Evaluating an all-ranks military staff ride.

Abstract

Outcomes for a staff ride to a Missouri Civil War battlefield by enlisted personnel and officers of the Army Reserve were evaluated. As expected, enlisted personnel and junior officers were much less likely to have participated in a staff ride previously. Nearly all soldiers expressed an interest in going on another all-ranks staff ride, and a statistically significant gain was achieved in expressed interest in American Civil War history. Most personnel agreed or strongly agreed with the concept of an all-ranks staff ride. There were few differences among officers and enlisted personnel in the success of the outcomes evaluated. However, learning seemed to be maximal among those with an intermediate level of previous staff ride experience.