Massachusetts Army and Air Guard officers unite through lessons learned at Saratoga
By Capt. Dave R. Powers and Cadet Meghan G. Drysdale, MAARNG
SARATOGA, N.Y. — Vast rolling fields and winding roads in upstate New York echo stories of both hardship and triumph, where leadership decisions helped shape the outcome of the American Revolution. This year, 26 officers from the Massachusetts Army and Air National Guard traveled to Saratoga for an officer professional development staff ride, where they studied the decisive 1777 battle and examined the leadership lessons that remain relevant today.
The group, representing a wide range of units across the Guard, set aside rank and evaluation. Instead, the weekend emphasized learning in an informal, out-of-uniform environment. The goal: guided history and leadership lessons, coupled with opportunities to build connections among officers who might otherwise only meet during activations or deployments.
Brig. Gen. (MA) Tom Stewart (RET) and Brig. Gen. (MA) John Driscoll (RET) opened the event by highlighting the importance of integrating Army and Air Guard officers earlier in their careers. “Usually, they don’t interact until they’re all majors,” Stewart said. “But here we’re doing it when they are captains and first lieutenants.” The aim, they noted, is interoperability—building cooperative and collaborative environments where leaders can rely on one another in future state or federal missions.
On day one, participants visited the New York State Military Museum, where the curator explained how the Guard’s legacy continues to shape modern service. Dr. Glen Williams, retired Army infantry officer, public historian, and author of multiple books, led briefings on the key leaders at Saratoga, emphasizing their leadership styles and critical decision points. He also outlined the campaign’s strategic context and the tactics employed in the battle. Practical exercises included mock interviews, with general officers portraying figures such as Benedict Arnold in scenarios set in the days leading up to the engagement. On the final day, Dr. Williams guided a tour of Saratoga National Historical Park, where participants walked the battlefield’s key terrain and received expert analysis with clear relevance to modern-day leadership challenges.
Benedict Arnold was examined from multiple perspectives, reflecting a career that spanned celebrated heroism and, later, treason. Before his name became synonymous with betrayal, he was lauded for his actions at Saratoga, leading from the front and inspiring his men. Yet his achievements were often minimized by superiors who claimed credit, fueling his disillusionment and, ultimately, his decision to defect. That frustration, Stewart noted, fueled Arnold’s disillusionment and eventual betrayal.
Stewart used Arnold’s story to highlight the dangers of poor recognition and poor communication. “Regulate your passion and learn to engage in the emotionless argument—be better than Benedict Arnold,” he told the group. “How do you make someone feel when they walk away from a conversation, uplifted, motivated, inspired?” Subsequent discussions reinforced a central theme: leaders must motivate their teams, manage relationships with higher headquarters, and build trust early to prevent the kind of command friction seen between Arnold and Gates at Saratoga.
With that focus on trust and communication, Stewart underscored the seminar’s networking value, noting, “During this officer professional development seminar, soldiers get to meet each other well ahead in their careers,” Stewart said. “So when they’re responding to a state emergency, that won’t be the first time they interact.”
Capt. Jerome Pizzelli, commander of Forward Support Company, 101st Engineer Battalion, echoed that sentiment. “The OPD is a great way to learn from past leaders, whether from the Revolutionary War or from the cadre,” he said. “It provides an excellent opportunity to see different ways of leading and reflect on how these lessons can better you in your current and future assignments. It was also a great opportunity to meet and connect with fellow company grade officers across the Mass Guard, fostering camaraderie and mutual support.”
Pizzelli said the officers left Saratoga with a renewed appreciation for the past and a stronger foundation for the future. By learning from history’s failures and successes, he added, they aim to build a Guard that is more connected, resilient, and interoperable.
For more on the Battle of Saratoga, visit www.saratogahistory.org or explore the New York
State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs.
