Applications are now open for the 2026 AGS International Staff Ride.
Over spring break, participating students will have the chance to study the French resistance in Paris, Lyon, and Vichy. The trip will depart on March 8 and return on March 15.
To apply, fill out the application form no later than Wednesday, October 15 at 11:59pm.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
Duke students are encouraged to apply regardless of program of study, year, or prior involvement with AGS. We are looking for undergraduate and graduate students interested in and willing to participate in an exciting learning exercise on World War II, focusing on the French resistance. No specific expertise or prior knowledge is required.
WHAT IS A STAFF RIDE?
A staff ride differs from a guided battlefield tour in two respects. First, it is an educational technique to study strategy and decisionmaking. In a staff ride, participants ask the questions: “What happened?” “Why?” “With what result?” but then press further: “Did this commander make the right decision at this juncture?” “How would I have acted in his place?” “Should he have made a different decision given the information he had?” It is, to use an unpopular term, a judgmental exercise, and often a counterfactual one. Second, a staff ride requires active participation. The challenge and reward of this activity lies in its character as a collective effort, and its success rests on the preparation, interest, and commitment of the participants themselves. The staff ride director serves as a moderator or a seminar leader, and only in the last resort as a subject matter expert. What makes a staff ride particularly stimulating is that they are group exercises, in which we examine many aspects of command and management. To that end each participant takes a turn giving a short talk, in most cases playing the role of one of the main participants in the battle and is questioned by his or her colleagues about that participant’s view of what has transpired on the battlefield.
Through the staff ride, students will research and come to understand the French resistance and its place within the broader history of World War II. We will visit major sites and explore the perspectives of key individuals, including resistance leaders, allied politicians, and more. The staff ride also offers a unique opportunity to meet other students and network with others involved in AGS, including faculty, alumni, and fellows in the Counterterrorism and Public Policy Fellows program.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU APPLY
Selected participants will be expected to pay $1,200 to defray the costs of participation. AGS will handle all logistical arrangements for the group, including transatlantic travel, accommodation, and most meals. Students are expected to travel with the group to and from Duke. Students will be responsible for any additional expenses outside incurred outside the formal staff ride programming. Students in need of additional financial assistance should submit a separate form; requests for financial assistance are treated as confidential and will not be considered as part of the selection process.
Students selected to participate will be responsible for ensuring all required travel documentation is up to date. This includes valid passports and visas as needed.
QUESTIONS?
Contact student leads Trevor Darr (trevor.darr@duke.edu) and Ansley Marsh (ansley.marsh@duke.edu).
Alumni interested in attending should send an email to agsp@duke.edu.