Horse Detachment keeps horse-mounted Soldier tradition alive
Story and photos by
Sgt. Giancarlo Casem
11th ACR Public Affairs Nearly 100 years after the last cavalry charge on North American soil, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment’s Horse Detachment keeps the mounted Soldiers’ tradition alive at Fort Irwin, Calif.
Amid the rolling hills of the high Mojave Desert, the legend of the Cavalryman still lives. It is here that he still grooms and takes care of his steed. He wakes up in the morning to clean his horse’s stable and feeds it. At midday, he practices riding skills with his horse. At sundown, before he turns in for the day, he takes care of his horse, getting it ready for the next day.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think of this," said Capt. Scott Cummings, the Horse Detachment commander. "A year and a half year ago, when I came here, I’d seen the Horse Detachment, but I never even thought about it, but now, I think this is absolutely the best job in the Army."
The 11th ACR conducts a unique mission, it serves as the oppositional force, or OPFOR, and as civilians on the battlefield for rotational units, RTUs, training at the National Training Center. The Blackhorse Regiment trains one brigade-size element at time in the harsh climate of the Mojave Desert. The Horse Detachment assists the Regiment and the NTC by providing livestock to its training environments, Capt. Cummings said, adding a heightened level of realism.
"That’s the unglamorous part of the job," said the Afton, Wyoming, native. During rotations, the Horse Detachment brings its collection of livestock out to the "box." The box is where RTUs live and train for 14 days. While in the box, RTUs conduct training missions specific to the area of operation in which they will deploy.
Another mission that the Detachment provides is to serve as a veritable link to the Regiment’s past. The Detachment may be called upon to perform as a mounted color guard in ceremonies, or even participate in unit runs while mounted on their horses.
"We have a different mission; we’re still here to support and help. We still have to maintain our Soldier skills, but the bulk of our training is out on horses doing the fun stuff," Capt. Cummings said. "We go to a lot of events. We are out and in the public eye; we keep the tradition of the Cavalry alive. We perform in ceremonies and parades."
The Horse Detachment performs in Rodeos and other public events in conjunction with Army recruiters. The meet and interact with civilians which are often shocked to find out that they are Soldiers.
"A lot of people will say, ‘You’re in the Army?’" he said. "It’s wonderful, and it’s been great, that’s what I tell everybody. I have the best job in the Army. For the Soldiers who grew up around horses, it is a bonus for them. Who would have thought the Army would pay me ride horses, wear jeans, go on trips, do rodeos and brag about the Army?"
This level of public exposure also means that the Horse Detachment must remain, at all times professional, exude the Army Values, and look their best. It helps that when they perform at public events, they get to wear classic 1901 tan Cavalry uniforms.
"We have the old Cavalry uniforms that we wear during our shows, and we also have the rifles and black powder pistols, that they used," said Staff Sgt. James Davis, the Horse Detachment Stable Forman. "The tricks that we do, like cutting a watermelon and shooting on horseback, were actually training drills that they used to do."
To be a member of the Detachment, Soldiers are hand-selected or may volunteer. However, they must undergo an extensive process to be finally admitted to the unit.
"It is a prestige thing. We’re supposed to have the cream of the crop up here," Capt. Cummings said. "We’re out there representing the Regiment, we’re representing the Army, and we represent the Horse Detachment. So, we need to be able to act decent."
He also said that if Soldiers are recognized as good Soldiers, then their chain of command may recommend them to be sent to the unit.
"If they see that you’re a good Soldier, they’ll work with you to get you up here," he said. "It is a great opportunity and they’ll let you go."
After a Soldier is identified, he attends a one on one interview with the Regimental Support Squadron command sergeant major. The RSS serves as the Detachment’s parent squadron. The Soldier must also be interviewed by the Detachment commander, first sergeant and stable foreman. He then must go through a 30-day trial period with the Detachment. Experience with horses is not a requirement to be a member of the unit, but it does help, Capt. Cummings said.
"It does help out, but it’s not a requirement. Even myself, my friends had farms and ranches, so I worked around horses. I knew about them, but I didn’t know much about the medical terminology or the anatomy of a horse so I didn’t know much," Capt. Cummings said. "We do have Soldiers up here that do have experience. If you know how to ride, that is great, we are still going to put you through the 30-day trial, and we are still going to teach you. In fact, some of our best riders have never ridden a horse before, because they don’t know any other way, they pick up really quick."
