US Army Europe Commanding General Staff Ride 2018

GERMANY

03.15.2018

Courtesy Story

12th Combat Aviation Brigade

VERDUN, France—The USAREUR Headquarters, on behalf of Lt. Gen. Cavoli hosted a company grade officers staff ride here, Mar. 12-14. The commander’s intent for the staff ride was for company grade commanders and leaders to develop a better understand how the evolution of military technology, tactics and doctrine effected those nations involved in World War I.

The curriculum and execution of the battlefield staff ride provided USAREUR company grade officers with a professional development opportunity by placing them in small groups and pairing them with senior officer mentors. These small groups examined the tactical decision-making on the World War I battlefield and then discussed the operational and strategic implications during a series of combat leadership workshops. This was also an outstanding team-building exercise.

Bundeswehr Brig. Gen. Kai Rohrschneider, USAREUR Chief of Staff, was the exercise director and led the staff ride in the absence of Lt. Gen Cavoli. He was supported by Brig. Gen. Kate Leahy, the USAREUR Deputy Commanding General for Mobilization and Reserve Affairs. Dr. Harold Raugh, USAREUR Command Historian, was responsible for the staff ride’s historical program and content, and was assisted by Mr. Peter Herrly and Dr. Ernest Roth, facilitators and historians.

"The staff ride is a technique used mainly by the military for professional development and team building," said Dr. Raugh. "It uses the lessons of a historical military operation and applies them and helps make them relevant to current military doctrine, planning, and operations. With a certain amount of effort, the modern commander can provide a powerful and enduring impetus to the professional improvement of his subordinates."

The historians covered the Western Front of World War I from the maneuver battles of 1914, through trench warfare and lastly to the rapid development of the American Expeditionary Forces.

The first day on the staff ride covered the Schlieffenplan and the advancement of the Germany Army through Belgium. The members then took a lengthy stops at Fort de Barchon and Fort De Loncin outside of Liege, Belgium to discuss the effect of artillery on fortified Belgian positions.

Day two focused on the Verdun Battle, a visit to the Verdun Memorial museum and then led into a combat leadership workshop covering lessons learned from the development, deployment and battlefield engagements of the American Expeditionary Forces.

The last day covered the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, Montfaucon American Monument.

The company commanders were challenged each day to relate the World War I information back under the lens of technological advances. Walking on the terrain where these historic battles took place provides a venue for leaders to talk about our future endeavors.

The workshop allows company grade leaders to learn from seasoned Brigade commanders in a small group learning environment. It also reinforced the importance of effectively leading troops and of the human dimension of soldiering.

“Anytime you get senior leaders interacting with company grade leaders it’s a good thing,” said Col. Merenkov, USAREUR Deputy Chief of Staff.

• Date Taken: 03.15.2018
• Date Posted: 03.20.2018 12:03
• Story ID: 269979
• Location: DE