as individuals and develop into the riders that they are is amazing,” remarked Sgt. Logan Justice, an instructor at the Caisson Detachment. “This class of soldiers; they are willing. They're eager. Not only are they showing great promise as Soldiers, but they're showing promise as horsemen.”
The military horsemen at the Caisson Detachment carry the solemn responsibility of performing their duties at ceremonies in and around Arlington National Cemetery. These duties demand not only equestrian skill but also an unwavering sense of respect.
“The Caisson instructors have really done an excellent job of establishing that reverence for our duty,” stated Bryce. “It means the world to me”
Early mornings, weekends, long hours, memorizing the roads of Arlington National Cemetery. For military horsemen, it takes dedication and commitment to balance their equine and ceremonial duties.
“Being a military horseman, not only does that mean that I can ride a horse, but it also means that I take pride in the fact that I'm a soldier first, and I'm a horseman,” claimed Justice.
As the Caisson detachment evolves, their commitment to expertly fulfilling their responsibility remains ever the same.
“We're working towards that goal of getting in the cemetery and showing that we're ready to rock and roll,” proclaimed Justice. “We're going through our validations, and we're training these soldiers up to the best of our ability so that we are ready and essential when the time comes.”
If you are an active duty Soldier and interested in joining the Old Guard please email: eric.w.dyitt.mil@army.mil
| Date Taken: | 04.07.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.08.2025 13:18 |
| Story ID: | 494718 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 37 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Milestone reached in new Caisson program, by SGT Samantha Cate, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
