WIESBADEN, Germany (May 1, 2015) -- Thirty-six members of Army Europe gathered here for a unique staff ride earlier this week.
"Thank you all for joining me, I know you already have a full-time job and I'm grateful you're taking the time out to participate. Leadership development is our number one priority and that's why you all are here," said Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, U.S. Army Europe commanding general.
The attendee list was rather unusual -- five general officers, two senior executive service members and 29 captains.
"This is the first time we've conducted a staff ride to this particular location and with this mix of participants," said Dr. Andrew Morris, Army Europe chief historian. "The entire program was designed from scratch and developed to meet the commanding general's intent of developing the future leaders of our Army."
The three-day ride consisted of two separate locations with several interest points. Participants were separated into seven small groups, with a senior leader as mentor and four or five captains in each.
"Usually staff rides consist of battalion commanders," said Brig. Gen. John Hort, Army Europe deputy chief of staff, operations. "This opportunity is all about relationship building and senior officers truly mentoring and encouraging the next generation of leaders."
"I've never seen a staff ride conducted with generals and joint armies," said German Army Capt. Christian Graeser. "In Europe, our history is closely linked to military history so you can't look at one without the other. As allies, our objectives are similar so it's important that we learn from the science behind these events."
Learning from history
Leading the staff ride was a team of history experts, including Morris; Master Sgt. Steven Frank, historian noncommissioned officer in charge; and famed German historian Dr. Karl Frieser, retired colonel and author of the book "The Blitzkrieg Legend." Together, the group provided context and explanation along each step of the trip.
On day one, attendees traveled to Belgium Army Base Leopoldsburg where they conducted a working dinner and seminar.
The history team provided a full detail of the battle at Fort Eban-Emael in 1940, and the first historical location along the ride. According to their presentation, this particular fight is of historical significance because it encompassed many of the traits desired of today's Soldiers -- operational security, ingenuity, leadership at all levels and risk-taking.
In short, during WWII a highly-trained force of less than 100 German soldiers used gliders and shape charges to capture the 'impenetrable' Belgium fortress, the largest in the world at the time, with more than 1,000 defending forces. The action cleared the way for German ground forces to enter Belgium.
Joining the group for the presentation were Ambassador Timothy Broas, U.S. Embassy Netherlands; Dutch Army Lt. Gen. Mart De Kruif; and Army Attaché Col. Leo Buzzerio.
"I've seen staff rides conducted before but this one is different," said De Kruif. "This is taking junior officers, providing them with mentors and investing in their future. By going back and studying history they can learn valuable lessons and become better leaders."
Creating a culture of risk taking
"As we study these battles it's important to keep in mind we know how it ends. While the German soldiers were executing this mission they were kept in total secrecy about the plan, and as they hit road blocks they found ways around them." Hodges said.
"This is about a culture of risk-taking and getting the job done. You have to be willing to take a risk, accept the consequences and empower your subordinates to pick up the mission at any point."
As the small groups discussed these traits on day two, several participants picked up on strategic points from the battle.
"The boldness of Germany combined with overconfidence of Belgium really paints a picture here," said Maj. Gen. William Gayler, Army Europe deputy commanding general. "The Belgians were still fighting the last war, whereas the Germans adjusted tactics and used creativity to come at the battle in a different way."
"One of my key takeaways so far is being able to work with what you have. The German Army was under strict war reparations and used the means they had (gliders) to complete this mission. As our Army gets smaller it's important we continue to be innovative in our efforts and get the job done, and a big part of that is ensuring our younger troops are prepared," said Capt. Elizabeth Obrecht, 18th Military Police Brigade.
"To me, this battle is an example of spending a lot of time and money building a facility but providing no resources for training and development," said Belgian Army Capt. Bert Torfs. "It shows you that you can have all the modern structures in the world but if you don't have trained people and developed leaders the materials are useless."
The group spent the day hiking various overlooks and bridges around the fortress to gain perspective and toured the fort itself. The day closed with another working dinner where the history group prepared attendees for the next discussion -- the Battle of Remagen.
Seeing history from a different perspective
"As you work with your mentors and small groups I want you to ask the question -- how can I apply these examples of initiative and risk taking at my unit?" said Hodges.
Staff ride attendees continued to analyze the various military tactics used in WWII with a trip on day three to Remagen Bridge, the site where the 9th Armored Division famously captured the vital Rhine crossing from Germany and made way for U.S. troops to advance.
"This is a perfect example of encouraging innovation and risk taking," said Capt. Jessie Smith, 30th Medical Brigade. "The situation on the ground changed and the official orders didn't reflect that. So by allowing your Soldiers to execute initiative without fear creates an environment of encouragement."
The group traveled to several different vantage points on both sides of the Rhine River so the historian team could explain the battle from different angles. Along the way, the small groups again broke off and discussed the ways these lessons could be incorporated today.
"It's vital that your Soldiers understand the strategic impact of the mission so once they're on the ground they not only understand what they're executing but why," said Michael Formica, Installation Management Command Europe director. "This bridge wasn't supposed to be here anymore but the Soldiers understood the greater goal and took a risk to secure the crossing."
Bringing it all together
As the group travelled to their final destination of the staff ride the themes of boldness, innovation and risk-taking were resonating throughout the participants.
"My biggest take away is definitely risk taking," said German Army Brig. Gen. Markus Laubenthal, Army Europe chief of staff. "We've seen so many examples of junior Soldiers empowered at the lowest level to have initiative. They must know the plan and feel they are able to take over whenever needed. And this has to be done in an understandable way; if your OPORD is 40 pages you're doing it wrong."
"I was unaware of these battles before the staff ride," said Capt. Bradley Bowling, 4th Infantry Division Mission Command Element. "Learning about the history has helped me understand how important it is to always mentor our junior Soldiers. In my organization we constantly have Soldiers rotating through so it's important that we create better continuity so each unit can pick up where the other left off."
As the small groups gathered for their last sessions, something unexpected happened. A barge came down the Rhine River below carrying military equipment.
"This equipment just arrived from the U.S. and will be permanently stored in Europe," said Hodges. "This is a perfect example of the land power Army Europe provides to EUCOM."
He went on to explain that the equipment, known as the European Activity Set, will be used by U.S. Army rotational forces in exercises from the Baltic to Black seas.
"What an awesome experience to see this first hand," said Maj. Gen. John O'Connor, 21st Theater Sustainment Command commanding general. "This equipment demonstrates exactly what the U.S. Army is capable of - providing the right capabilities, to the right place, at the right time."
Wrapping up the staff ride, participants were given one final task.
"I'm looking for ways to incentivize risk taking and create a culture of innovation," said Hodges. "You may get it wrong sometimes, and you have to be prepared to accept that responsibility. But we can't succeed without adapting. Here in Army Europe we're a force of 30,000 still expected to carry out the mission as when we were 300,000. So I ask you as you go back and explain my philosophy to your organizations and help me make this change."
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