Subaltern Stakes

Subaltern Stakes: Growing Lieutenants in the 3d ACR by Colonel James M. Lyle and Major N. Winn Noyes One of the most important respon-sililities of any military leader is that of training his lieutenants. We take that responsibility very seriously in the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment. If you receive an officer in your unit who earncd his spurs here, you can rest assured that he has completed a rigorous growing process and knows the business of lighting.

Our junior officer training program is called "Subaltern Stakes," after the old British system in which a young subaltern had to prove himself before being recognized as a lieutenant. The Stakes are three-phased, and Phase I begins when a young lieutenant is first notified of his assignment to the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen. He receives an already-certified officer as a sponsor and receives his initial welcome packet. This packet is specially tailored to let him know he is joining an elite unit with proud traditions and that more will be expected of him than most other second lieutenants in the Army. He will have greater challenges, hut also more opportunities to excel; he will have his chance to earn the spurs of a cavalryman. Phase I1 begins with his arrival at Fort Bliss. The squadron ad,jutant and the sponsor pick up the new "subaltern" and guide him through the formal reporting procedure, which is based on 140 years of American mounted warrior tradition. First, he reports to the colors, then to the squadron commander, where he must repeat the regimental motto spoken by General Winfield Scott at the battle of Chapul-tcpec, Mexico, in 1847 "Brave Rilles! Veterans! You have been baptized in fire and blood and have come out steel!" The new officer must visit the regimental museum and have an initial briefing with the regimental commander. His sponsor ensures that he meets and receives a briefing from each staff section so that he is familiar with the organization and functions of each part of his squadron and regiment. During this period, he receives two special items, his battle map case and his Subaltern Stakes Job Book. Phase 111, his certification, takes our budding cavalryman betwecn six months and a year to complete. His troop commander becomes his mentor with the specific responsibility to ensure he is soldicnied, fj'iccnied and baptiied in the spirit of blood and steel. He soon learns that his branch basic course was only the beginning of his warrior education. So1dicn:irrg means our lieutenant demonstrates his proficiency in the hasic skills required of every trooper in the regiment. He will qualify with his assigned weapon and pass his PT test with a minimum score of 210, using the standards of the 19-year old soldiers he commands. He must demonstrate his ability to perform PMCS, complete a proper 2402 on all organic equipment (vehicles, commo, weapons, etc.), and obtain an operator's license for all assigned vehicles.

Using FM 21-2, the lieutenant will certify 61 of 68 Skill Level 1 tasks in the areas of see, communicate, navigate, M72A2 LAW, hand grenades, land mines, survival techniques, protect against NBC attack, first aid, and customs and laws of war. Using FM 21-3, he will demonstrate proficiency in 31 of the 34 Skill Level 2 and 3 tasks in 36 ARMOR - May-June 1988 I' ... When the young lieutenant has completed the formal portions of Subaltern Stakes, there is a special awards ceremony. He receives his spurs and is now recognized as a proven cavalry officer. ..." the areas of communication, navigation, survival techniques, and protection against NBC attack. Finally, he must pass a squadron-conducted CTT.

Uficeizing ensures our lieutenant becomes proficicnt in those basic abilities required of all mounted comhined arms officers. During this process, he will demonstrate his ability to inspect soldiers and supervise maintenance of equipment. He will properly conduct guard mount. He will prepare for and successfully pass a comprehensive Pre-Combat Inspection (PCI) prior to departing for any major training exercise. He will validate proficiency in administrative tasks such as, counseling statements, OERs, EERs, maintenance forms and records, and reports of survey.

He will demonstrate his ability to inspect facilities for safety, cleanliness, physical security, and orderliness. He will complete the Brave Rifles Reading List, and, above all, will demonstrate his ability to plan, resource, and conduct training. Baptizing irr rltc Spirit of Blood arid S/ecl is when the lieutenant learns the art of war. He will be tested under such stress and realism as peacetime constraints allow. He must qualify on his organic crcw-served weapons system (tank, helicopter, M113, elc.) and demonstrate his ability to control the live Gres of his platoon. He must demonstrate a thorough grasp of combat lcadership principles and procedures by successfully completing a platoon ARTEP or adequately performing as a part of a troop ARTEP.

He must read and demonstrate familiarity with the 3ACR

War Plan, 3ACR

TACSDOP,

3ACR

Maneuver Pamphlet, and his squadron and troop battle books. He must then construct a platoon battle book of his own. He must show that in every way he understands and follows the warrior ethic. He must demonstrate, under pressure, his technical and tactical proficiency.

Throughout his time in the regiment, each officer will attend many officer professional development seminars. Fifty per cent will be on fighting skills, 25 pcr cent will deal with administrative matters, and 25 per cent will be on the special concerns of each commander.

Of special benefit to him are the guest speakers. Many of our WWII combat leaders, such as General James K.

Polk, our honorary colonel and WWII regimental commander, and Lieutenant Colonel Utterback, a WWI Squadron commander, are in the local area and very willing to share thcir expcrien-ces. All visiting active duty officers whose expertise would be of benefit are also captured for this program. When the young lieutenant has completed the formal portions of Subaltern Stakes, there is a special awards ceremony. He receives his spurs and is now recognized as a proven cavalry officer. With the award comes the normal bragging rights, but more important, comes the confidence and inner strength from knowing he has successfully completed what we consider to be the most rigorous mounted combat ARMOR - May-June 1988 officer development program in the world.

So, if you are ever at a parade, formal luncheon, or other such gathering where cavalrymen might be, and you see a young officer with a 3d ACR patch on his shoulder, and spurs on his heels, he's not just another cocky cavalryman, he's a warrior from the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen.

Colonel James M. Lyle commands 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment at Ft. Bliss, TX. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and served as a platoon leader and troop commander with the 1st Squadron, 3d ACR in Germany. He sewed as advisor to the 2/1Oth Vietnamese Cavalry Squadron and as commander, 2d Squadron, 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment, Germany. More recently, he served as director, Command and Staff Department, U.S.

Armor School, Ft. Knox, KY.

Major N. Winn Noyes is the regimental S3, 3ACR. He was commissioned in 1973 and served as a divisional cavalry platoon leader, as XO of the l/lOth Cavalry, and as an air cavalry platoon commander and regimental cavalry troop commander with 2d ACR. He has also served as aviation advisor to the Reserve Component, as a tactics instructor at Ft. Knox, KY, and as squadron S3 for the 2/3 ACR. 37