Cav Troopers Endure 'Spur Ride' in Germany

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Army News Service | Stephen Baack | February 14, 2006

SCHWEINFURT, Germany - Among the many accouterments that separate one type of military unit from another, arguably the most noticeable are a pair of spurs and a black Stetson worn by the Army’s cavalry. Soldiers in cavalry squadrons cannot wear the traditional accessories, however, until they demonstrate their skills.

Thirty-six Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, joined by five German soldiers, tested themselves physically, mentally and emotionally for 24 hours during the unit’s Spur Ride at Camp Robertson to earn the right to wear the coveted spurs and truly be considered part of the cavalry.

“I wanted to do this,” said 1st Lt. Brendan Meara, an anti-tank platoon leader with A Troop, 1-4 Cav. “I’m lucky enough to be serving in a cavalry unit, go that extra step and become a spur holder. You’re not a real cavalryman until you earn your spurs.”

The participants’ day began with a morning Army physical fitness test, followed by a written test and a board similar to that of a promotion board. When the “spur candidates” were stuck between events, “spur holders” would keep them busy by having them run tank ammunition back and forth, doing casualty carries, performing drill and ceremony sequences, singing Army songs and doing more PT.

Next came an inspection of the candidates’ equipment before the main Soldier skills evaluation kicked in which often stretched late into the night. Spur holders split the candidates into teams which were divided into stations spread across the area for the evaluation portion. Soldiers who were missing items would have to place weights in their rucksacks to make the trek to and from stations that much more difficult.

Teams were tested on basic soldiering skills – land navigation and casualty first aid -- but they were also assessed on how well they accomplished cavalry skills such as how to establish an observation post along with reconnaissance and security fundamentals.

“When you’re a spur holder, you’ve proven yourself,” said Meara. “You’re a capable leader.”

You’re capable with military skills – thinking under pressure. But it also proves that you’ve taken the time to become a part of cavalry history. There’s a lot of history involved in this event going back to the Indian wars when it was a rite of passage for new Soldiers,” he added. “They weren’t even allowed to have their spurs until they’d proven they were reliable Soldiers.”

While a spur ride differs among cavalry units, the tradition hasn’t changed much over the years.

“Now we’re concentrating on Soldier tasks,” said 1st Sgt. Steven Ziebarth, A Troop, 1-4 Cav first sergeant, who originally earned his spurs with the unit in 1987. “We’re trying to eliminate the hazing posture from the spur ride and make it leadership certification training – treating Soldiers with dignity and respect, but at the same time making it physically challenging.”

“Especially with the transformation that we’re doing now to a light unit – getting on the ground, doing this kind of dismounted activity is going to be very pertinent to our future and going over the fundamentals of dismounted operations,” said Meara. “It’s something we lose as a mounted, mechanized unit. Now we’re getting back to it. This is very good training.”

The Spur Ride ended the next morning after a road march back to Conn Barracks in Schweinfurt from Camp Robertson.

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