Photo By Pfc. Emily White | Oklahoma Army National Guard Officer Candidate School officer candidates and cadre...... read more read more
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GETTYSBURG, Pa. — Officer candidates and cadre members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s Officer Candidate School, explored the Gettysburg National Military Park March 13-14 as part of their leadership-focused staff ride. The officer candidates selected the historic battlefield to have the opportunity to learn from the strategic decisions made during the Battle of Gettysburg.
The Gettysburg staff ride taught the officer candidates valuable lessons on leadership by looking at the past failures and accomplishments of some of the most prominent leaders in American history. Officer candidate Jermaine Holmes, said the choices made during this era are still relevant learning experiences today.
“I know I would not have a lot of the opportunities that I have today if it wasn’t for the Battle of Gettysburg,” Holmes said. “I think us being here, with our feet on the ground, being able to walk through what they’ve been through … it is truly an emotional experience.”
The process of getting the Gettysburg staff ride approved began with the officer candidates presenting their trip plan to their chain of command. Following the approval of the Gettysburg trip, the candidates spent time researching and reading about the historic battle grounds and immersed themselves in the experience.
“For this mission in the past the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s Officer Candidate School has stayed closer to home for their staff rides, but we shot for the moon with Gettysburg,” said officer candidate Walker Milligan. “We wanted to build the best learning experience we could.”
Officer candidate Lauren Olsen, said staff rides to historic places like Gettysburg are much deeper learning experiences than just looking at monuments.
“Gettysburg has been one of the most influential staff rides that I have ever been on,” Olsen said. “What stuck out to me was the emphasis the [tour] guide put on emotional intelligence in good leaders and how you can take care of your Soldiers in that way.”
Licensed battlefield guide and retired Air Force Col. Fred Weiners, led the group around the park. Weiners, who began studying the Civil War at a young age, said he applied his Civil War knowledge to his military career and everyday life.
“We can learn so many lessons of leadership and followership from Gettysburg,” said Weiners. “We can learn lessons that are current today, for example our current politics, America seems so divided, but you have no idea how divided America can be until you look into the Civil War.”
| Date Taken: | 03.15.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 03.18.2020 08:48 |
| Story ID: | 365271 |
| Location: | GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 57 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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