Photo By 1st Lt. Lindsey Foulk | U.S. Soldiers with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 166th Regiment Regional...... read more read more
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The hallowed grounds of Gettysburg National Military Park tell stories. Stories of struggle, triumph, wins and losses. And these stories are still used as teaching tools to this day.
For soldiers with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 166th Regiment Regional Training Institute, those lessons came in droves during their staff ride to the battlefield. Lessons that can only be taught by experiencing the very place the Union met the Confederacy and fought a bloody battle that changed the course of history forever.
But to explore the extensive past of Gettysburg and all its intricacies, the 166th RTI employed the help of historians from the Army Center of Military History—Jonathan Bratten and Aaron Heft.
Bratten and Heft, with a combined 14 years of historian experience, focus on staff rides, field programs, and lineage and honors. The two took the group through various places on the battlefield, talking through maps and different visual aids, leading group discussions and asking questions to stir thought.
During the staff ride, many Pennsylvania Army National Guard units were highlighted, and though the methodologies and ways the Guard fights now are vastly different than in 1863, the foundational approach to battle was laid during the days of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Staff Rides still remain an important approach to teaching leadership and military tactics, and are a way to study and analyze the decisions and strategic approaches made by the commanding officers and their subordinates.
Col. Robert Jorgensen, commander of the 166th RTI, believes that staff rides are a critical part of unit training.
“Staff rides give soldiers a sense of the hardships that soldiers just like them endured during the Civil War, and think about the way things are different today,” said Jorgensen. “We’ve advanced and have the benefit of technology and improved doctrine, but if you have an appreciation for the experiences they had back then, it makes you a better soldier.”
The battlefield terrain, marked with memorials and plaques, offers a tangible representation of the challenges faced by the soldiers. It encourages soldiers to reflect on the importance of adaptability, leadership, and the ability to make critical decisions under intense pressure.
“Even though a lot of things have changed, it always goes back to the actions of the individual soldier and the courage they show,” said Jorgensen.
The resilience and determination exhibited by soldiers on both sides should inspire soldiers to overcome challenges and persevere in the face of adversity. Moreover, Gettysburg is a reminder that the consequences of our actions extend far beyond ourselves, affecting the lives of those around us and future generations.
Maj. Jason Manotti, the 166th RTI's operations officer, addressed the group near Pickett’s Charge at the end of the day, as the sun began to creep low in the sky.
“Doing this helps us learn the lessons from the past and apply them to the future," said Manotti.
And as the soldiers of the 166th RTI headed back to the big white bus, chattering about the day’s activities, lessons learned and leadership realized, the hope is that they carry these lessons, the lineage, and the pride back to other soldiers in the Pennsylvania National Guard, and keep the tradition and spirit alive.
| Date Taken: | 06.10.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 06.13.2023 11:06 |
| Story ID: | 446684 |
| Location: | GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 109 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, A Journey Through History: 166th Regiment HHC Visits Gettysburg National Military Park for Staff Ride, by 1LT Lindsey Foulk, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
United States Army
Army National Guard
