KILLEEN, TX — The Army's 1st Cavalry Division has been under fire in recent years, with soldiers claiming their obsession with obsolete uniform items — Stetson cowboy hats and spurs without rowels — make them stand out in addition to being the target of countless jokes from other service members.

More recently, the enormous and expensive patch of the unit has also drawn the ire of lawmakers after a brigade comptroller's proposal to shrink the size of the emblem drew immediate and devastating reprisals.

But not all soldiers are so critical of the 'First Team.' Newly minted Trooper Specialist Ernest Whitman recently completed his change of MOS (Military Occupational Specialty), or re-class as it's more commonly known, from the infantry into the 'Cav.

When asked about the reason for his transition, Whitman didn't hesitate. "That's easy bro, Apocalypse Now. Did you see that movie? That fucking bad-ass Stetson hat Robert Duvall was wearing. God I can't wait to get mine! And those spurs, who wouldn't want to wear them? I'm gonna pull so much tail it'll be sick."