Support Operations conducts Jena Battlefield staff ride

Photo By 2nd Lt. Paula Fujan | The Support Operations shop, Headquarters and Headdquarters Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment poses in front of a map that depicts all the movements in the Battle of Jena at the Gedankstaette Museum 1806, Germany, Feb. 23, 2018.  

VILSECK, BY, GERMANY

03.14.2018

Story by 2nd Lt. Paula Fujan 

2d Cavalry Regiment

The Support Operations shop, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment conducted a staff ride to Jena Battlefield, Germany, in order to analyze Mission Command principles used by the various commanders during the Battle of Jena, Feb. 23, 2018.

On Oct. 14, 1806, the Battle of Jena, from the Napoleonic Wars, resulted in the decisive defeat of the Prussian army. Napoleon’s victory in Jena removed the last obstacle on his march to Berlin, Germany and resulted in Prussia becoming a part of the French universal monarchy.

Prior to the staff ride, the SPO shop conducted two Leader Professional Development sessions regarding the Mission Command principles. First they analyzed the letter from Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant to Maj. Gen. William Sherman, focusing on the principles of mutual trust, create shared understanding and accept prudent risk. The letter was written in 1864, focused specifically on General Grant’s intent for his forces and the reasoning behind it. In the second LPD they analyzed the article, “Extending the Line at Little Round Top”, by John J. McGrath, in relation to exercise disciplined initiative, provide clear commanders intent and use mission orders.

The LPDs’ culminating event was a staff ride and battlefield tour to learn firsthand about the Battle of Jena. This visit was a part of a new LPD battle rhythm in which the SPO office discusses the Mission Command principles and how they tie to history and the present.

When asked about the trip, 1st Lt. Jon Larkin, HHT, RSS, 2CR, expressed that it was impressive how regular LPD sessions had been integrated and a staff ride with most of the shop was conducted.

"I think it’s important to get hands-on experience and continue to develop the Army’s leaders with opportunities like historical battle analysis and we proved that there is time for professional development, if we make time,” said Larkin.

The key focus of the trip was to analyze the actions of the French and Prussian commanders in the context of mission command. Fourteen members of the SPO shop started the trip with a visit to the Gedankstaette Museum 1806 in Jena-Cospeda, which displays numerous historical maps, pictures and eyewitness reports from the battles.

The group then walked the terrain of the battlefield to visit Napoleon’s headquarters and four out of five skirmish locations. The Napoleon-Stein stands on the Wind-Knolle outside of Jena-Cospeda, marking the location of Napoleon’s headquarters. Chiseled on the side are the distances to various places where Napoleon’s army was stationed at the time. The battlefield tour described how the Prussian Army’s inability to exercise disciplined initiative led to their defeat by the French Army. At each of the skirmish sites, the shop reviewed the battlefield positons and analyzed the commanders’ actions, focusing specifically on the Prussian’s lack of disciplined initiative that enabled their swift defeat and Napoleon’s march on to Berlin.

“Being able to stand in the middle of a historic battlefield as Capt. [Jaime] Rodriguez discussed the happenings is something I have never experienced in my Army career,” shared Staff Sgt. Paola Mejia, transportation non-commissioned officer, HHT, RSS, 2CR. “For me, it took leadership development to a higher level by being able to connect the LPD discussions to the firsthand experience of the battlefield and museum tours.”

In the upcoming months, the SPO shop will be continuing their quarterly LPD program, focusing on the U.S. Army Values and Profession of Arms. Their culminating staff ride will be a trip to the Nuremberg Trial Courthouse later this spring.

• Date Taken: 03.14.2018
• Date Posted: 03.14.2018 09:17
• Story ID: 269311
• Location: VILSECK, BY, DE