Most memorable military "Staff Ride?"

2014-02-16T18:08:51-05:00

It could have been a battlefield study, field trip, site visit, guided tour, or traditional staff ride; whatever we'll choose to call it, which event stands out in your mind as the best, most interesting, informative, or just plain most enjoyable event? What was it that made that particular experience "head-and-shoulders" above the rest? Please feel free to add any links, files, sound, video, photographs, stories or any combination of the above in order to tell your story. I've had and heard of some great experiences... what was yours? This should be great fun and quite informative at the same time... there's just one simple rule here, display respect for all members, of all ranks, and in all statuses. Thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2014 6:34 PM

2014-02-16T18:34:11-05:00

I had a poor Staff Ride to Pea Ridge in Officer Basic. Each LT only looked up one part of the battle and told everyone about it. Didn't get much out of it.

At the Advanced course we did a group study on the battle of Shiloh day by day and then did a staff ride following. I got a lot out of it.

Also if anyone is doing a Gettysburg staff ride in the near future and would like to tack on a tour of a military vehicle production line, let me know and I can probably hook that up. BAE is in York and Letterkenny Army Depot are 30 min East and West of Gettysburg respectively.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2014 4:12 AM

2014-03-15T04:12:18-04:00

In order to promote maximum discussion on important topics, here are just a few conversations that may spark your interest; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

RallyPoint | Professional Development Programs - What works and what doesn't?

Directed reading, discussions, tactics classes, staff rides, TEWTs - we have all participated in, planned, led, or executed at least one in our career. What is the most effective leader Professional D...

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2014 4:58 AM

2014-03-15T04:58:02-04:00

Sir,

The Leadership of the 54th Engineer Battalion went on a Staff Ride to Normandy, for three days we walk the beaches, threw the groves, and many battlefields. Great time and learned a lot from our historian.

V/R

1SG Haro

Response by SSG Robert Edwards made Mar 15 at 2014 5:39 PM

2014-03-15T17:39:47-04:00

Driving the CG 151 with flashing lights through the main gate at Camp Casey during Indian Days Festival destination Camp La Guardia for an unannounced training inspection. The fifteen mile run wide open to arrive prior to the arrival of MG Henry Doctor and CSM Lee S. Rodriguez for review of training efforts by the AVN BN. Arrival placed the General's vehicle in the BN CMDR's parking space which did not sit well with the BN CSM. He attempted to man handle me out of the space and it was so-much fun advising him of the amount of brass in the vehicle, the fact that there were two radios vice one for the BN CMR with a SGT armed with a side arm and a 12 ga shotgun in the rack. He was also advised that use of force had been authorized in the protection of said vehicle. He was advised that if he could not figure out who's vehicle it was, all he had to do was lift the cover on the front plate. He became very apologetic at this point and wanted to know the arrival time of the CG, I advised him to excuse me as I had an inbound chopper to meet.

It went downhill from there, the CG got dusted at the airfield and the AVN BN had changed the training schedule and did not inform HQ. You could litterly see the roof rise off the building, as the CG was discussing training changes to the BN CMDR, the DIV CSM LEE S. Rodriguez looked to me for an explanation as to the disrespect to the BN CSM. I merely had to state my orders in protecting the vehicle and advise both parties that I made No threading moves to the CSM nor did I raise my voice in anger. I merely pointed out the obvious that had escaped the BN CSM. For once the Div CSM agreed with me and gave a pretty good counseling to the BN CSM about being observing vehicle recognition in the field.

It was a slow ride back to Camp Casey. those were the good days, the runner up to this was driving for Protocol. Driving as in down range at the Tank qualification course as the Protocol officer wanted to take pictures of on-coming tanks with live ammunition.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 15 at 2014 10:07 PM

2014-03-15T22:07:42-04:00

Best staff ride I have done was in Korea while assigned as the HHC Commander for USAG Camp Humphreys: Task Force Smith and the sequel Battle of Pyoengtaek , 34 IN blocking position in Pyongtaek. TF Smith was not a failure as people would like to tout. An under strength and under resourced Battalion TF with almost no anti tank capability or clear mission held an Armored BDE off for 7 hours and withdrew in order, minus the howitzers they blew or were destroyed. The 34 IN did not fair nearly that well.

