Logo: to the web site of the Swedish Defence University

This essay analyses how students translate theoretical warfare into practical action during a staff ride. Through case studies, at the actual location, in a real or fictitious scenario, students can apply theoretical knowledge about principles of warfare to practical situations. Discussion of the outcomes of different examples on the actual terrain allows a comparison of contemporary tactics and contemporary technology. The terrain is still there, albeit perhaps altered and, although the military geography’s character shifts, it is consistent. Therefore, one can compare the contemporary tactical and technical conditions with the practical conditions of the present, and draw conclusions that are relevant to modern tactics. Thus, one can learn from the historical context through staff rides as a teaching method. The essay is about the teaching situation and the method that students are exposed to during a staff ride, and how theories of warfare relate to and are used in the practical implementation of a staff ride.