He added, "The biggest thing we’re looking for is ‘are you going to be honest and work hard?’ If you want to work up here and say, ‘I don’t know anything about horses, but I want to learn and I’ll work hard,’ then we’ll work with you."
Importantly, being member of the Horse Detachment also improves Soldiers all around, Staff Sgt. Davis said. With a strong emphasis on tradition, Soldiers become more engrossed into the Cavalry lifestyle. As part of their training regimen, Soldiers learn about the history of the Cavalry. They learn the significance of the Cavalry sabers and their classic uniforms. During public events, they become representatives for the Army. The Soldiers learn that what they do and say may represent the Army as a whole.
"It benefits the Soldiers a lot, it totally changes them," he said. "They become leaders, they learn different skills and leadership and responsibility. You have to have people that are fully capable to represent the Army and the Regiment.
The Horse Detachment’s Horses, like its Soldiers, come from a multitude of backgrounds. Of the detachment’s 14 horses, racehorse owners donated most.
"Most of them come from the track, they were donated," Capt. Cummings said. "Some of them were rescued, which means they were in a bad situation; they got beat or malnourished. We’re working with RSS to actually develop a program where we can purchase horses so we can get the horses that we need to accomplish our mission here and to better serve in the rotations."
He explained that since most of their horses are bred for racing, it posed limitations to what they can do.
"We have a lot of thoroughbred horses and they are pretty high maintenance, pretty high spirited and kind of fragile," Capt. Cummings said. "We do take them out there [to the box] and they do fine, but we can’t do as much. We’re trying to get more of the ranch-type horses that will meet the needs of both of the missions that we have."
Even though the Cavalryman has evolved to what he is today, riding in on an M1A1 Abrams battle tank, or firing from above in an AH64 Apache attack helicopter. The image of the horse-mounted Soldier is still relevant today.
"As go to different parts of the world and different terrain, we’re finding out that sometimes you still need the horses," Capt. Cummings said. "Not only do we need to remember traditions. Not only does it look cool or neat to see Soldiers charge and cut melons. We have units now that are deploying and actually have to deal with horses. They have to learn to ride it, to pack it, to take care of it. They have to learn how insurgents use them, where they can be hiding or smuggling weapons. Sometimes the horse is best suited for certain terrains, history repeats itself, its good to always remember history and it is also applicable for us to use."
For an experienced horse-rider like Staff Sgt. Davis, he takes pride in his effort to keep the Cavalry tradition alive.
"I grew up around horses my whole life. My experiences have been around racehorses. I have worked on farms. Its great, people don’t expect me being in the Army and to be working with horses," Staff Sgt. Davis said. "With the Cavalry tradition, it is important to pass on the heritage of the past to Soldiers now. It is rewarding to get Soldiers who have never ridden horses before and in 6 months have those riding horses."
Staff Sgt Davis, who is an infantryman by trade, said that his time in the Regiment has changed him. As prepares to leave the Detachment, he said that when he gets to his next unit, he would have great things to say about his time with the Blackhorse.
"I’m an infantryman, I was never into the Cav thing, when I was deployed, I would see these Cav guys with their Stetsons and spurs and I didn’t understand it," he said. "Now, I understand. I am proud to wear the hat and spurs. When I get to my next unit, I am going to tell the stories of what I did while I was in the Cavalry. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my life." HHD Palehorse changes reigns Story and photos by
Sgt. Giancarlo Casem
11th ACR Public Affairs FORT IRWIN, Calif.-The Palehorse Headquarters Detachment underwent a change of reigns during a change of command ceremony at Jack Rabbit Park, March 12.
The change of command between outgoing commander, Capt. Wes Graham and incoming commander, Capt. Thomas Emery, took place in front of the 11th Armored Cavalry’s commander, Col. Paul J. Laughlin, and Command Sgt. Maj. Fred H. Morris, friends, Family and the Soldiers of Palehorse.
The ceremony started with the unit’s colors being passed from 1st Sgt. Bryan Bates to Capt. Graham, then to Lt. Col. Jonathan Negin, the 11th ACR Deputy Commander, who then passed it to Capt. Emery. The passing of the colors symbolizes the transfer of command between the two captains.
