FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Army News Service. June 5, 2009) - A cavalry squadron here marked the hot days of the Carolina summer Tuesday and Wednesday by hosting its first spur ride, a modern adaptation of an historic rite-of-passage among horse-mounted cavalrymen.
After over 24 hours of grueling physical activity, tests of soldiering skills and a board examination, 112 officers and noncommissioned officers of 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82d Airborne Division, earned silver spurs, said Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew Swanson.
Before the event, the airborne cavalry unit contained only 18 "spur holders," said Swanson.
The spur ride began well before daylight Tuesday with circuit physical training, followed by a four-mile run, said Sgt. 1st Class Ansel Manning of B Troop, a spur holder who helped manage the event, reinforced with support by spur holders from 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
Following PT, spur candidates rotated through stations that tested soldiering skills such as weapons assembly, first aid, tactical movement, vehicle identification, personal camouflage, and a challenging "confidence" or obstacle course, said Manning.
After dark and throughout the night, teams of candidates carried combat-loaded rucksacks more than 10 miles through the forests of Fort Bragg as they attempted to complete six more skills stations, said Manning.
"There is just nothing cooler than being a cavalry Paratrooper," said Lt. Col. Scott Hooper, squadron commander. "Every Paratrooper showed up with a gallon of good attitude and flat-out got after it in an effort to earn his or her spurs. I couldn't be prouder of this outfit," he said.
"Holding the spur ride just before our deployment allows us to get in touch with our history and tradition," said Hooper. "It gives us all a bonding event, a chance to establish a brotherhood of Paratroopers who will share some challenging times. They will carry these stories with them for the rest of their lives," he said.
"When they are in Iraq, they can look back to when they were on the obstacle course, covered head-to-toe in mud, and all they could do was look up and say, 'I want my spurs...I really want my spurs...I really, really want my spurs!'" said Hooper.
Candidates were awarded their spurs at a dinner Wednesday evening to celebrate the completion of the rigorous event, said Manning.
In addition to the cavalry Paratroopers, spurs were awarded to the brigade commander and command sergeant major, and to the commanders of the brigade's other five battalions, all of whom participated in the spur ride, said Manning.
"Participation by senior leadership of the brigade sent a great message to our cavalry Paratroopers as to the significance of the event, as well as reinforced the camaraderie throughout the Devil Brigade," said Hooper.
Sgt. Briseida Gonzalez, supply sergeant for D Troop, was one of three female NCO's to take part in the spur ride. Appointed platoon sergeant of one of six groups to participate in the nighttime trials, she appreciated having her leadership skills put to the test, she said.
Paratroopers had to hold the rank of sergeant or greater to participate, she said.
Historically, new cavalry Soldiers were assigned horses with shaved tails so that, during training with other cavalrymen, the more experienced troops knew to give them extra berth until their saber and horsemanship skills reached an accomplished level. Once that had been achieved, they were awarded spurs, said Cpt. Michael Rosol, commander of B Troop.
Spurs were also a symbol of knighthood in the Middle Ages, and the ultimate insult one knight could inflict upon another was to cut off his spurs, said Rosol.
This was the first spur ride held by 3-73rd Cavalry since being activated as part of the 82d Airborne's 1st Brigade Combat Team in August 2006. The squadron draws its lineage back through the 82d Airborne Division's 3rd Battalion, 73rd Armor Regiment (Airborne), the only Armor Battalion to conduct a heavy-drop airborne operation in combat during Operation Just Cause in Panama.
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