“No Mercy” Battalion Spearheads Aviation Modernization with Apache Helicopter Transfer
Story by Capt. Andrew Lightsey IV FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – 1-101 Attack Battalion (1-101st AB) “No Mercy” reached a milestone in Army Aviation Transformation by successfully transferring the first two AH-64E Apache Version 4 (v4). Helicopters to the 1-149th Attack Battalion (1-149th AB) of the Texas and Mississippi Army National Guards on Feb. 3, 2026. “It was a great experience watching the maintainers in our company work alongside our teammates in the National Guard,” said 1st Lt. Kamrin Rosling, a platoon leader in 1-101 AB. “The process went smoothly as Soldiers from the supply and maintenance sections came together to...
Learn MoreCorpus Christi Army Depot Launches First Organic Composite Blade Repair Program
Story by Kathleen “Kat” Pettaway-Clarke Corpus Christi Army Depot, Texas–The enduring fleet of the Army’s Blackhawk helicopter ensures a continuous workload for the Corpus Christi Army Depot in South Texas, particularly in the remanufacture of legacy platforms. In response to this sustained demand, CCAD has launched the first organic composite repair program for helicopter blades in the United States. Corpus Christi Army Depot Commander COL Kevin Considine said, “Composite blades aren’t going anywhere. CCAD is a very important part of the industrial mix, and the depot takes pride in our products.” This initiative is a critical component of the depot’s...
Learn More1 SOW, 160 SOAR (Airborne) Conduct Joint HAAR Exercise
U.S. Air Force pilots assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing fly an MC-130J Commando II during a joint helicopter air-to-air refueling exercise above the Southeastern United States, Jan. 23, 2026. HAAR serves to familiarize special operations for endurance flight missions that require a lethal, agile and forward-deployable force ready to defend the Nation at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isabel Tanner)
Learn MoreU.S. Army Best Drone Warrior Competition
The U.S. Army Best Drone Warrior Competition highlights the Army’s elite drone operators — trained to be lethal, adaptable, and ready for global operations — proving the readiness of our combat formations and emphasizing T2COM’s work to transform how the Army generates and delivers war-winning capability. The Aviation Center of Excellence is the Army’s hub for developing aviation warfighting capability — where aviators, aircrew, and unmanned aircraft operators are trained, tested, and prepared to operate in complex, contested environments worldwide. AVCOE integrates doctrine, training, leader development, and modernization to ensure aviation formations remain lethal, adaptive, and synchronized with multi-domain operations....
Learn MoreHappy New Year!
AAAA begins this new year in great shape with membership near record levels of over 20,000 members and our strongest ever financial balance sheet. The future also looks bright as we prepare for the rapidly approaching Army Aviation Warfighting Summit April 15-17, 2026 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville. By the time you read this I will have returned from visiting our Badger Chapter in Wisconsin for their annual ball and will have also attended the Aviation Senior Leaders Conference at Fort Rucker, AL. In many respects these two very different events show the breadth and depth of AAAA’s...
Learn More‘I’ve Got Him’- Missing Child Found Safe by Fort Rucker Soldiers
Story by Brittany Trumbull FORT RUCKER, Ala.– While away for military training, a Fort Rucker Soldier received the call that every parent fears – his son was missing. Hours later, a second call from a fellow soldier and friend brought three words of relief – “I’ve got him.” The Enterprise Police Department (EPD) responded to a report of a missing 9-year-old boy at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 27, 2026. Home surveillance video showed the child running into a wooded area after being dropped off by a school bus, according to the EPD media release. Shortly after seeing the notice...
Learn MoreT2COM CG Highlights Transformation at Fort Rucker’s Aviation Leaders Forum
Story by Kelly Morris The commanding general of U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command, Gen. David M. Hodne spoke to Army Aviation leaders gathered for the Aviation Senior Leader Forum at Fort Rucker on Jan. 26. The previous day, he toured the installation’s facilities and talked with Soldiers and leaders. The tour included a stop at the MV-75 prototype simulator, the Aviation Captain’s Career Course where he spoke with students about their current challenges and the direction the Army is headed, and an orientation flight in the UH-72 Lakota helicopter. “It’s great to get back to the home of Army...
Learn MoreActivation of Foxtrot Company, 1st Attack Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade
FORT RILEY, Kan. -Soldiers and families from the 1stInfantry Division Combat Aviation Brigade gathered during a ceremony to mark the activation of Foxtrot Troop, 1st Attack Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade on January 23, 2026. The Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System – Launched Effects (TUAS-LE) unit introduces advanced technology to the 1st Infantry Division, signifying a new chapter in Army aviation. “Standing up a new unit is a significant moment,” said Army Cpt. Paul Shorkey-Chacon, company commander. “We’re here to activate a Troop that will push the Army forward. But as we look forward, we also need to acknowledge the legacy...
Learn MoreOne Last Flight: Aviation Unit Delivers WWII PBY “Catalina” To Its Forever Home
Story by Joseph Siemandel A story, years in the making, came to an end for the city of Oak Harbor when a CH-47 Chinook air crew from the Washington Army National Guard air lifted a World War II-era PBY-5a bomber from downtown Oak Harbor to the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum on January 21, 2026. “This event marks a proud and memorable milestone not only for the PNW Naval Air Museum but also for the many volunteers, agencies, and government officials whose dedication and perseverance made it possible,” said Barry Meldrum, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum....
Learn MoreFour Decades, One Legacy: The Rademacher Family’s Generational Service
Story by Staff Sgt. Robert Whitlow CLAY NATIONAL GUARD CENTER, Ga. – Master Sgt. Jerome “Jay” Rademacher’s military journey began in 1984, long before many of today’s Soldiers were born. On Dec. 7, 2025, surrounded by family, friends, and fellow Soldiers, he closed out more than 40 years in uniform at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Marietta, Georgia. Before his retirement ceremony began, the focus was on a new beginning. Rademacher’s youngest son, Nathan, raised his right hand and took the oath of office, joining his father and two brothers in the ranks of those who wear the nation’s...
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