Applied History

Tips for Training Troops

By LT COL M.W. WHITCHURCH, BRITISH ARMY

Article published on: June 29, 2024 in the Summer 2024 E-Edition

Read Time: < 5 mins

“Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others.”
–Otto Von Bismarck

This short article is a reaction to MAJ Shameek De Lancy’s important case for the study of military history that appeared in the Winter 2023-2024 issue of Infantry.¹ We know the better troops train the less they bleed in war. But how do we learn from military history and use it to train for war? Here are some proven tips for ways leaders can incorporate the study of military history into unit training. They have served me well and continue to be of use.

Tip 1 — Use directed readings with discussion.

Infantry in Battle is an excellent resource. This book, which is available online from Army University Press, is composed of a collection of highly instructive examples of infantry fighting from several armies during World War 1.² It is concise, backed with good maps and superb analysis.

How to use: Select one case and have Soldiers read it; when complete, they can then answer designated questions which will then be discussed during an organized discussion — the more participation, the better.

An example: Go to Chapter 17, “Fire of Machine Guns.” Invite Soldiers to study examples 1 and 3 along with the conclusion. Give them 40 minutes to read and discuss in small groups, tackling these simple questions:

1. Identify one good lesson from these examples.
2. What were the reasons for the attacker’s success in this battle?

When the 40 minutes are up, bring the small groups together for discussion. Ask the small groups to each offer their answers. Decide how to develop the discussion based on what lessons you want Soldiers to take away.

Points to watch: Organize your class into small groups of three or four Soldiers. See that all have a chance to speak. Embed the maps into Powerpoint slides and require the groups to reference them as they provide their answers. (Use laser pointers!) Also watch the time as it often goes too quickly. You could ask Soldiers to read the examples before your class; however, there may be challenges with this as some will not complete the reading ahead of time. It’s best to allot 25 minutes to complete the reading, 15 minutes for small group discussion, and then 20 minutes for discussion with the entire group.

Tip 2 — Utilize online video-sharing platforms such as YouTube.

In many ways this tip is similar to the first. The idea is for the class to watch a clip from a movie and discuss. As with the previous tip, after watching the clip, Soldiers should be organized into small groups to prepare answers to designated questions.

How to use: Introduce the lesson and goals, explain the questions, allow small groups to identify their answers, and then confirm during a class discussion.

An example: Watch Colonel Joshua Chamberlain’s speech from the 1993 movie Gettysburg where he persuades Soldiers from another battalion to fight with his regiment; a clip can easily be found on YouTube.3 Questions for this selection could include:

Conclusion

Although untested in the contemporary operational environment, Operation Overlord provides a historical example that supports the Army’s shift in operating concept. The operation’s overwhelming success as a joint, multinational, multidomain operation proves the viability of the Army’s MDO concept to achieving victory on future battlefields. The MDO principle of unified action is essential to synchronizing and integrating the efforts and capabilities of the joint and multinational force. Joint operations provide a relative advantage for the friendly force by enabling the exploitation of capabilities across multiple domains, and multinational operations provide the capabilities, resources, and international legitimacy required to defeat peer adversaries.³¹ The tenets of MDO, such as agility and convergence, improve the likelihood of success by creating opportunities for the friendly force to exploit. Finally, the MDO imperatives outline critical actions that ensure operational success.³² Ultimately, the Allies’ success on the beaches of Normandy provides a blueprint for victory in MDO against peer adversaries.

Notes