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The "Order of the Spur" is a Cavalry tradition within the United States Army.
Soldiers serving with Cavalry units (referred to as Troopers) are inducted
into the Order of the Spur after successfully completing a "Spur Ride" or for
having served during combat as a member of a Cavalry unit.
The tradition of having to "earn your spurs" reaches back to the beginning of
the cavalry. When green Troopers first arrived at their new cavalry
assignments they were assigned a horse with a shaved tail. This led to the
nickname "Shave Tail" for newly assigned, spur-less Soldiers. These new
Troopers were in need of extensive training, especially in the area of
swordsmanship from atop a horse. The horse with a shaved tail was given extra
space in which to operate since its rider was marked as an amateur. During
this phase of training the Troopers were not allowed to wear spurs because
this would only serve to compound their problems. Only when they were able to
prove their ability to perform with their horse and saber were they awarded
spurs. |
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The Spur Ride is the only means of joining the Order of the Spur, aside from
a wartime induction. The Spur Ride is an event normally held over multiple
days during which a Trooper must pass a series of physical and mental tests
that evaluate leadership, technical and tactical proficiency, and the ability
to operate as part of a team under high levels of stress and fatigue, under
both day and night conditions. A written test is often administered, with
questions that cover United States Cavalry and unit history. During the Spur
Ride, candidates will be required to recite from memory the traditional
cavalry poem, Fiddler's Green, or other traditions or historical information
pertaining to the Cavalry.
Today the Order of the Spur recognizes individual qualification for those in
a Cavalry Unit. The privilege of being awarded spurs in any Cavalry Unit comes
with hard work and challenges. The criteria for participation in the Spur Ride
are set by each Cavalry unit, usually at the Squadron level. Many units
require demonstrated leadership ability through planning and conducting
unit-level training events such as established standards of performance on
gunnery ranges, soldier task training or other NCO/Officer-level tasks. Some
examples of minimum criteria are:
- Service in the Squadron or Regiment for at least 180 days.
- Service in at least three Field Exercises.
- A score of at least 240 in the last Army Physical Fitness Test.
- Meet or exceed the weight standards according to AR 600-9.
- Qualify to "Expert" or "Sharpshooter" on personal weapon.
- Possess the spirit, determination, cunning and initiative in the
finest traditions of the United States Cavalry.
Once documented as having achieved the above performance objectives, the
candidate is designated to participate in the Spur Ride Exercise. This
exercise requires the completion of:
- Land Navigation Problem.
- Leadership Reaction Situation.
- First Aid Administration.
- Weapons Deployment and Use.
- Signal and Communication Procedures.
- Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Situation.
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Upon successful accomplishment of the requirements, the Senior Officer awards
an "Order Of The Spur" Certificate signed by the Troop and Squadron Commander
along with a set of Spurs to be proudly worn by the Trooper throughout his/her
Cavalry Career.
There are two types of spurs that are characterized by their appearance. Those
having a silver finish indicates that the soldier went through a rite of
passage, established by their unit commanders. Those having a gold finish
indicates that the person wearing them has deployed and has experienced
combat with a cavalry unit.
Within the tradition, silver spurs and gold spurs hold a similar relationship
for the cavalry as the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Combat Infantryman
Badge hold in the Infantry. There is no Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)
requirement for the Order of the Spur and the order is open to members of
foreign militaries serving with US Cavalry units.
New spur holders are welcomed with a formal induction ceremony. The ceremony
is a dining in, called the Spur Dinner, that often includes other military
traditions such as honoring lost comrades, a ceremonial punch[1] (called a
grog), and a roll call of the successful candidates. Some units also hold a
"hero's breakfast" immediately following the end of the Spur Ride. During the
breakfast, the unit commander presents a toast welcoming the successful
candidates to the brotherhood prior to the formal induction ceremony.
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| The Presentation Of A Coveted Award |
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Traditionally, the spurs are to be worn with the military uniform during
Squadron or Regimental ceremonies and events or as designated by the Cavalry
unit commander. |
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The US Department of the Army classifies the Order of the Spur as an Army
tradition, so regulations for induction into the Order of the Spur and the
wear of cavalry accoutrements are set by each cavalry unit commander. Lacking
any Army-wide regulations, some standards may differ from unit to unit, but
the tradition remains the same. What follows is one example of a Cavalry
Squadron's policy on the wear of Stetsons and Spurs:
- Spurs: Spurs will be worn as a matched pair. The type of spurs
allowed are set by each unit but most often they are Prince of Wales
style spurs.
- Low Quarters: The spurs will be affixed to the footgear
midway between the upper portion of the sole and the lower part
of the heel along the seam of the shoe. The "U" shaped portion shall
enclose the shoe in such a manner as to assure that the rowel of the
spurs curves down to the ground. The strap will be fastened over the
instep of the footgear in such a manner that the buckle faces to the
outside of the foot.
- Boots: The spurs will be affixed to the footgear so that
the "U" shaped portion follows the seam of the ankle support.
The strap will be fastened over the instep of the footgear in
such a manner that the buckles face the outside of the boot.
- Single Soldiers will wear the rowels of their spurs pointing up,
while married Soldiers will do so with their rowels pointing
down.
- Occasions for Wear: Spurs and Stetsons will be worn at all
cavalry functions, otherwise, they will not be worn outside of the
cavalry footprint. Spurs may be authorized by the local command, but
are not authorized for wear at Army functions not specifically
dedicated to cavalry. Wear with civilian attire may be restricted by a
local commander, but otherwise the spurs may be mixed with civilian
attire when rank has been removed.
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The tradition of the Order has its roots in knighthood, where the awarding of
gilt spurs symbolized entry into ranks and fraternity of mounted warriors.
Usually, the squire aspiring to knighthood had to perform some task or deed on
the battlefield or tournament field (tournaments were considered training for
combat) to "win their spurs". The spurs themselves were buckled on during the
investiture to knighthood, usually during Mass or some other religious
ceremony (knighthood itself was considered sacramental, if not a sacrament
itself). Thereafter, it was the spurs that symbolized that a man was a knight,
not his sword, horse, or armor. No matter how financially destitute, a poor
knight would part with everything else before his spurs. The primary act of
degradation (removing someone from the knightly class) was to have another
knight cut off the offending knights spurs. So much for the mists of time. It
is not known when the ceremony for awarding spurs for outstanding performance
was started in the US Cavalry.
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