After the ceremony, Lt. Col. Negin gave a brief speech thanking Capt. Graham for his hard work.
"It’s been a great ride for Wes and the entire Palehorse Team," Lt. Col. Negin said. "They have done a great job in the past seven rotations as they always do without much fanfare or issues."
Lt. Col. Negin continued on to commend the team’s hard work and said the praised the massive support provided by the Palehorse Team.
"Thanks to the whole team for your professionalism, patience and dedication to train rotational units for combat," Lt. Col. Negin said. "I’m amazed at all you did each rotation."
Capt. Graham then addressed the guests in attendance and his former troops.
"There is no doubt in my mind that our unit not only saved lives out in the box, since we acted as calm and collected safety officers, but the training that we OC’d saved lives of American Soldiers down range," Capt. Graham said. The outgoing commander took command of Palehorse last summer and is now heading back to his native North Carolina.
As parting words, he commended the troops in the formation.
"It is quite obvious to me that there are many future commanders, warrant officers, first sergeants and command sergeant majors standing in this formation," Capt. Graham said.
The incoming commander, Capt. Emery, shared a few brief words, he then took his place at the front of his new unit as those in attendance sang "Allons" the Regimental song and the Army song.
"I’m honored to have the privilege to do this," Capt. Emery said. "Let’s get this ride started." Eaglehorse Squadron honors a few of its troops during awards presentation Story and photos by
Sgt. Giancarlo Casem
11th ACR Public Affairs FORT IRWIN, Calif.-A group of Soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment received various awards during an award presentation ceremony at the Freedom Physical Fitness Center, April 20.
The awards given ranged from Certificates of Achievements to "Eaglehorse Brats" certificates for Soldiers of the unit who had new babies born recently.
"I just want to say that I appreciate what you do for the Army," said Lt. Col. Michael Hester, the 2nd Sqdn., 11th ACR, commander. "You all are doing a great job."
As Lt. Col. Hester and Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Peare, 2nd Sqdn., 11th ACR, command sergeant major, moved down the ranks, they congratulated and thanked each individual Soldier.
Lt. Col. Hester cited the Soldier’s high level of professionalism and intensity during the past rotation. He said he received feedback from the rotational unit’s commanders praising the Eaglehorse’s hard work. A few of the Soldiers received awards for their high marks during the unit’s recent training ranges. Lt. Col. Hester reminded his Soldiers the importance of their mission and the importance of keeping their Soldier skills fresh and sharp.
He also reminded his troops to stay vigilant as the weather warms up. He told them to stay alert and drink water. Lt. Col. Hester emphasized the importance of recognizing Soldiers and their hard work and that they should be motivated by their peers who received the awards.
"If you are an NCO or a new Soldier, you should aspire to be down on this floor," he said. Fort Irwin observes National Days of Remembrance Story and photos by
Sgt. Giancarlo Casem
11th ACR Public Affairs "If I had not been born a Jew, I might have become a Nazi. I was born in Germany."
Those words came from Rolf Gompertz, the guest speaker at Fort Irwin’s Holocaust Days of Remembrance to commemoration at Reggies,’ April 22.
It was a time in history that most would wish never happened, the Jewish Holocaust. Gompertz’s Family bore witness to Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass Nov. 9, 1938. Gompertz read from his memoirs the experiences during his childhood in Nazi Germany. Gompertz’s speech echoed the sentiments of this year’s theme, "Never Again: What You Do Matters."
He started his story in the town of Krefeld, Germany, in 1933, when Adolf Hitler comes to power, Gompertz, at this time, was only five years old. He witnesses the book burnings that take place during that time. Gompertz explained the systemic prejudiced treatment harbored by the Nazi regime. In the months before Kristallnacht, anti-Jewish sentiment and views were fueled by members of the Nazi party. They helped propagate the Jewish-scapegoat ideology.
"They ban and burn books. Any book, by a Jew or about a Jew. Books by anyone and about anything considered incompatible with Nazi beliefs," he said. "Orders are given, laws are passed to boycott Jewish stores, businesses and services. To forbid Jews from becoming doctors or lawyers. To terminate Jews from teaching positions in public schools and universities, to dismiss Jews from civil service jobs, to stop socializing with Jews, to forbid intermarriage between Jews and Christians."
