Spur Ride mixes cavalry traditions with Soldier skills
Soldiers from the Portsmouth-based 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry navigate through a Spur Ride Aug. 26 at Fort Pickett that mixes cavalry traditions with Soldier skills and the Warrior Ethos in order to earn the right to wear cavalry spurs at special unit gatherings. To qualify for the Spur Ride, Soldiers must complete a number of tasks based on their rank to demonstrate proficiency in their job and be nominated by a spur holder who has mentored them through the process. The Spur Ride itself begins early in the morning with physical training, followed by the several stations on the leader reaction course to test the decision-making ability of the candidates. After a session learning about cavalry heritage, an orientation to basic horsemanship and a combatives tournament, the spur candidates then travelled late into the night to five different stations to test the skills in basic cavalry Soldier tasks like first aid, vehicle recovery, establishing an observation post and weapons disassembly and assembly. A total of 27 officers and noncommissioned officers earned the spurs at the end of the event. (Photo by Cotton Puryear, Va. Dept. of Military Affairs)
View video of the Spur Ride here:
Spur Ride mixes cavalry traditions with Soldier skills
Soldiers from the Portsmouth-based 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry navigate through a Spur Ride Aug. 26 at Fort Pickett that mixes cavalry traditions with Soldier skills and the Warrior Ethos in order to earn the right to wear cavalry spurs at special unit gatherings. To qualify for the Spur Ride, Soldiers must complete a number of tasks based on their rank to demonstrate proficiency in their job and be nominated by a spur holder who has mentored them through the process. The Spur Ride itself begins early in the morning with physical training, followed by the several stations on the leader reaction course to test the decision-making ability of the candidates. After a session learning about cavalry heritage, an orientation to basic horsemanship and a combatives tournament, the spur candidates then travelled late into the night to five different stations to test the skills in basic cavalry Soldier tasks like first aid, vehicle recovery, establishing an observation post and weapons disassembly and assembly. A total of 27 officers and noncommissioned officers earned the spurs at the end of the event. (Photo by Cotton Puryear, Va. Dept. of Military Affairs)
View video of the Spur Ride here: