A Leader’s Guide to Conducting Research Staff Rides

The student conducts research during the preliminary study phase and then briefs the stand during the field study phase, while the instructor mentors the student and helps facilitate the discussion and deep reflection in the field. [...] Assign the logistics to a staff member or student; a single person cannot plan and execute the content of the staff ride and the logistics at the same time. [...] Preliminary Study Phase The Army’s official staff ride guide states, “The purpose of the preliminary study phase is to prepare the student for the visit to the site of the selected campaign.”44 The preliminary study phase prepares the students though a mix of lectures, individual study, and group discussion. [...] Typically, we like to have class for three to four hours in the morning and provide the students the rest of the day to read for the next day’s lessons and to conduct research for their assigned stand(s) and character(s). [...] Field Study Phase The field study phase of a staff ride is “designed to visit all significant sites associated either with the selected campaign or with the portion emphasized in preliminary study.”46 For a research staff ride, this is also the phase where the bulk of the research is conducted.