What's the history of Spurs and Stetsons?

2018-01-02T18:19:39-05:00

I have had a few talks with some Cav guys and I am curious, what is it with the Spurs and the Stetson? Are there different spurs as well?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2018 6:22 PM

2018-01-02T18:22:44-05:00

Goes back to the old Horse Cavalry days. And yes, there are different spurs. You have your silver spurs that you earn on stateside Spur Rides. You also have your Gold Spurs that you get when you do a Spur Ride in a combat zone. And while I know the following link is Wikipedia, it still gives some good info.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Spur

Order of the Spur - Wikipedia

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 or with a Cavalry unit. A trooper who has earned both Silver and Gold spurs is known as a "Master Spur Holder." Traditionally, each Trooper is presented spurs by his sponsor...

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Jan 3 at 2018 12:02 AM

2018-01-03T00:02:23-05:00

Gold spurs are awarded for deploying with the cavalry. Silver spurs are awarded after successful completion of a spur ride. Rowls can be worn to denote multiple awards of spurs (i.e. gold spurs with a gold rowl means multiple deployments with the cav.)

Response by CPL Chris Palmberg made Jan 3 at 2018 1:15 AM

2018-01-03T01:15:25-05:00

So a couple of things. First, there are two ways to earn your spurs. The first is the spur ride. The idea of the spur ride within the US Army goes back to the origins of mounted troops, including the Dragoons, Cavalry, and Mounted Riflemen. Simply put, it is impractical and unwise to issue the means to goad a horse into action when the soldier isn't able to control the animal without them, because digging your heels into a horse's flank isn't as likely to cause the animal to go charging solo across the battlefield as it is if you dig spurs into them. Now that we don't (commonly) use horses as a means of conveyence, spurs and spur rides are more symbolic, with the latter involving a 3-5 day FTX in which the prospect is tested by "troopers" who have earned their spurs in various and assundry Warrior Tasks, such as marksmanship, land navigation, physical fitness, basically everything you learn in Basic/AIT + the squad level tasks for your unit. At the end of the ride, those who are successful in passing the test are awarded silver spurs. Those who complete a combat deployment with a Cavalry unit receive gold spurs. (Personal note: When an attempt at shaming me into participating in a spur ride was made after my first deployment with 3d ACR, I pointed out that my spur ride lasted a year and included live fire, so I didn't see a point in going on a 3 day hazing trip. I had a similar answer when encouraged to test for EFMB while wearng a CMB.)

The Stetson as headgear within the cavalry is more of a symbol of heritage, setting apart cav troopers (not just 19 series, but all members of a cav unit) from their armor and infantry contemporaries. A couple of notes on that. The cords are denoted into commissioned, warrant, and enlisted. The latter are normally branch colored, so Cav & Armor troopers wear cav yellow, while infantry wears powder blue. Mine was and is medical maroon. The insignia is generically the unit brass to the fullest extent feasible. Some alteration of the basics are tolerated...for example, it is uncommon to see an air cav pilot whose wings aren't affixed with the shield of the wings centered at the point where the sabers cross. Squadron/Regimental numeration is common, occassionally someone will go so far as to have a Troop designator on them as well. In my personal case, I wore my 3d Cavalry sabers with an engineer castle centered on them, which denoted me as being assigned to the Regimental Engineer Company (although now there's Pioneer Squadron.) One final note is the combat knot. The standard rope has two acorns with about 4" of cord back to the basic knot. A combat knot, which denotes combat service (unit immaterial IIRC) involves tying a single half knot with those, shortening up the cords. This is significant since normally they'll hang over the brim, making it easy to visually recognize a veteran trooper. The Stetson is considered optional headgear for anyone assigned to a Cavalry Unit during approved functions.

In 3d Cavalry, at least, authorization for Spurs was accompanied by a 8"x14" certificate suitable for framing inducting the recipient into the "Order of the Stetson & Spurs." Much like St. Barbara and other branch specific awards, it is purely honorary, and means little outside of the Cav...unlike the others, however, it is usually available to ANYONE assigned to a Cavalry Unit, so the Postal Detachment assigned to the Personnel Battalion under the Operational Control of 1st Cavalry Division is eligible for that recognition.

