Kansas Agribusiness Development Team spur holders observe a spur rider candidate demonstrate weapons skills

Army Staff Sgt. Ryan L. Pierce, a squad leader for the 3/6 Kansas Cavalry Agribusiness Development Team-III of the Kansas National Guard, and Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Kaltenborn, the security forces platoon sergeant also with the ADT, watch as spur ride candidate Air Force Senior Airman Melissa Hidalgo Mendez, a medic and possibly the first female Kansas Air Guard member to ear spurs, demonstrates her weapon skills with the M-16 rifle during her trek through the spur ride conducted on Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan, May 25. Pierce and Kaltenborn are spur holders. The tradition of the spur ride and ‘earning the spurs’ goes back to the origin of the U.S. Cavalry, with new riders learning the ropes prior to donning the spurs that earmark a cavalryman. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ronifel S. Yasay) (Released)