AACHEN, Germany - A dynamic team of leaders and mentors drawn from across U.S. Army Europe worked across echelons to instill valuable professional and life lessons during an unique "enlisted staff ride" conducted March 22-26 near the historic city of Aachen, located in the far west of Germany.
Command Sgt. Maj. Rodney Rhoades, the senior enlisted leader of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, conducted the staff ride on behalf of the USAREUR command team. The CSM headed a delegation of carefully selected leaders and subject matter experts drawn from relevant career specialties across the expansive USAREUR area of responsibility.
USAREUR historians also played a key role, providing important context that formed the basis of subsequent discussions. Historical content emphasized regional operations during World War II, prominently including the Aachen campaign waged in the latter stages of the conflict. Participants visited the famous "Westwall," known popularly as the "Siegfried Line," among other area Allied-Axis battlegrounds.
Commanders frequently employ staff rides as a developmental and esprit-building opportunity for key subordinate leaders and staff officers. Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the USAREUR commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. David Davenport, the USAREUR CSM until his recent reassignment to U.S. Training and Doctrine Command, expanded the concept to embrace emerging young leaders and technicians.
Around 35 junior noncommissioned officers and Soldiers serving in USAREUR units participated in the event. Guidance from leaders and mentors and briefings from the historians provided the basis for subsequent research and planning conducted by participants. The latter prepared briefings based on information gleaned from subject matter experts and leaders. They delivered the briefs during periodic stops at relevant "stands," or historic sites marked for the occasion.
The event differed from conventional staff rides not only in rank structure but in content. While historic operations provided the setting and much of the subject matter, Rhoades and his team of USAREUR mentors focused much of their discussion on character, innovative leadership and professionalism as well as history.
"Yes, history is important and we can learn a great deal by digging into problems faced by American Soldiers during other wars and other periods," Rhoades said. "But that's not all - or even mainly - what this was about. It was about character and innovative leadership. These mentors talked about challenges we're facing right now, different approaches and different solutions.
"The staff ride was a 'leadership laboratory' for developing the very finest leaders in our Army," he added. "The Western Front provided a context for the event; but the message [Lt.] Gen. Hodges and Command Sgt. Maj. Davenport wanted us to deliver - the message our mentors did deliver - came directly from chief of staff of the Army guidance on character and leader development. It's important our Soldiers continue to ask 'why,' as they've done throughout our history. These are precisely the type of conversations our senior leaders want us to have, and this was an ideal forum for Soldiers and mentors to conduct professional dialogue as well as explore an historic campaign."
One of those USAREUR mentors, 1st Sgt. Wayne Wahlenmeier of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based in Vicenza, Italy, described the staff ride as an optimum opportunity for frank discussion.
Participants, Wahlenmeier said, bonded as they prepared historic briefs. The momentum continued into contemporary discussions of Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention, "professionalism, duty, leadership, motivation and (post-traumatic stress disorder). They didn't shy away from potentially sensitive subjects and I feel that they probably gained more than they realize from this experience."
Wahlenmeier likewise benefited from his interaction with training Soldiers.
"I personally gained from listening to them and the mentoring from my peers and superiors," he said. "Numerous times over dinner or after dinner Soldiers would come to me to ask my opinion on different subjects and then challenge my thought process in order to better understand why I thought that way. I think this is a good thing in this kind of environment because it is a low-to-no-threat environment. And it made me look inward and reanalyze my own thought process and reconfirm how I had reached my opinion."
Many participants apparently returned to Wiesbaden "enlightened" as well as informed.
"The USAREUR staff ride was one of the most enlightening experiences I have had the privilege of participating in, in my 20 years of service," said Master Sgt. Brian Parker of the 21st TSC provost marshal's office. "Not only from the historical aspect of World War II - but the staff ride provided the ability to empower our junior enlisted Soldiers, teaching them how to think critically, think outside the box and removed them from their comfort zone. Soldiers learned to communicate effectively with each other and understand better what it's like to be a leader during one of the most difficult wars from our history."
Some described themselves as "astounded" by the quality of the experience. Their testimony suggests leaders and mentors largely succeeded in their efforts to instill valuable career and life lessons.
"Overall, the entire experience was astoundingly meaningful to every participant who had the fortune to attend," said Sgt. Eva Queen of the 317th Support Maintenance Company, part of the 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st TSC. "This staff ride, without question, will ensure that principles of innovation and character are thoroughly understood by the Army's best and brightest. Most importantly, everybody in attendance will be able to bring the experience back to their units in order to steward these principles and build a healthy Army for tomorrow."
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