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U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, drag equipment in a sled at a spur ride lane at Trzebien, Poland, March 9, 2022. Soldiers from various units within 1ABCT participated in the spur ride, a challenging event where physical fitness and teamwork are needed to emerge successfully and earn their spurs.
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U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, push a Humvee during a spur ride lane at Trzebien, Poland, March 9, 2022. Soldiers from various units within 1ABCT participated in the spur ride, a challenging event where physical fitness and teamwork are needed to emerge successfully and earn their spurs.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army Spc. Hassani Ribera Soto)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 6Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, carry equipment during a lane at a spur ride at Trzebien, Poland, March 9, 2022. Soldiers from various units within 1ABCT participated in the spur ride, a challenging event where physical fitness and teamwork are needed to emerge successfully and earn their spurs.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army Spc. Hassani Ribera Soto)VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 6Show Caption +Hide Caption –
A U.S. Soldier assigned to 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, watches over Soldiers tending to a simulated casualty at a spur ride lane at Trzebien, Poland, March 9, 2022. Soldiers from various units within 1ABCT participated in the spur ride, a challenging event where physical fitness and teamwork are needed to emerge successfully and earn their spurs.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army Spc. Hassani Ribera Soto)VIEW ORIGINAL5 / 6Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, low crawl while carrying a simulated casualty during a spur ride lane at Trzebien, Poland, March 9, 2022. Soldiers from various units within 1ABCT participated in the spur ride, a challenging event where physical fitness and teamwork are needed to emerge successfully and earn their spurs.
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A U.S. Soldier assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, calls in a simulated artillery strike on a grid during a spur ride lane at Trzebien, Poland, March 9, 2022. Soldiers from various units within 1ABCT participated in the spur ride, a challenging event where physical fitness and teamwork are needed to emerge successfully and earn their spurs.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army Spc. Hassani Ribera Soto)VIEW ORIGINAL
TRZEBIEN, Poland – Soldiers assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division had their tenacity tested during the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Spur Ride on March 9, 2022.
More than 200 candidates, divided into 24 teams, participated in a spur ride, consisting of 48 hours of intense physical and mental challenges. Service members had to rely on their skills and teams to emerge victoriously in order to earn their spurs.
Service members go through various lanes, testing teamwork and individual soldier tasks, including calling for fire missions, medical evacuations, working in a chemical hazard environment, and reacting to contact. After all of these challenges are done, candidates must finish a ruck march at night, testing their endurance.
“It was incredibly challenging, and it wasn’t as I was expecting,” said U.S. Army Spc. Brianna Tillotson, assigned to 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry. “I definitely struggled a lot more than I thought I would, but it showed what I’m fully capable of.”
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U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Goebel assists his brother, U.S. Army Sgt. Aaron Goebel, both assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, putting on spurs after passing a spur ride at Trzebien, Poland, March 10, 2022. Soldiers from various units within 1ABCT participated in the spur ride, a challenging event where physical fitness and teamwork are needed to emerge successfully and earn their spurs.
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U.S. Soldiers assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, stand in formation with newly awarded spurs after passing a spur ride at Trzebien, Poland, March 10, 2022. Soldiers from various units within 1ABCT participated in the spur ride, a challenging event where physical fitness and teamwork are needed to emerge successfully and earn their spurs.
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A U.S. Soldier assigned to 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, puts spurs on a Soldier he was sponsoring during a spur ride at Trzebien, Poland, March 10, 2022. Soldiers from various units within 1ABCT participated in the spur ride, a challenging event where physical fitness and teamwork are needed to emerge successfully and earn their spurs.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army Spc. Hassani Ribera Soto)VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. James Morgan, command sergeant major of the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, speaks with Soldiers who passed the spur ride at Trzebien, Poland, March 10, 2022. Soldiers from various units within 1ABCT participated in the spur ride, a challenging event where physical fitness and teamwork are needed to emerge successfully and earn their spurs.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army Spc. Hassani Ribera Soto)VIEW ORIGINAL
The spur ride traces its roots to when the U.S. Army Cavalry was established; the new cavalrymen were assigned horses with a shaved tail, indicating to more experienced riders that the new trooper needed additional space. They were given spurs only after they proved themselves capable of completing tasks expected of a cavalryman.
“This was probably one of the most intense spur rides we’ve presided over,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Richard Montcalm, commander of the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, while addressing the soldiers who finished the event.
Out of 225 candidates, 197 earned their spurs after covering more than 40 miles across 24 hours.
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