Response by SFC Gary (Bigsarge) Portier USARMY RET. made Mar 21 at 2014 4:07 PM

2014-03-21T16:07:45-04:00

Great Fun, What's a Staff ride?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2014 5:51 AM

2014-03-25T05:51:49-04:00

One time we was going to the Airfield for some chinook training and I was driving a 5 ton with my two NCOs up front and about 2 or 3 squads in the back of the truck. I took my time driving the best I could applying slow steady pressure to brakes and drove slow all around to try to make the ride comforatbale as possible beacuse we all know that shit is ruff riding back there. So when we got to the airfield and everyone got down all I heard was bitching whinning and crying about how bad I drove and I simply told them I couldn't drive any better it's not a damn Cadilac so I was like okay guys I got something for you. After the training was done we started to head out and before I left the main gain from the air field I told my two NCOs up front about everything and I said I was going to slam the brakes to give them something to bitch about. So they braced themselves and I slammed on the brakes and charlie miked out the gate and man that shit was hilarious I could just hear them crying and bitching and boy did I hear it when I got out that truck... Totally worth it.. lol

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2014 1:47 AM

2014-03-26T01:47:36-04:00

Gettysburg with instructors from the Army War College guiding us through the battlefield

Response by SGT Bobby Adams made Mar 28 at 2014 2:47 PM

2014-03-28T14:47:45-04:00

By far the best ride ever is riding door gunner for the General in a Blackhawk . While I was stationed at Ft. Campbell. Air Assault!!!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 2 at 2014 3:23 AM

2014-04-02T03:23:35-04:00

I'm not sure if "Staff Ride" means the same thing in all the forces. In my mind "Staff" means Admirals Staff (Flag Officer). It sounds impressive and cool but it lost something because right out of Tech School I was Assigned to CINCPACFLT Staff so everything was a "Staff Ride". My fourth tour of Duty was in support of CINCUSNAVEUR North Eur London so another case of so what and my next tour my collateral duty was as Master at Arms to COMSPAWARSYCOM and I ran a Mini Motorpool. I here Staff Ride and think "Great I get to escort some bigwig and ignore my work in the office, Pain in the Ass" Horrible Attitude, I know! Actually I rather liked being Aide de Camp to Margie Turner the First Female African American in the Computer/Communications field to make O-6. One of the Smartest Ladies I ever met but still had the accent of a Georgia Sharecroppers Daughter and always treated me with respect.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2014 2:29 PM

2014-04-04T14:29:02-04:00

While in Heidelburg our CO and one Sr NCO took a group of about 30 SSG and below Soldiers to Normandy for 5 days. We toured the beaches and other sites, learned about the battles fought at different each and really had some time to reflect on what happened and the sacrifices of those before us. It was absolutely amazing.

Response by SSG William Patton made Apr 4 at 2014 2:48 PM

2014-04-04T14:48:28-04:00

Many years ago I had the priviledge of touring the military park in Vicksburg, MS. My wife is from Vicksburg and wanted me to see the park and to be our tour guide, she asked her uncle, who was the park historian at the time. It took us three days to complete the tour, but it was one of the best tours I have ever experienced at a battlefield park. He showed me things that are not part of the normal tour that he as found over the years in researching the siege and battles fought upto the time of the siege. He was able to bring the battle to life for me with excellent details of who did what at a specific spot. It was a great ride.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jun 25 at 2014 5:12 PM

2014-06-25T17:12:50-04:00

It would have been hard to choose between several, but I have to say that while assigned to Fort Rucker, Alabama, it was flying a Chinook with the staff to Tuskegee Alabama and landing at the airfield where the Airmen were trained and their museum resides. We actually had an OPD where one of the original pilots (an Maintenance officer whose names escapes me now) briefed us on the integration and issues they experienced. This was no movie or documentary, it was awesome!

http://www.nps.gov/tuai/index.htm

Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)

Before the first African American military pilots became known as the "Red Tails" they wore striped tails as they began their flight training in the Army's PT-17 Stearman bi-plane. Their flying adventure started at Moton Field, in Tuskegee, Alabama, where the Army Air Corps began a military "experiment" to see if Negroes could be trained to fly combat aircraft. Come--share their adventure!!