On the night of Kristallnacht, Gompertz recalled being woken up by a loud pounding on his Familie’s door.
"Open up, open up, or we’ll break it down," Gompertz said as he recalled a shouting voice. As his mother opens the door, half a dozen Nazi’s storm through the door knocking her against the hall, he said. The Nazi’s, with rifles, rush up the stairs and try to catch his Family.
"We run around through the rooms, one after the other. As we come to the study, my father rushes to his desk, with the head Nazi close behind," Gompertz said. "My father opens a drawer, pulls out the Iron Cross, his medal from World War I, holds it up and shouts, ‘Is this the thanks I get for having served the fatherland?’"
After staring at each other in silence for what seemed like an eternity, Gompertz said, the head Nazi signals at his men and leave their house.
Kristallnacht served as a "dress rehearsal" for the following Holocaust. In, 1939, a few months after that night where Nazi’s assaulted and murdered Jews and vandalized Jewish buildings, Gompertz’s Family fled to the U.S. They had escaped the Holocaust, however, other members of his Family were not so lucky. Gompertz said that half of his Family did not survive the Holocaust.
"Most German’s participated actively or passively, but there were those who didn’t," he said. "There were those who resisted, there were those who helped, in ways small and large, individualy and collectively, at the risk of their lives; and at the cost of their lives."
Gompertz said that he, and many other Jews, found it hard to return to Germany, years after those events. As an author and speaker, he has used his writing and speeches to do his part to help ensure another Holocaust will never happen again.
In 1987, Gompertz returned to Krefeld and lived with a German Family. Before Kristallnacht, there were roughly 16,000 Jews in the town, by the end of the Holocaust, half were murdered, while some fled.
"In a city that was once a place of evil for us," he said, "I find good decent human beings again."
In the years after, Gompertz had tried to put himself in a German’s shoes during that time, to try and rationalize those events and how they could have happened.
"Then comes the question that has never occurred to me and has always blown my mind, ‘If I had not been born a German Jew, how would I have acted under the Nazis?’
"Would I have been a conformist? Or would I have shown courage? Or would I just gone along but offered resistance? Would I have participated in the Hitler youth, or Auschwitz? I’ve come to a terrifying and humbling conclusion; I do not know how I would have acted. We never really know how we will act in a time of crisis until we are tested." Outgoing Horse Detachment commander passes on leadership role Story and photos by
Sgt. Giancarlo Casem
11th ACR Public Affairs The 11th Armored Cavalry Regimental Support Squadron’s Horse Detachment saw a change of command during a ceremony at the Horse Stables, April 24.
The change of command between outgoing commander Capt. Scott Cummings and incoming commander, 1st Lt. Christopher Eby took place in front of the Soldiers and horses of the detachment.
Capt. Cummings, an Afton, Wyo., native, took command of the Horse Detachment in May 2008. He admitted that he did not even know the 11th ACR had a Horse Detachment until he came to the unit. He went on to also thank the 11th ACR and RSS leadership for allowing him to command, he said.
"I want to personally thank the Squadron and the Regimental leadership for your support," Capt. Cummings said.
He also talked about some memorable highlights during his stint as the Horse Detachment Commander. Capt. Cummings reminisced about going to rodeos and performing Cavalry shows. He said he felt proud to represent the 11th ACR doing those shows, and more so, the Army.
"Where else can you go where you can wear a different uniform, work with horses and talk about the Army," he said of his experiences working with Army Recruiters during public events.
The incoming commander, 1st Lt. Eby, is a native of Sussex, N.J. He was commissioned as a Military Intelligence Officer in 2006. His first assignment with the Blackhorse Regiment was in the intelligence section of 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. He then moved to the RSS’ 511th Military Intelligence Company, where he eventually moved up to the position of company executive officer.
As parting words, Capt. Cummings gave the new commander a few words of wisdom.
"Chris you’ll get the distinct pleasure of figuring out what is needed out here," Capt. Cummings said. "Always remember to take care of your Soldiers, like me; some of them will have more knowledge about horses."
At the end of the ceremony, 1st Lt. Eby marched in front of the detachment, and stood in formation for the first time with, as Capt. Cummings calls the Detachment, "The true jewel of the 11th ACR and Fort Irwin." |