On a final note, there is some disparity in the design of both Stetson & Spurs. Although most officers and senior enlisted personnel stick to the same style of hat, as long as it is solid black in color and maintained well, the design is not sacrosanct. The same with spurs. Although the McClellan style spur is considered to be the standard, the acceptable designs are generally more flexible, within reason.
Although squatting with spurs can be uncomfortable, my advice would be not to put them on until you are at your final destination where wear is expected. Walking down stairs can be near fatal, and driving with them can be problematic as well.

Response by SPC David Willis made Jan 3 at 2018 9:46 AM

2018-01-03T09:46:10-05:00

Anyone know if you can wear spurs in a light or AB unit? When I was in I probably never would have shown up to a 101 or an 82nd event with spurs on but would it be authorized?

Response by SSG(P) Dan Keene made Jan 6 at 2018 2:26 AM

2018-01-06T02:26:53-05:00

When I was in, there were dress and field spurs. Dress spurs were pressed onto the heel of footwear, while Field spurs fit less tight and have a strap that goes around the foot to hold them on. It's not safe to mess with Stetsons.

Response by SGT Mark Estes made Nov 18 at 2018 6:37 PM

2018-11-18T18:37:10-05:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member thanks for asking that question, the guys on here are educating me on that awesome history!

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Nov 21 at 2018 1:29 AM

2018-11-21T01:29:55-05:00

I've been noticing a lot of bickering about which type of 'Spurs' were higher. Here's something that was worked out in the early 1990s.
.
The Order of the Spur is a Cavalry tradition within the United States Army.
.
The Spur Hierarchy in order of precedence determined by various Cavalry CSMs around 1990 was as follows
1. Combat Spurs - Gold (actually brass for enlisted Dragoon/Cavalry Revolutionary War) Officers and enlisted must have served assigned or attached in combat with Cavalry or Scout/Recon element.
.
2. Cold War Spurs - Bronze (some units Silver) (since 1945 - 1990 but not by all units). The earlier era 'Spur Ride' utilized the concept of Cavalry units, Scout Platoons (like with Infantry BNs) deployed on the East-West German Border, the Korean DMZ or the Panama Canal Zone. The Stateside Cavalry units and Scout/Recon elements that deployed overseas to Europe, Japan/Korea or Panama large scale exercises in support of the Army mission were included. Soldiers had to receive MOS performance pay (prior to 1970s) or pass 80%+ (late 1970s) on their SQT/Common Core Tests, + receive a distinguished with their Scout team/squad/section's Scout Proficiency Course (SSPC) or their crew's tank, Sheridan, Artillery, Anti-tank, ADA etc gunnery. Though called Spur Rides their criteria and implementation of the practice was based on an extended, longer-time term Qualification Ethos which was in performance of their duties. Often this process took between 6 to 15 months. That time windows is based on I saw two guys make it 6 months and never knew of but one (he got injured) taking till 15 months .
.
3. Rider Spurs - Silver (started up in some stateside units about 1980). The later era or Post-Cold War Spur Ride was developed to carry on the Order of the Spur tradition. The modern 'Spur Ride' varies from unit to unit, but it is generally an event held over multiple days during which a Trooper must pass a series of physical and mental tests relevant to the Cavalry, detached/attached (such as with an Infantry HQs) Scout/Recon platoon . Some of the tests evaluate leadership, technical and tactical proficiency, physical fitness, the ability to operate as part of a team under high levels of stress and fatigue under both day and night conditions, though the specific tests vary by unit. A written test is often also administered, with questions that cover United States Cavalry and unit history.
.
That's pretty much 'The Hierarchy' and it's based on some pretty practical precepts - Combat leads all, Risk to Life is second (the West German Border and Korean DMZ had many skirmishes) and a demonstration (though grueling - not life threatening) of the Trooper's performance is lowest.
.
I hope this helps.

Response by SGT Justin Brothen made Mar 18 at 2020 6:59 PM

2020-03-18T18:59:41-04:00

Gold spurs if you deploy with a cavalry unit, silver if you complete the spur ride. As far as the history no idea, artilleryman myself. Yet have gold spurs lol