Response by PO1 G. Leslie /Stiltner made Jul 23 at 2014 5:29 PM

2014-07-23T17:29:21-04:00

The Best Ride ever was when I was a kid and my dad was a tank mechanic. Every year they would have a family day and we would get to take rides in the Tanks, Jeeps, and Half Tracks. He was stationed at Christianson Barracks Bindlach, Germany (The Rock) from 1975-1978 Don't remember what Company he was in But those were good times.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2014 2:30 AM

2014-07-24T02:30:53-04:00

I don't know exactly what a staff ride is, but when I was a Senior Driver for AFRICOM, I once had the honor of driving a van full of General and Flag officers from Stuttgart to Ramstein. If memory serves, it was 3 one-stars, 2 two-stars, and a three-star. Basically, a galaxy. When I was approaching the base, the protocol was to call the Provost Marshal and request clearance at the gate. However, my operations people didn't set it up with them, and I was told I would have to stop and have everyone show their ID cards. The E3 at the gate nearly had a heart attack when he saw the ranks of my passengers. Everyone in the van had a good laugh at that one.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2014 10:05 PM

2014-07-24T22:05:43-04:00

I was very fortunate to command a BN with three MHD's, and three very inteligent and ambitious commanders. Their capstone mission for their unit was a "Superbowl" style Staff Ride at Gettysburg. I've been going there for years but learned more that week than I thought was possible Bravo 311, 52, and 305th MHD's You made me proud!

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Jul 25 at 2014 9:40 PM

2014-07-25T21:40:49-04:00

Ft Pulaski with all Squadron Lieutenants and the Squadron Commander.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2014 8:18 PM

2014-07-26T20:18:36-04:00

I was a VIP briefer on the Korean DMZ back in '86/87, and we hauled all sorts of folks around.

On one trip, a three-star decided to give our PFC driver a hard time as we started, and when the PFC told everyone to get their seat belts on, the General said, "And what if I don't want to wear it?"
Without skipping a beat, the PFC responded, "That's okay sir, you don't have to wear it. I'll drive really slow so you can walk alongside the van."

Another flag officer - a Marine Corps two-star - got all pissy at Guard Post Ouellette when the E-7 in charge at the moment came up to greet us as we climbed up to the first observation platform. The general came unhinged that the SFC didn't salute him because he was a general and this lowly piss-ant was only an E-7, and blah-blah-blah...

The Sergeant just smiled and said, "Sir, with your permission, please direct your attention to that bunker over there. See the guy with the binoculars and sniper rifle in front of him? He's looking for targets. His weapon has a maximum effective range of 1200 meters, and this location is 814 meters away from him, making the chances of a single-shot kill almost guaranteed. Their orders are to engage any and all identifiable officers they see. SIR!"

The, now pasty-white general slowly lowered the binos and looked at the E-7.. who was standing there with a HUGE smile and the most perfect salute ever seen in the US military. The General SCREAMED like a little girl, ducked, and ran for the van, screaming, "GET ME THE HELL OUT OF HERE," the whole way.

On another trip, a group of journalists that were HUGE whiners were in attendance. They didn't want to hear about ANYTHING we had to say and what the conditions were like. No problem. We began our tour and immediately changed course from Guard Post Ouellette to Collier... for the visual effect.

We crested the hill to the top (about a 60-degree incline, and a parking spot JUST long enough for the van) and the reporters went silent for a moment, then asked, "What is that?" "Why does it say, 'Front Toward Enemy'??"

