U.S. Army Certifies First Soldiers Under New 08H Equestrian Specialty

Published Aug 5, 05:00 PM UTC

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The U.S. Army has established a new military occupational specialty, 08H Army Equestrian, and certified its first soldiers after an 18-week horsemanship program. Staff Sgt. Shawn Tabor and Sgt. Daimien Copeland of the Caisson Detachment at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall are among the first to qualify. The program includes a 12-week Basic Horsemanship Course and a 6-week Advanced Horsemanship Course. The new specialty replaces the 'military horseman' identifier and is open to infantry soldiers E5-E9. The move follows a two-year suspension of horse-drawn caissons at Arlington National Cemetery after two horses died in 2022 due to substandard feed and living conditions. The Army has since upgraded equipment, reduced caisson weight, and shifted training to a structured pipeline. The Army also retained military working equid programs in Texas and Kansas.

Source

Military TimesWestern

Original headline: The Army certifies its first equestrians as it revamps horse care

Original language: EN

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U.S. Army Certifies First Soldiers Under New 08H Equestrian Specialty

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