Dr. Kelly Jones, a military historian at the Army University Press, Press, references a Gettysburg battle map while describing unit actions on McPherson Ridge and facilitated discussion with leaders of the U.S. Army Reserve Careers Group about the historic civil war battle at Gettysburg, Pa., during a staff ride June 25, 2024. The first stop was the Maj. Gen. John Buford Monument. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Stewart)
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Dr. Kelly Jones, a military historian at the Army University Press, described unit actions during Pickett’s Charge and facilitated discussion with leaders of the U.S. Army Reserve Careers Group about the historic civil war battle at Gettysburg, Pa., during a staff ride June 25, 2024. This stop was at a Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Handcock wounding site marker, with the State of Pennsylvania Monument in view. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Stewart)
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Dr. Kelly Jones, a military historian at the Army University Press, described unit actions during Pickett’s Charge and facilitated discussion with leaders of the U.S. Army Reserve Careers Group about the historic civil war battle at Gettysburg, Pa., during a staff ride June 25, 2024. This stop was at a Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Handcock wounding site marker, with the State of Pennsylvania Monument in view. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Stewart)
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Col. Marshall Scantlin, previous commander of the Army Reserve Careers Group gives Mr. Troy Lewis, military historian at the Army University Press, a certificate of appreciation for facilitating and educating the ARCG team’s staff ride at the Gettysburg National Military Park, June 25, 2024. Three AUP historians took a portion of the group to guide for the day. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Stewart)
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Col. Marshall Scantlin, previous commander of the Army Reserve Careers Group gives Dr. Kelly Jones, military historian at the Army University Press, a certificate of appreciation for facilitating and educating the ARCG team’s staff ride at the Gettysburg National Military Park, June 25, 2024. Three AUP historians took a portion of the group to guide for the day. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Stewart)
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GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Leaders of the U.S. Army Reserve Careers Group participated in
a Gettysburg staff ride June 25, gathering insights from the pivotal Civil War battle and
related them to contemporary leadership and decision making.
Col. Marshall Scantlin, the previous commander of ARCG, said the staff ride gave the
team a chance to review tactics and operations from a significant battle in American
history, the lessons of understanding the mission, and how applying it to decision
making still applies to today’s modern Army.
“Just like back at the Battle of Gettysburg, we need leaders to be able to step up,
execute the commander’s intent well, but still understand the big picture and what is
going on all over the battlefield.”
The historical and tactical study of the three- day battle of Gettysburg was the focus for
this staff ride, encompassing a preliminary study at the home station, an extensive visit
to campaign sites at Gettysburg, and an opportunity to integrate lessons derived from
each.
The staff ride was facilitated by military historians of the Army University Press team,
who educate Army leaders and help frame the situation from an objective point of view
to analyze key leaders’ decisions.
“It allows you to look at historical references that have happened previously, things that
may have gone well and things that may have not gone well,” said Troy Lewis, staff ride
historian for the Army University Press at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. “They can discuss
the decision -making process on how that particular leader came to that decision and
talk about some of the different options that they had or didn’t have, which would
therefore impact their leadership ability on that day.”
“The biggest takeaway from several teammates was the difference between
understanding the context of the battle from looking at the terrain map of Gettysburg,
and then actually walking the battleground,” said Lewis. “Battlefield decisions started to
make more sense after they saw the terrain themselves and walked it themselves.”
If your team is interested in a staff ride, the Combat Studies Institute Staff Ride Team of
the Army University Press hosts over 50 different staff rides. For more information go to:
https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Staff-Rides/Traditional-Staff-Ride/
