Approved by the Acting Secretary of the Army in July 2017 and first awarded at a ceremony held at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall on 29 September 2017, the Military Horseman Identification Badge might be the most elusive skill badge a Soldier can earn. In addition to completing the 9-week Basic Horsemanship Course, serving in 100 Armed Forces Full Honors Funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, and being recommended by the Commander of the 1st Battalion of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, recipients must also be serving in the Regiment’s Caisson Platoon (nine months total service to qualify); service with horses in other detachments or platoons does not count.
Besides mastering horsemanship skills, the members of the Caisson Platoon must also learn to care for the Platoon’s horses and keep the ceremonial tack and harness in top-notch condition, a reflection of the solemnity and gravity of many of the ceremonies in which they take part. And if any member of the Platoon authorized for the Military Horseman Badge is suspected of engaging in inappropriate conduct or even having the intention to do so, the Commander of the Regiment must conduct an investigation to determine the validity of the accusations and, if found to be true, revoke the wearer’s authorization to wear the highly prized badge.