FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. – Four volunteer riders became the newest members of B Troop, 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment (Memorial) and officially joined the ranks during a graduation ceremony Friday at historic Brown Parade Field.
Col. John Ives, garrison commander and honorary regimental commander of B Troop, joined Maj. Ashley Mount, commander of B Troop, to award the riders their cavalry spurs after completing their first official mounted charge down the length of the parade field.
The new graduates are Staff Sgt. Oscar J. Casas III, Capt. Megan Milillo, Amanda Murphy and Ana Kitselman.
In his commencement speech, Ives recognized the thrill and the importance of B Troop.
“The absolute highlight of every ceremony here at Fort Huachuca is the B Troop cavalry charge,” he said. “When the riders streak past us to the sound of the bugle, hoofs thundering, pistols firing, the canon booming – that is the exciting part.”
But he also recognized that although everyone loves watching the charge, it is something few can actually do. Anyone wishing to become a member of B Troop must first complete four months of training and then successfully pass their riding tests, but that isn’t all that is involved.
“In addition to committing to the training, our volunteers spend time caring for their mounts, providing an additional 30-40 hours per week of labor,” he explained. “And [once they complete the training] they spend many weekends and holidays representing Fort Huachuca all over southern Arizona and in competitions from Nevada to Oklahoma.
“All this while they maintain their day-to-day jobs and families. This is truly a commitment that few will make.”
Milillo agreed with that sentiment.
“The time commitment and finding a good work/life balance…is pretty challenging, timewise,” she said admitting that all the time spent in training and with the horses was very rewarding.
“You start the day with your horse, and you end the day with your horse, and it makes it easier to deal with all the other stuff that happens in between,” Milillo said.
Cassas also agreed that, in some ways, what was the most difficult was also the best part.
“I think the connection that you have with your animal, your assigned mount, I think that is the best and most important,” he explained.
But he also admitted trying to forge that great connection was what he considered the hardest part of the training.
“It was hard, coming to terms that a 1,200-pound animal can humble you so very well,” he laughed. “That was definitely challenging!
“You know, we walk around in our uniform, and we walk proud, and we walk tall; but then leave it to an animal that size – they’re not judgmental – they don’t care who you are, and they can humble you very quickly.”
That was something that Kitselman echoed.
“The hardest part,” she laughingly said, “was getting Jet to listen to me!
“The best part was just getting to hang out with Jett and being able to ride and learn from him.”
Murphy wasn’t quite so philosophical about what the best part was.
“The best part is 100% the charge,” she said. “The first time you do it you think ‘this is so much fun!’”
Milillo agreed.
“We get to shoot while running on horseback!” she said. “How cool is that?”
If you are interested in becoming a part of B Troop, applications are still being accepted for the next class starting March 5. Eligible members are drawn from active duty, reserve and retired military personnel, as well as Department of Defense civilians employed at Fort Huachuca, and military family members aged 18 and older.
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Fort Huachuca is home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, the U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Army Signal Command and more than 48 supported tenants representing a diverse, multiservice population. Our unique environment encompasses 946 square miles of restricted airspace and 2,500 square miles of protected electronic ranges, key components to the national defense mission.
Located in Cochise County, in southeast Arizona, about 15 miles north of the border with Mexico, Fort Huachuca is an Army installation with a rich frontier history. Established in 1877, the Fort was declared a national landmark in 1976.
We are the Army’s Home. Learn more at https://home.army.mil/huachuca/.
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