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FORT DRUM, N.Y. - A formation of Cavalry Troopers looks like none other in the Army, but the soldiers who stand in those ranks had to earn the right to wear the distinctive Stetson and spurs on their boots.
More than 300 Troopers from 1st Brigade Combat Team's 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, attempted to join the Order of the Spur by participating in a Spur Ride, Sept. 21-22, to earn their silver spurs.
"The Spur Ride is culminating event in which a Scout transitions and joins the organization by completing a series of events or tests," said Lt. Col. Keith McKinley, commander of 1-71. "Once that scout is complete with the Spur Ride, he earns the silver spurs and he is truly integrated into the squadron."
This tradition of earning spurs dates back to the beginning of the Cavalry. When a newly assigned soldier, or green Trooper, arrived at their first Cavalry unit they were assigned a horse with a shaved tail. Spur-less soldiers were consequently nicknamed "Shave Tail."
A horse with a shaved tail was given more room in a formation because its rider was marked as an amateur and needed extensive training. New Troopers were also not allowed to wear spurs until they proved their ability to perform swordsmanship from atop a horse.
Cav. Scouts are awarded their spurs upon completion of a Spur Ride or on their first combat tour.
"Gold spurs are earned in combat, the silver spurs are earned in garrison in a training environment similar to this," McKinley said.
For many soldiers new to 1-71 like Pfc. David Scott, who arrived to the Squadron two weeks prior, this Spur Ride was their chance to prove themselves to veterans of the unit.
"I had no idea what a Spur Ride was," said Scott, a Forward Observer with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop. "To be able to accomplish that and earn respect from others who have their spurs, it's a great feeling."
To begin the Spur Ride, 39 eight-man squads were formed of soldiers from each Troop within the Squadron.
"I didn't really know any of the guys in my team," Scott said. "But everyone knew a little bit about everything. We all taught each other throughout the course."
By forming the squads in this manner, the leadership of 1-71 Cav. forced the Troopers to work together as a team.
"The young private was given a leadership role under the mentorship of either a senior noncommissioned officer or an officer," McKinley said. "This was a great opportunity for that young Scout who has been in the Army for maybe a year or year-and-a-half to make decisions on the ground to complete the mission."
McKinley says every Scout in 1-71 Cav. is in a leadership position or training to be in a leadership position.
"Today, the investment we put into that young private, three or four years from now he will be the squad leader that will be leading men in combat," he said.
The squads were now tested as a group in a board setting. Questions asked by Cavalry veterans included ethics, tactics and even a little of the Cavalrymen's poem: Fiddler's Green.
"Scouts are supposed to think on the battlefield," McKinley said. "So we used our board to examine how the Scout is thinking."
Over the next couple hours the squads got to know each other before finally beginning their journey around Fort Drum at 7 p.m. eight checkpoints set up in numerous locations tested the squads on various Cav. Scout skills.
"Vehicle recovery was my favorite," McKinley said. "We picked the worst piece of terrain out there with mud. We had a vehicle simulated down for maintenance and had to recover using two methods."
In addition to testing their soldiering abilities, the stations also tested the Troopers leadership skills.
"At each station a different person was put into the squad leader position," Scott said. "I was in charge at the first aid station and the Charlie Troop commander helped me out a lot there."
The leadership provided and taught by Capt. Douglas Locke, Troop C Commander, was much appreciated by Scott.
"He helped us all out a lot to become better leaders," Scott said.
After nearly 14 hours of walking at least 14 miles with 35 pounds on their backs, Locke, Scott and the rest of their team were the first to make it to the finish at the squadron motor pool.
"If felt great to be the first team back," Scott said. "We didn't stop much, we just kept going. It was pretty tough, but definitely worth it in the end.
When the squads finished, a barbeque provided by the cooks of Troop D was waiting for them.
This Spur Ride also served as a certification in individual tasks for 1-71 Cav. Now, the Squadron is transitioning into collective training which will culminate with squad live fires in a few months.
| Date Taken: | 10.11.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 10.11.2011 14:40 |
| Story ID: | 78330 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 168 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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