Order of the Spur
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| Order of the Spur | |
|---|---|
 Certificate for induction into the Order of the Spur for combat action in Tal Afar, Iraq. |
|
| Awarded by United States Cavalry | |
| Type | Order |
| Eligibility | Military, foreign military, and civilian personnel. |
| Awarded for | Completion of a spur ride or combat service in a cavalry unit. |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Statistics | |
| First awarded | Unknown |
| Last awarded | On going |
The Order of the Spur is a Cavalry tradition in the United States Army. For a cavalry Trooper (the cavalry equivalent of the word "Soldier") to join the Order of the Spur, they must pass a series of tests set by their command, known as the "Spur Ride." Once accomplished, the Trooper is awarded spurs to be worn with his or her military uniform. However, a Trooper may forgo the Spur Ride if they see combat with their cavalry unit. In some units, gold spurs are awarded for combat inductions while silver spurs represent having completed a Spur Ride outside a combat zone. Therefore, silver spurs and gold spurs hold a similar relationship in the cavalry as the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Combat Infantryman Badge hold in the Infantry.
Induction into the Order of the Spur is for life, and the status travels with the Soldier from unit to unit. 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 U.S. Cavalry units.
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[edit] History
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.
[edit] The Spur Ride
Aside from a wartime induction, the only means of joining the Order of the Spur is a spur ride. Similar to the tests an infantryman might undergo to earn the Expert Infantryman Badge, the spur ride is normally a two-day event where a Soldier must pass a series of tests that evaluate their navigation, shooting, first responder, physical fitness and other military skills. The tests also normally include a written portion covering cavalry history and tactics, as well as a reciting from memory the traditional cavalry poem about Fiddler's Green. Soldiers fresh to a cavalry unit are not likely to be allowed to take a spur ride until at least six months into their assignment with the unit. However, the exact standards for the spur ride are set differently by each cavalry unit.
[edit] Regulations
The U.S. Department of the Army classifies the Order of the Spur as an Army tradition, so, like the Rangers' tan beret, 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, the standards differ from unit to unit, but in essence the tradition remains the same. What follows is a sample set of regulations which are broadly upheld in all cavalry units, and the Department of the Army policy on traditions.
1. Stetson: The Stetson will be black in color. Rank and regimental or ordinary cavalry brass will adorn the Stetson. The braid will be worn around the base of the Stetson. Troopers will wear the appropriate braid color. Braid ends or acorns will be to the front of the Stetson and no more than an acorn length over the brim. Crossed sabers will be placed on the front of the Stetson. Organizational sabers are authorized if assigned or affiliated to the regiment. Rank will be worn 1/8" from the bottom of the sabers, centered. [Note: Units differ regarding placement of rank versus sabers; some conventional wisdom deems that "you are Cavalry forever, but ranks change, therefore sabers should be placed above the rank"]
- Wear of Cavalry Stetson and Spurs
2. 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.
- a. General Officers: Solid Gold
- b. Company and Field Grade Officers: Gold and Black
- c. Warrant Officers:
- (1)CW4,CW5 - Solid Silver
- (2)WO1,CW2,CW3 - Silver and Black
- d. Non-Commissioned Officers: Branch Color (e.g. Yellow for Cavalry, Red for Artillery)
- (1) The nape strap will be threaded through the appropriate eyelets in the brim of the Stetson so that strap goes around the back and the buckle is fastened and centered on the wearers head.
- (2) The sides of the crown shall not be pushed in or otherwise modified. The brim will be flat with a slight droop at the front.
- (3) The Stetson will be worn on the head with the brim parallel to the ground.
- (4) Occasions for wearing the stetson: Squadron dining-ins/outs, formal events in dress blues, gatherings of spur holders, professional gatherings such as AAAA and any other event or function as designated by Saber 6.
3. Occasions for Wear: Spurs and stetsons will be worn at all cavalry functions, otherwise, they will not be worn outside of the cavalry footprint. Stetsons and 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 and Stetson may be mixed with civilian attire when rank has been removed.[1]
- a. 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.
- b. 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.
- c. Single Soldiers will wear the rowels of their spurs pointing up, while married Soldiers will do so with their rowels pointing down.
[edit] Department of the Army Regulations
While the regulations governing the order of the spur are set by each cavalry commander (and so do not appear in the Army Regulation governing wear and appearance of uniforms and insignia), the practice falls under what the Army officially recognizes as a tradition. The following is from Field Manual 7-21.13 (The Soldier's Guide, dated 15 OCT 2003):
- TRADITIONS
- 4-25. Tradition is a customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior held by an identifiable group of people. It is information, beliefs, and customs handed down by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction. Our military traditions are really the "Army Way" of doing and thinking. An interesting thing about traditions is that many of our Army traditions started out as something quite different from what they are now.
- 4-26. Military tradition is an interesting and often amusing subject. It gives a Soldier a feeling of pride to understand just why we do things the way we do. Traditions are expressed in the things we do, the uniform we wear, and the things we say. Many of the words we use in the Army are unique and have been added to our vocabulary from different parts of the world and at different times in history.
- 4-27. Army traditions are the things that everyone in the Army does, everywhere. Unit traditions are the unique things that you do in your unit that other units may or may not do. Some unit traditions are—
- Ceremonial duties. Soldiers of the Old Guard, the 3d U.S. Infantry, have been Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier since 1948.
- The green berets of the Army's Special Forces.
- Airborne units’ maroon beret.
- Cavalry units’ spurs and hats. [Bold added]
- Special designations (authorized unit nicknames) such as Cottonbalers, the 7th Infantry Regiment.
- Distinctive items of clothing worn in your unit such as headgear, belt buckles, and tankers' boots.
- The promotion party.
- Unit mottoes such as "Victory!" or "Send me!"
- "Hooah!" This informal but always understood sound is less a word than an audible affirmation of the warrior ethos. The Soldier that utters that sound understands his task and will not quit until it is completed. That sound means Soldiers are ready and willing to accomplish the mission at hand.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ cjenkins (user name). "Wear of the Cavalry Accouterments" 1 June 1997. [personal website] www.mindspring.com. Accessed 24 February 2008.
- http://www.cavhooah.com/spurs.htm A site about spurs in the Cavalry.
