Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
14, 2010
Troops challenge themselves for Silver Spurs
Story by 2nd Sgt. 1st Class Earl Schaffer
1st Squadron., 10th Cavalry Regiment
The 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment
held its first Spur Ride in over four years,
Sept. 30.
The Spur Ride is an individual exercise
designed to challenge Troopers who have
trained in individual cavalry tasks and
then must display their abilities to negotiate
rigorous and grueling physical and mental
tasks.
The day began at 5:30 a.m. with 61 Spur
candidates conducting a Physical Fitness
Test on Sabre Field, which was immediately
followed by a 12 mile foot march with a
3-hour Army-standard time limit.
The Spur Ride cadre make sure every Soldier is pushed to his limit
and gives his best. A Physical Fitness Test is just the first event in
the days activities for the Spur Ride.
UMT provides support to Soldiers
Story by 1st Lt. Jeff Rudderforth
2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment
During deployment operations, training
and garrison environments Soldiers are
focused on their mission or task at hand;
most do not give a lot of thought to their
Unit Ministry Teams. Our medics provide
medical support, mechanics make sure our
vehicles and equipment are properly repaired
and working, and cooks provide the food
Soldiers need to keep moving. What does the
chaplain and chaplain assistant do for their
unit? The UMT provides spiritual support
as well as conducting personal counseling to
help with morale.
In a garrison environment the UMT has a
quiet office in which to counsel Soldiers. They
have a chapel to preach mass and they are
These first two events proved to be
difficult for some, as the field of 61 qualifiers
was reduced to 51 in just the first five hours.
Next came the orienteering portion
called the Spur Loop.
The candidates were issued a map and
compass and were briefed that they must
work as a team in order to accomplish the
Warrior Tasks and physically demanding
terrain that lay ahead.
The tasks included Call for Fire; Evaluate
a Casualty and Treat for Gunshot Wounds;
Load, Fire, Reduce Stoppage and Perform
Function Checks on multiple Weapons
Systems and Platforms; a Mystery Event;
Place and Fire M-136 (AT-4); Load, Fill
Soldiers from 1st Squadrin, 10th Cavalry Regiment must com-
plete a 12 mile foot march within a 3 hour time limit in order to
move on to the next event for the Spur Ride.
easily accessible by Soldiers in need of help.
However, the field provides a whole new set
of logistical problems in providing support to
Soldiers.
“When we are in garrison, we have a home
office in the battalion headquarters. Soldiers
can come to us very easily. In the field or
deployed, we have to go to them” said Capt.
Kevin Peek, the former 2nd Battalion, 8th
Infantry Regiment Chaplain.
That is just what the UMT did during
the Battalion Gunnery, Platoon Lanes, and
Pinon Canyon Exercises. The chaplain set
up a battle field circulation schedule, which
ensured that support was provided to all
2nd Bn., 8th Inf. Reg. Soldiers. They had to
coordinate with a convoy or other elements
for security and adjust battle field circulations
Issue 30 Oct.
and Operating various Communications
Equipment and a written test on cavalry
history.
Each task tested their ability to
physically and mentally engage extremely
challenging objectives while going along the
Spur Loop.
These too proved to be too grueling for
some; the field once again was reduced to 49
participants.
The Spur Ride concluded with a formal
dinner at the Doubletree Hotel where the
49 victorious “new” spur holders were
presented Silver Spurs by Lt. Col. John Cook
and Command Sgt. Maj. Dale Veneklasen,
Oct. 1.
One Soldier evaluates a casualty while the other two stand guard
during the Spur Ride. This task is just one of many that Soldiers
must complete in order to earn Silver Spurs.
Capt. Kevin Peek, former 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment
chaplain gives a sermon to Soldiers out in the field. Normanlly
done in a chapel this particular service is performed from the
back of a HMMWV.
for the UMT to ensure all Soldiers received
access to spiritual support and services.
This also involved the chaplain to be able to
preach to multiple faiths. It required that they
continued on page 2
page 2 Warhorse Pride Issue 30 Oct. 14, 2010

