HOHENFELS, Germany (Sept. 24, 2015) -- Since June 6, 1944, the coastline of north-central Normandy has changed remarkably. Shores and cliffs -- once dominated by immense artillery pieces, barbed wire and machine gun nests -- are now tourist destinations for beachcombers, residential areas for locals and, of course, hallowed ground to military professionals seeking to learn from the past.
Starting Sept. 8, a group of leaders from the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, here, traveled to the battlefields of Operation Overlord, the official name of the D-Day campaign, to learn about those fateful days when forces would ultimately break through the Atlantic wall and secure the Allied foothold in "Fortress Europe".
During this staff ride, the JMRC leaders were able to see how the Allies' incredibly detailed planning led to the successful invasion. Over the course of four days, the staff studied the actions, tactics and people responsible for the much-storied actions of that campaign.
Like many staff rides, the purpose behind this one was to broaden the perspective of those who participated, and to provide lessons that Soldiers can apply to training and tactics today. Dr. Ernest Roth, the director and leader of this staff ride stated that staff rides "help us see why we are professional Soldiers by linking today's Soldiers with their predecessors, and validates their contribution to the profession."
However, in order to emphasize the multinational and combined approach that is the hallmark of JMRC's operations, this staff ride pushed the participants out of their American comfort zone and concentrated on the actions of all the Allies involved.
After walking through the locations of the seaborne and airborne landings, the participants deeply studied the planning and the initial actions of the United Kingdom's 6th Airborne Division during their seizure of both the Pegasus Bridge, and the Battle of Merville Gun Battery.
Col. Tom Mackey, Commander Operations Group for JMRC said "it was important to see these two particular operations," he continued, "Pegasus Bridge is a great example of a mission being meticulously planned and then flawlessly executed."
He contrasted this with the Battle of Merville Gun Battery as an example of a similarly well planned operation that upon initial contact changed greatly. "We have to remember, the enemy gets a vote. Merville is a great example of what is still true today: small unit leaders take charge and rely on battle drills and the fundamentals. When the plan goes awry, they make a new plan, and succeed in the face of great adversity".
The tour brought home the complicated and arduous task the Allies faced in June 1944 as staff walked through the landing areas and battle positions for the airborne forces, and the seaborne landing areas for the ground forces; and even studied, in depth, some of the early Allied follow-on operations to push further into the French mainland.
Focusing again on the allied nature of the operation, the staff ride turned their attention to the British VIII Corps, responsible for Operation Goodwood. In what may be the largest ever tank battle fought by the U.K., the goal of the assault was to seize the German-held Bourguébus Ridge to enable the Allies to secure the key city of Caen.
Leaders from each of the JMRC Observer Controller teams, which replicate the composition of a Brigade Combat Team, assumed the roles of key leaders and units participating in this operation. Each leader was able to describe how their particular branch contributed to the overall fight, and reinforced how such actions apply to the modern battlefield, and how they can apply these lessons to the training they conduct every day at Hohenfels.
According to Capt. Marci Hanson, an Intelligence Officer for JMRC, the staff ride "enabled me to see firsthand the terrain that was associated with the Normandy beaches" she continued "it reinforced that written descriptions, maps, and aerial imagery give leaders a decent understanding, but being on the ground and looking at the terrain" truly allows us to experience the history.
In the modern era -- with drones, multi-channel secured communications, and strong coordination between ground and air forces -- it can be difficult to imagine what it was like to be a Soldier during this time.
However, walking along the same routes as the British and Canadian infantrymen near Gold Beach and Hillman Strongpoint, seeing the extreme cliff faces scaled by the U.S. Army Rangers at Pointe du Hoc, and witnessing the scale of battle -- and carnage -- that was Omaha Beach, reminded these Soldiers of the value of being forward stationed in Europe, as forces are an ocean closer and immediately ready to bolster the NATO Alliance.
On the final day of the staff ride, Sept. 11, also known as Patriot Day, JMRC staff was able to pay tribute to a group of brave patriots who gave their all so many years ago.
With the flags at half-staff in the American Cemetery above Omaha Beach, the leaders were reminded of the long line of sacrifices that the entire NATO Alliance, which began even before D-Day, has endured over the years in defense of freedom.
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