REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Russ Rodgers is closing a five-year chapter as the historian for the Aviation and Missile Command as he moves on to Germany to take on historian duties for U.S. Army Europe.
"This is a new chapter for me and my family," he said. "The U.S. Army Europe position presents a unique challenge and is considered a prestigious position because U.S. Army Europe reports directly to the Department of the Army."
As an Army service (component) command, U.S. Army Europe trains and leads Army forces in support of the U.S. European Command and Department of the Army headquarters. Located in Wiesbaden, Germany, U.S. Army Europe is responsible for directing U.S. Army operations throughout the U.S. European command areas of responsibility. It trains and prepares forces for global deployment; strengthens alliances and builds partner capability; and seeks to improve the readiness and quality of life for Soldiers, Army families and the civilian workforce assigned to Europe.
"This is an exciting time for an historian in Europe," Rodgers said. "We've had the Cold War and the reunification of Germany and now I think we are getting ready to write a new chapter. The world is still a dangerous place and Europe is a wild card. It is on the cutting edge of whatever is coming next."
Rodgers, a disabled veteran who served 12 years on active duty with the Army and the Army Reserves, spent his first tour of duty in Germany, and has visited the country researching medieval castles and fortifications.
"I've seen Germany change over the years," he said.
Rodgers' military service with the active duty Army, Nebraska National Guard and the Reserves at Fort Gordon, Ga., included serving as a tank crewman, infantryman and military intelligence Soldier. He graduated from the University of Nebraska with a history degree in 1989 and later got his master's degree in history. He taught history, government and economics on the high school level in Georgia, ran a political consulting business in New Hampshire, and has published several historical books and articles. In 2005, he was hired as a Department of the Army history with the Forces Command at Fort McPherson, Ga. He served with the Forces Command for five years before coming to AMCOM as its historian.
In the past month, Rodgers made a trip to Germany to participate in a staff ride to Italy and Slovenia with members of the U.S. Army Europe team.
"I was interviewed for the job by phone. So, my visit there gave me a chance to meet the commander and other members of the command group in person, and to start the integration process as a new member of the team," Rodgers said.
Conducting staff rides in Europe will be part of Rodgers' new job.
"They are a professional development tool," he said. "First, participants get to see how military leaders in the past made decisions, and how conditions and the stress of situations affecting those decisions. Second, the Soldiers and civilians on the staff ride actually do presentations and lead discussions on the history we are seeing during the staff ride. The researching, organizing and speaking helps them to understand history and how history can shape decisions in the future.
"As they experience the history and study the decisions that were made, they gain experience at making decisions for the future."
Rodgers will also take on the other jobs of a command historian -- documenting and recording U.S. Army Europe history, interviewing command leaders as well as providing historical information for command use. He will also train and manage an Ad Hoc Military Detachment of 26 Soldiers who will videotape and document various training exercises so that the history office can capture lessons learned that can be used to shape operational policy and plans.
"U.S. Army Europe is involved in many activities, especially as the world changes. It is a very dynamic organization," he said.
Besides offering challenging work, the new assignment will also give Rodgers and his family a chance to explore Europe and its culture.
"I'm looking forward, professionally, to learning new things, and some new aspects of being an historian," Rodgers said. "Personally, I'm going to get to see my daughter (six-year-old Haylee) experience new things. I'm already part of an intercultural marriage because my wife, Alina, is Chinese. And, I'm 56, so I see this as my last big adventure. This will be a broadening experience for all of us."
, for Rodgers, he will get an opportunity to revisit his long-time hobby -- exploring and writing about the medieval castles and fortifications that dot the European landscape.
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