Lonestars volunteer for Homecoming Week

Story by Capt. Michael Grant all other areas the staff needed
2nd Special Troops Battalion assistance with. In addition,
The 2nd Special Troops Battalion ten Soldiers volunteered to act
continued its partnership with Fountain-Fort as additional chaperones for the
Carson High School as part of the Adopt-a- Homecoming Dance, Oct. 2.
Schools Program when Soldiers volunteered The Adopt-a-Schools Program
to help with various activities throughout has flourished between Fountain-
Homecoming Week, Sept. 27- Oct. 2. Fort Carson High School and the
Overall, more than fifty Soldiers Lone Star Battalion as Students,
volunteered during Homecoming Week. Staff, and Soldiers have worked
Soldiers provided assistance to the school’s together in several areas including
staff and faculty members in numerous ways soccer and football games, cross Master Sgt. Cook volunteered at the Fountain-Fort Carson High School vs.
by supporting the Boys Varsity Soccer Team, country meets, band performances, Grand Junction Homecoming Football Game as part of the Lone Star Adopt-
A-Schools Program.
working the concession stand at the Varsity and school dances.
Football Game, working the ticket counter There are over twenty events Soldiers continue to volunteer to help out
and gate at the Varsity Football Game, and planned within the next few months as their local school.

Roughriders support community

Story by 2nd Lt. Christine Breckenridge after a night on the town.
Co. A., 204th Brigade Support Battalion By volunteering with this program Soldiers
During the past few months Soldiers from are keeping the Colorado Springs’ roads
Co. A., 204th Brigade Support Battalion have safe, cutting back on possible DUIs, and
been taking the meaning of selfless service to also watching out for the well being of their
heart by volunteering their personal time to Army brothers and sisters by giving them a
give back to our community. responsible ride home.
Although busy with preparation for a Upcoming volunteer events that Co. A.
possible future deployment, Soldiers are plan to support include the Marian House
out in the community building new homes Soup kitchen in Downtown Colorado Springs,
in support of Habitat for Humanity and continued support of No DUI Springs, and
ensuring the roads are safe through No DUI they will be sending 35 soldiers to work with
Springs program. Through these volunteer Habitat for Humanity during Resiliency
organizations Soldiers are making valuable Week.
contributions to our local community.
Soldiers volunteering with Habitat for
Humanity have worked 80 hours building continued from page 1
foundations and installing siding and gutters ensured all Soldiers faith preferences were
on new homes. being met by coordinating proper religious
They have future plans to volunteer at support if he couldn’t provide the service.
ReStore, a store run by Habitat for Humanity Many people tend to forget the UMT is
that sells recycled and gently used building there until they have a need for spiritual
and home improvement supplies. support. But the UMT stands ready to serve
Co. A. Soldiers also volunteer as designated Soldiers anytime and anywhere. The next
drivers for the No DUI Springs program. Co. A., 204th Brigade Support Battalion Soldiers show their time you feel the need for a spiritual support,
Roughrider pride while working at the Habitat for Humanity site.
No DUI Springs or Designated Driver of From left to right are Spc. Ponafala, Pfc. Salinasdelarosa, Pfc.
or just need someone to talk to in confidence,
Colorado Springs is a non-profit organization Adkinsson, Spc. Holden, Staff Sgt. Strange-Curry, Pfc. Murphy, Pfc. seek your UMT. They are always available to
that ensures Soldiers have a safe ride home Beatty, Sgt. Payton,and Cpl. Lopez. help.

Warhorse Pride
Col. John S. Kolasheski..................2nd BCT Commander
Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa............2nd BCT CSM
Maj. Kevin Toner...............................................2nd BCT PAO
Spc. April York........................................Layout and Design
Sgt. Seth Barham............................................................Editor
Sgt. Ruth Pagan...............................................................Editor
The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the fairs Office.
Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commen-
Division. The Warhorse Pride is an Army-funded news- tary, and photos from readers. The Warhorse Pride
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