Capt. David Smith, from Grand Rapids, Mich., the commander of Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment (left), congratulates Capt. DaMond Davis, from Montgomery, Ala., the 3-1 Cav. Regt. fire support officer, after he receives his combat spurs during a ceremony held at Combat Outpost Cashe, Iraq, March 23.
Soldiers from Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, receive their combat spurs during a ceremony held at Combat Outpost Cashe, Iraq, March 23.
Soldiers from Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, receive their combat spurs during a ceremony held at Combat Outpost Cashe, Iraq, March 23.
Soldiers from Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, receive their combat spurs during a ceremony held at Combat Outpost Cashe, Iraq, March 23.By Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Officer
COMBAT OUTPOST CASHE, Iraq - One-hundred and twenty Soldiers in Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, received their combat spurs during ceremonies at COP Cashe, March 23.
To accommodate the large number of Soldiers and mission schedules, three separate ceremonies were held throughout the day to allow Soldiers the opportunity to become part of the Order of the Spur.
Soldiers were awarded their gold spurs for their contributions to the 3-1 Cav. Regt. during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"Most Soldiers earn their silver spurs first," said 1st Sgt. Dobby Anderson, from Clemson, S.C., Headquarters Troop. "That wasn't the case for most of these guys. The tempo of the Army now made it tough to fit in a spur ride before we left. Rest assured they will have a spur ride when they return to Kelley Hill."
A "spur ride" is a 24- to 48-hour event that tests Troopers soldiering skills in several areas. The event also tests the Soldiers physically and mentally.
"It's tough, but when you finish and get your spurs there isn't a better feeling on earth," Anderson said. "It is a bonding experience. Soldiers really have to dig down, but at the end of the day they feel like they have accomplished something. It is one of the great traditions in the Army."
Before each ceremony, Capt. David Smith, from Grand Rapids, Mich., the commander of Headquarters Troop, explained that tradition to the Soldiers of his troop.
"You are all a part of the Cavalry," he said. "Cavalry is not an MOS (military occupational specialty). It is an organization. It is an organization that transcends your MOS. All of you have earned these spurs. You have joined the ranks of men that have ridden the plains of the early West and fought in the sands of Iraq. A Private in Operation Iraqi Freedom can relate to a Trooper serving in the Old West. The things that were important then are still important now. Things like maintaining your equipment, being proficient with your weapons, fighting as a unit and being disciplined were still just as important back then as they are now."
As Soldiers mounted the podium and were given their spurs, both Anderson and Smith were extremely proud.
"It gives me a lot of pride to see it," Smith said. "As you congratulate them, you can see the pride in their faces. The combat spurs transcend the combat patch in many ways. It is a right of passage that dates back to the 1800s."
Smith agreed.
"I think the spurs and Stetson build unit morale," he said. "Soldiers who come into our organization when we return to the rear will see that this troop has pride in themselves, their troop and our squadron. I think it will give them motivation to strive to be a part of this great organization. When we strap on those spurs and put on that Stetson every Friday, we will be showing everyone on Kelley Hill how proud we are of our organization. It is a huge morale booster."
For Spc. Marcus Lawrence, from Fayetteville, N.C., a Soldier that works in the Headquarters Troop training room, it was an important occasion.
"It feels really good to be a part of this tradition," he said. "The spurs mean a lot to a person like me that is not a Cavalry Trooper. It will be a good feeling when I move to another unit and understand that I will always be a part of the Cavalry and understand their background. It's a great tradition."
Lawrence is excited to be returning home with his combat spurs and Stetson.
"Every Friday I will be wearing them on Kelley Hill," he said. "When I leave Kelley Hill, they will be hung up and framed. I look forward to explaining to my children and grandchildren what they mean."
The 3-1 Cav. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007.
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Officer
COMBAT OUTPOST CASHE, Iraq - One-hundred and twenty Soldiers in Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, received their combat spurs during ceremonies at COP Cashe, March 23.
To accommodate the large number of Soldiers and mission schedules, three separate ceremonies were held throughout the day to allow Soldiers the opportunity to become part of the Order of the Spur.
Soldiers were awarded their gold spurs for their contributions to the 3-1 Cav. Regt. during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"Most Soldiers earn their silver spurs first," said 1st Sgt. Dobby Anderson, from Clemson, S.C., Headquarters Troop. "That wasn't the case for most of these guys. The tempo of the Army now made it tough to fit in a spur ride before we left. Rest assured they will have a spur ride when they return to Kelley Hill."
A "spur ride" is a 24- to 48-hour event that tests Troopers soldiering skills in several areas. The event also tests the Soldiers physically and mentally.
"It's tough, but when you finish and get your spurs there isn't a better feeling on earth," Anderson said. "It is a bonding experience. Soldiers really have to dig down, but at the end of the day they feel like they have accomplished something. It is one of the great traditions in the Army."
Before each ceremony, Capt. David Smith, from Grand Rapids, Mich., the commander of Headquarters Troop, explained that tradition to the Soldiers of his troop.
"You are all a part of the Cavalry," he said. "Cavalry is not an MOS (military occupational specialty). It is an organization. It is an organization that transcends your MOS. All of you have earned these spurs. You have joined the ranks of men that have ridden the plains of the early West and fought in the sands of Iraq. A Private in Operation Iraqi Freedom can relate to a Trooper serving in the Old West. The things that were important then are still important now. Things like maintaining your equipment, being proficient with your weapons, fighting as a unit and being disciplined were still just as important back then as they are now."
As Soldiers mounted the podium and were given their spurs, both Anderson and Smith were extremely proud.
"It gives me a lot of pride to see it," Smith said. "As you congratulate them, you can see the pride in their faces. The combat spurs transcend the combat patch in many ways. It is a right of passage that dates back to the 1800s."
Smith agreed.
"I think the spurs and Stetson build unit morale," he said. "Soldiers who come into our organization when we return to the rear will see that this troop has pride in themselves, their troop and our squadron. I think it will give them motivation to strive to be a part of this great organization. When we strap on those spurs and put on that Stetson every Friday, we will be showing everyone on Kelley Hill how proud we are of our organization. It is a huge morale booster."
For Spc. Marcus Lawrence, from Fayetteville, N.C., a Soldier that works in the Headquarters Troop training room, it was an important occasion.
"It feels really good to be a part of this tradition," he said. "The spurs mean a lot to a person like me that is not a Cavalry Trooper. It will be a good feeling when I move to another unit and understand that I will always be a part of the Cavalry and understand their background. It's a great tradition."
Lawrence is excited to be returning home with his combat spurs and Stetson.
"Every Friday I will be wearing them on Kelley Hill," he said. "When I leave Kelley Hill, they will be hung up and framed. I look forward to explaining to my children and grandchildren what they mean."
The 3-1 Cav. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007.
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