Did Army Haze Airmen in Spur Ride?
An official military article notes three US Air Force Airmen went through the trials necessary to receive their “cavalry gold spurs.” To do so, they had to complete a “spur ride.”
The participants formed up outside the Bagram [MWR] and performed a 12-mile ruck march throughout the base. Upon returning…, they dropped their gear and began the various stations that were set up to test their skills. The stations were moderated by Army instructors, referred to only as “Spur Holders.”
“The stations consisted of [weapons] proficiency, M2 headspace and timing, Self Aid and Buddy Care, 9-line Med Evac, Unexploded Ordnance identification, Nine-line UXO, gas mask procedures, land navigation and convoy signaling,” said Longoria.
“Before, during and after each station we would be quizzed by the Spur Holders. Then we were PT’ed until we were physically exhausted. After we completed every station and everything was over, we received our spurs and drank from the grog.”
The grog was a drink concocted by current Spur Holders that is consumed to symbolize the cavalry trooper’s transformation to Spur Holders.
It’s an interesting tradition, and one that is similar to the traditions imposed on up-and-coming applicants to many unique communities — right down to the “tasty” drink at the end.
The question of the day: Were the participants of the Spur Ride — who were voluntarily PT’d to exhaustion and “required” to drink a “grog”, among other unofficial entrance requirements to the cavalry community — victims of military hazing?
I don’t believe so, now if one passed out, had heat-exhaustion, or something of the likes, then maybe I’d change my mind. But not after doing a medical screening to know why that was. Even then, just make the PT part of a little less grueling. The only problem I have is the “grog” part of it. I have a hard time eating what others cook for me unless it’s my wife or friends and family, let alone a concoction of unknown ingredients. God forbid one of these airmen are allergic to something in it, but I sure they make are aware of that and take precautions.
also, if you joined the military and didn’t expect to be PT’ed until exhaustion, then you are in a fairy-tale.
I think that with the shift of focus to gender related issues in the military, there are some out there that are looking for an opportunity to draw unnecessary attention to hazing incidents. Rights of passage have always been a combination of physical and mental challenges, designed to test the metle of candidates who “volunteer” to undergo hyper efforts of inflicted temporary discomfort.
From my experience, the hazing line is crossed when a candidate’s request to discontinue is “physically” denied, or they are verbally threatened, thus preventing them from withdrawing from the festivities. Having said that, a candidate should be prepared to endure a requisite amount of abuse in exchange for the privilege having certain honors bestowed upon them.
Physically exhausting tasks are subjective to the individual make up, and should require hydration. Dexterity tasks demonstrate a combination of trainability and stress management. The “Grog” is a function of mind over matter, testing the mental fortitude of the candidate, where taste and texture are simply mental hurdles to overcome. Taste never hurt anyone, so long as toxicity is not a factor.
For Riding The Spur, Running the Darby Queen, Ranger Roadmarch, SERE or any other such challenges for which sweat might pour forth, muscles might quiver, or the consumption of elements with the consistency of goat excrement, for the honor an privilege of being set apart from SISSIES NEED NOT APPLY!