"That, Gentlemen, is an M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel mine. With a quarter pound of C-4 explosives, it blows up and sends "Double-Ought" buckshot out to range of better than 100 meters, and anything within the 60-degree arc is killed. Right now, you are looking at it at a range of between six and twelve FEET. Would anyone like to know more about how serious this mission is, and how seriously we are defending our positions and our LIVES out here? Thank you."

I don't know why, but they all started to be much more subdued after that.
http://api.ning.com/files/ybaGuFhqqOrINCoKs3lK9t*O6GNi06wkPG7ZoMHUN6cVfMuUGGk4yCmRdXyI0ixiOCB6xVyN538BGLPJBAqOBIZQMHW1uP3y/ClaymoremineatGuardPostCollierd.jpg

Response by CWO2 Shelby DuBois made Aug 20 at 2014 3:53 PM

2014-08-20T15:53:07-04:00

Attention to the little things... back in the 70's I was a fresh Sgt and had just reported to Japan and not even had a chance to fully check in, when I got tapped by the Duty NCO to make a late night run to Kadena and pick up a Marine Colonel and take him to Atsugi. The only car the motor pool had up and ready, fit for the boss, was a mid 70's Chevy station wagon. A moose of a car and a car that size in Japan is a bit like maneuvering around a battleship in your local marina. It was, appropriately, haze gray, and I was under way at 2330 hours. I found my way to the Kadena Terminal just as the old man was coming out with his bags. I loaded them into the rear and opened his door and he, all the while reading message traffic and uttering low key comments got in the back and kept reading. We got on the road and out the gate and now I started sweating. Hoping I could backtrack back to the Base as I certainly didn't want to get lost with my package in the middle of the night. I was on a long stretch of empty road and things going well when the Col quietly asked.."Son.. you been here long?". "No, Sir.. only a few days." "Well, you know.. this is a big ole' American car.. and these Japanese streets are designed for smaller vehicles." I agreed.Still talking slow and low he then said ..'Well, just saying.. that if you hit something head on its going to be no contest... and you may well do that since.. they drive on the other side of the road here and you're on the American side.." AGHH! I swerved over to the left which then felt really strange since the steering wheel is there too... I had driven there correctly, but in my nervousness I had reverted to US driver after the pick up. I white knuckled it back to the Base without further incident...unless you want to count the butt chewing the Duty NCO and I got for me going on the road without the proper license, training, etc... Fun stuff though.

Response by PO3 Ben Wallace made Jan 7 at 2015 6:06 PM

2015-01-07T18:06:59-05:00

When we finished training in Gitmo,we went to St.Thomas for a week.We were the flagship for 2nd Fleet,and the Admiral was on board.One saturday morning I was getting ready to go ashore in the liberty boat and got a ride in the Admirals Barge instead.Man that was nice.Especially since I was a e-3.

Response by MAJ Jon Edmonson made Feb 4 at 2015 3:09 PM

2015-02-04T15:09:51-05:00

Normandy, we did 2 staff rides when I was assigned to the 1st Armored Division in Germany, one went to Normandy, the other went to the North Shoulder of the Battle of the Bulge. Both were excellent, but looking up from Omaha Beach to the high ground where the Cemetery is located was an unforgettable moment.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 9:49 AM

2015-04-23T09:49:57-04:00

I've had 4 great Staff Rides: 1st - Manassas Battlefield Park, Virginia (November 1988) as a young 2nd LT, assigned to the last class of Engineer Officer Basic Course, before they moved to Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Cold, snowy, wet - took care of the other troops that I had under my belt that day with a ruck filled with sandwiches and 2 thermos' full of hot tea and sugar.

2nd and 3rd - Wilson's Creek and Pea Ridge, Summer of 1994. Got to see how the Confederates and Union Soldiers maneuvered in the Ozark/Ouachita Mountains area of SW Missouri / NW Arkansas.

