I was an officer in the 2/4 Cavalry in 1970-1972.  Never served in combat but, trained as an Airborne Infantry Lt., I learned Cavalry tactics quickly as a platoon leader, support platoon leader and S1 (Adjutant).  Biggest problem with Cav is finding the right vehicles.  From horses, tried motorcycles, jeeps, M114s, Sheridans (M551), helicopters, etc.  Jeeps and M114s were effective but helicopters are and were the best.  Sheridans were absolute junk...expensive, ineffective and unreliable.  The two main missions of the Cav are Reconaissance and conducting delaying actions.  At Gettysburg, Stuart failed badly at the first and left Lee uninformed for the first two days.  I was not a professional soldier.  In fact, I was drafted.  However, one of the things I am most proud of is the time I spent and my membership in the 2nd Squadron, 4th Cavalry.  A Cavalry platoon is the smallest "Combined Task Force" in the Army.  A platoon leader commands an Infantry squad, a mortar squad, three tanks (Armor) and a Recon squad.  My spurs still hang on my office wall.