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Video: Texas National Guardsmen Earn Order of the Spur

June 17, 2026

Soldiers assigned to the Texas Army National Guard's 1st Squadron, 124th Cavalry Regiment, completed the squadron's Spur Ride to earn their place in the Order of the Spur. The ride dates back more than 200 years to the early U.S. Cavalry, when new troopers had to demonstrate they could handle a horse and survive in the field before a unit would trust them with spurs.

The candidates had to work in small teams through graded lanes in which they were evaluated on their land navigation skills, weapons handling, tactical combat casualty care, vehicle identification and knowledge of squadron history. Their every move was carefully evaluated by spur holders, who who applied enough pressure to test the candidates.

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A group of soldiers balance rifles with arms and legs up while on their backs on the ground and other soldiers monitor while standing, with vehicles in the background.
A soldier wearing a cavalry hat is seen in the foreground with several soldiers out of focus in the distance.
A small group of soldiers, some standing, some kneeling, work on their rifles laid out on a tarp on the grass.
A group of soldiers conduct tug-of-war while wearing rifles, while two soldiers in cavalry hats cheer them on.
Two soldiers run forward pulling weights on the ground, while other soldiers stretch in the distant background.
A service member applies camo paint to another's face outdoors.
A service member wearing a cavalry hat and military battle dress uniform is seen in silhouette pointing with his arm as four other silhouetted service members move in the direction he is pointing while wearing battle dress uniforms and patrol caps, while carrying rifles in a field as the sun is low on the horizon.
A group of soldiers in the dark, look at notes in low light.
A soldier holds a batch of spurs while another talks to a group of soldiers who are out of focus.
A soldier attaches a spur to the boot another soldier.
The heels of a soldier's boots on dry earth are shown close up with spurs attached.
A group of soldiers, some in dark hats, stand and crouch to form two rows while looking at the camera outdoors.
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Army national guard

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