4th) - The Kall Trail, between the villages of Vossenack and Schmidt, Germany. The Kall (named after a small river) Trail was fought over during the Battle of the Huertgen Forest (Schlacht im der Huergtenwald). It's what the US 28th IN DIV advanced on in NOV 1944. They had received their orders from 1st US Army to seize the high-ground around the town of Schmidt, and don't give it back. They were also ensure that they Schwammenauel Dam was not destroyed. The trail itself in certain areas is 2 meters wide with a 9 - 15 degree of slope. In one area, where the M4 Shermans got stuck, there was rock formations of shale sticking out onto the trail, narrowing the area that the Shermans had to drive around. The extruding shale caused 2 M4 Shermans to slide off of the trail and over a cliff. Until the shale was broken with hand tools, the trail was closed for 24 hours. During that same 24 hour lull the M4s were pulled up over the edge cliff that they fell down.

Their opponents were the 116th 'Windhund' (Greyhound) Panzer Grenadier Division. The 28th instead of attacking on a scale of 3:1 or 4:1 attacked on a 1:1 ratio against a dug in Panzer Grenadier Division that had them under observation/under fire the entire time. Only the 112th Inf Regt managed to get to Schmidt. And they had catastrophic casualties (more than 40%). When the Germans counter-attacked the 112th basically retrograded to Vossensack. By 10 NOV 1944, the Battle for Schmidt had ended. The 82nd Airborne re-captured Schmidt in FEB 1945.

Response by SP5 Joel O'Brien made Apr 23 at 2015 1:04 PM

2015-04-23T13:04:36-04:00

Here's hoping this qualifies...
When there were visiting dignitaries to West Berlin, it was not uncommon to give them an overview of the city via a chopper ride around the perimeter of The Wall. One day, I'm doing my duty at my desk and the phone rings in the office. The Air Force MSGT asks me if I'd like to go on one of these jaunts with some visiting Brass. We quickly made transportation arrangements to get me out to Templehof Airbase and I took the one and only Army helicopter ride I've ever had.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 24 at 2015 8:51 PM

2015-04-24T20:51:10-04:00

We had a staff ride in Texas. That evening we had a government van and a keg. I did not know about the keg, and I prayed we did not get busted as the Army would have dropped kicked all 8 of us out.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Feb 11 at 2017 12:09 AM

2017-02-11T00:09:19-05:00

Our SQDN CDR took us to Ft Pulaski to learn about some history and leadership mentorship. Another one was in Atlanta to see Pickett's Mill battleground while I was at Ft Benning.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2017 8:29 PM

2017-09-05T20:29:48-04:00

Prior to deploying to Afghanistan, I was had the privilege of attending a staff ride to Montana to trace the phases leading up to the Battle of Little Big Horn. Learned quite a bit about its history and the difficulties of fighting an insurgency. Capped the night off with deep fried steaks and beer. Great experience.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2018 7:15 PM

2018-01-04T19:15:19-05:00

Battle of Springfield MO. Great group of muli-service and one Canadian.

Response by 1LT Peter Duston made Jan 19 at 2018 4:11 PM

2018-01-19T16:11:14-05:00

While on an exchange program with the German army, I had the weekend off and they assigned me a staff car and driver Who drove me back to Heilbronn where I had been stationed as a PFC 30 years before. The German staff car delivered me to the business of my German friend from 30 years before. They all came out to the side of the road to see the style that I had arrived in and laughed that I had gone from a rebellious young soldier to a respected senior leader.

Response by CPT Bruce Beattie made Apr 9 at 2018 11:26 PM

2018-04-09T23:26:41-04:00

Went to Gettysburg as a kid. Monuments, fields and old crap. Boring! Returned to Gettysburg after Vietnam and walked out into the fields where Pickett's charge took place. Thought to myself, what moron would send troops to attack across an open field like this? Walking back to the car, I overheard one of the docents explaining the difference between how a 19th century and a 20th century officer would evaluate the terrain. Bingo! The lights went on! Went to Little Round Top. One look at that terrain and it was "Thank God for LTC Chamberlain and the 20th Maine!" Staff rides might sound quaint but, they can be valuable tools!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2019 5:12 PM

2019-10-12T17:12:14-04:00

I remember a friend of mine getting a ride to post headquarters for not saluting the CG's car. Glad it was him and not me...lol