They had 24 hours to travel 30 km and execute a series of tasks that checked their training, endurance, and squad skills. Soldiers from the Military Police Department in Bemów Piski and the 15th Mechanized Brigade in full uniform and with backpacks weighing 20 kg finished the prestigious competition “Spur Ride”. Now they can wear the spurs of American bachelors.
For the Spur Ride exercises, Poles were invited by Americans from the 2nd Battalion 12th Cavalry Regiment, which is stationed in Orish (Warmia-Masurian Province). This was a real test of readiness, due to the fact that soldiers from the Military Gendarmerie Division in Bemów Piski and the 15th Giżycka Armed Brigade learned about the challenge only a week before the launch.
Polish and American soldiers were divided into fourteen teams, 12 people each. - It wasn't a competition on time. It was crucial to do all the tasks that awaited us at the designated points and to work in the group – says Sgt. Sgt. Michał Jadeszko, 1 of 4 MPs who finished the American competition.
“Spur Ride” besides successfully completed soldiers 15 Mechanized Brigade. The organizers of the competition took care of military integration, so the Poles did not operate in 1 team, but each squad went to another squad of Americans.
The competition began at 5am. The soldiers had 24 hours to complete all their tasks. The American instructors have prepared rather a crossing for them. March, crawl, transfer of dense canisters, folding and disassembling weapons, evacuation of the injured man from the field of combat in a hard-to-access area. It was besides essential to assemble part of the radio station and establish communication. And these are just any “attractions” prepared for daredevils. "The challenge was besides to launch an unfit military vehicle and to evacuate it from the battlefield," said Sgt. Sgt. A jade. He emphasizes that all of this had to be done in full uniform, and between the various points on the tour soldiers moved with quite a few weight on their backs. Everyone took with them, among others, spare shoes, change of clothes, water bottle. The backpack with the equipment had to weigh 20 kg.
The participants of the "Spur Ride" had a 30-kilometre tour to take, the last of which they all traveled together on their way to the ceremony. There they received a commemorative diploma and spurs according to the tradition of the American cavalry "Order of the Spur". This tradition has its roots in the 19th century and is associated with the training of bachelors in the then United States Army. Upon arrival in the unit, horses were assigned and they were taught to ride and usage the saber “in the saddle”. It was only after mastering these skills that the cavalry received spurs. The organizers of the "Spur Ride" emphasize the spiritual heritage of the old tradition, as their exercises let to test the skills of soldiers, opposition to physical and intellectual difficulties and work in the group.
– specified exercises cannot be approached without solid physical preparation. It was hard, but we achieved the goal together, says Sgt. Michael Jadeshko. He adds that the "Spur Ride" exercises were besides an chance for Poles to learn about American methods of training, weapons and tactics and to establish close cooperation with US Army soldiers. “When we go to battle, we go together,” says Brig-Gen Grzegorz Kaliciak. The commander of the 15th Giżycka Armed Brigade besides emphasizes the prestige of the full competition and the attachment of Americans to the cavalry tradition. – We besides attach large importance to combining modernity with history. The tradition of the Polish cavalry is cultivated in our battalions, so the participation of soldiers of the 15th Brigade in specified competitions was of peculiar importance to them – the Brig. Gen. Kaliciak is the bloomer.
