'Gamblers' Get Their Combat Spurs

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'Gamblers' Get Their Combat Spurs
Army News Service | December 07, 2007

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PROSPERITY, Iraq - Soldiers from the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division have recently been taking part in one of the cavalry's oldest traditions: receiving spurs for service in combat.

Over the last week of November, each of "Gamblers" four companies has held separate ceremony during which their Soldiers received combat spurs. For a majority of the battalion's Soldiers, this has been their first deployment with the First Team and the first set of spurs they have earned.

"As far as I know, it's a rite of passage and an accomplishment," said Spc. Jadon Cagle, a medic with the battalion commander's personal security detail, who received his gold combat spurs Nov. 27. "It means we've accomplished nearly 15 long months here, and it's a long-standing tradition. I'm proud to have received mine, as well."

The act of awarding spurs to Soldiers is a tradition unique to cavalry units and dates back to the beginnings of the cavalry.

When new troopers first arrived to a cavalry unit they were assigned a horse with a shaved tail and during mounted formations the shaved tail horses were given extra space to account for their rider's inexperience.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,157814,00.html



uhc comment: And the wheel goes round and round --> http://2ndinfdiv.info/LinksOnMainPage/vietnamfrontpage.html