Fort Riley axes iconic mounted color guard unit

FORT RILEY (KSNT) - A special mounted unit established more than 30 years ago in Fort Riley is being cut amid budget changes this year.

Guster Cunningham III with the 1st Infantry Division at the Fort Riley Army post announced in a press release the Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard (CGMCG) unit will be coming to an end. He said this action is being taken "to align more resources with our warfighting capability and readiness." The unit was established in 1992 to provide a link back to the fort's historic origins of mounted soldiers.

Members of the mounted unit often appeared at big events or reenactments of the Civil War. The CGMCG attended the inauguration of President Donald Trump in 2017 and participated in the Kentucky Derby earlier this year.

"Following the Army's directive, Fort Riley is concluding operations of the Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard to align more resources with our warfighting capability and readiness."

Fort Riley press release excerpt

Cunningham said the post is working to find homes for the horses associated with the unit and will keep community members updated regarding this transition. He said the loss of the mounted unit will not have any impact on the 1st Infantry Division's core priorities which include caring for the post's soldiers, civilians and families.

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