Military battlefield studies
Expert-led battlefield studies designed for serving military units, officers, NCOs and professional military education groups.
Battlefield Studies for Professional Military Development
B-Squadron, Royal Lancers. British Army
Our battlefield studies are designed for serving military personnel to examine historical operations and apply their lessons to the challenges faced by armed forces today.
Each study is built around clearly defined learning objectives and key themes. At each location, we establish the historical context before examining the decisions, terrain and operational challenges faced by those involved. Guided presentations and focused questions then encourage participants to analyse those decisions, challenge assumptions and relate the lessons of the battlefield to contemporary military practice.
Depending on your unit's objectives, studies can explore themes including command and control, mission command, manoeuvre, combined arms operations, sustainment, defensive and offensive operations, urban warfare, risk, leadership and adaptability.
Rather than simply being told what happened, participants are encouraged to study the ground, discuss the problems faced and consider what they would do in similar circumstances.
Historical Case Studies
Every battlefield study is built around the learning objectives of your unit. Germany and the battlefields of Central Europe provide a wide range of historical case studies through which to examine command, leadership and military operations.
Programmes can combine several locations or focus in depth on a particular campaign, battlefield or professional theme. Below are examples of the studies we can develop around your requirements.
Battle of Berlin
Examine the challenges of fighting in a dense urban environment during the final battle for Berlin. Using locations across the city, the study can explore the planning and conduct of urban operations and the challenges faced by attacking and defending forces.
Key themes:
Urban Operations
Command & Control
Combined Arms
Obstacle Crossing
Mission Command
Air Operations
Civil-Military Considerations
Seelow Heights
Follow the Soviet offensive from the Oder bridgeheads to the German defensive positions on the Seelow Heights. The battlefield provides an exceptional environment for examining large-scale offensive and defensive operations and the influence of terrain, logistics and command decisions on the conduct of battle.
Key themes:
Offensive & Defensive Operations
Command & Control
Manoeuvre
Combined Arms
Sustainment
Obstacle Crossing
Mission Command
Risk
Strategic Context & Post-Conflict Berlin
Use Berlin to examine the wider political and strategic consequences of conflict, from the collapse of Nazi Germany and Allied occupation to the Cold War and the division and eventual reunification of Germany.
Key themes:
Post-Conflict Reconstruction
Diplomacy
Great-Power Competition
Reconciliation
Escalation & De-escalation
How We Build Your Staff Ride
Built Around Your Learning Objectives
Every staff ride begins with your unit’s objectives. We work with you to identify the most relevant historical case studies, battlefield stands and professional themes for your group, tailoring the programme to your service, branch and level of command.
Preparation Before the Study
A successful battlefield study begins before arriving on the ground. We can work with your directing staff to provide historical context and supporting study material, helping participants understand the campaign and arrive prepared to engage with the key questions and learning objectives.
On the Ground
At each battlefield stand, we first establish the historical context and orient participants to the terrain, using maps, original sources and the landscape to reconstruct the events and decisions that shaped the battle.
From there, the emphasis shifts from what happened to why it happened and what can be learned from it. Working alongside the directing staff, we use focused questions and discussion to examine the tactical and operational problems faced by historical commanders and relate them to contemporary military practice.
PL.Comdr conducting stand
Reflect, Discuss, Apply
Participants are encouraged to analyse decisions, challenge assumptions and consider alternative courses of action. The aim is not simply to understand the history, but to use it as a framework for discussion around contemporary command, leadership and military operations.
Supporting Your Staff Ride
Beyond the battlefield study itself, we can help coordinate the practical elements of your programme, allowing your directing staff to focus on the learning objectives and the group.
OC, during terrain orientation
Included in the Study
Historical research and programme development
Battlefield maps and supporting materials
Coordination with your directing staff
On-site historical guidance and battlefield orientation
Additional Support Available
Group transport
Lunch arrangements
Accommodation coordination
Professional photography
Additional historical sites or study days
Plan Your Staff Ride
Every battlefield study begins with a conversation.
Tell us about your unit, preferred dates, group size and learning objectives. We’ll work with you to develop a programme around your requirements, from the historical case studies and battlefield stands to transport and practical arrangements.
If you already have specific training objectives or themes you would like to explore, include them below and we can incorporate them into the initial programme.