Heading Into A Very Busy End of the Year
President’s Cockpit / MG Tim Crosby, U.S. Army Retired: We are rapidly closing in on the end of the year and a lot is going on as we start the ramp up to our busiest few months culminating in the Spring with the AAAA Annual Summit in Nashville. Photo: CSM G. Mike Dove, is inducted into the Gold Honorable Order of St. Michael by AAAA National President, MG Tim Crosby, Ret. and U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command Commanding General, MG Todd Royar on Aug. 13, 2021 at Redstone Arsenal, AL. Dove was recognized for his more than 27 years...
Learn MoreGetting the Mission Done!
President’s Cockpit / MG Tim Crosby, U.S. Army Retired: By the time you read this we will have held our first live and in-person event in exactly two years. The Joseph P. Cribbins Training, Equipping and Sustainment Symposium was held on November 15-17 in Huntsville, AL, and as of this writing we have had a record registration of over 1,200 attendees. In addition, the support from our industry member partners has been truly outstanding and represents a growth this year of over 500% from the past Cribbins events. This symposium has now grown to be second only to the April...
Learn MoreBlue Star Families Empowering Military Families
Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: I am not sure how many of our readers are familiar with Blue Star Families, a non- profit organization created in 2009. However, over the years this organization has made great strides in supporting military families by identifying the most important challenges and issues facing our community. They have made recommendations and initiated necessary policy shifts to DoD, Congress, and local government, as well as guidance to business partners and non-profit organizations on how to best support them. The Anderson-Abruzzo Albequerque International Balloon Museum is one of over 2,000 museums, zoos, and nature centers...
Learn MoreTeaching Spouses G.R.I.T.
Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: Our Night Stalker Creed says that “Service in the 160th is a calling only a few will answer, for the mission is constantly demanding and hard. And when the impossible has been accomplished the only reward is another mission that no one else will try.” We invest heavily in our Night Stalkers to ensure that they have the training, equipment, resources, and support that they need. We believe that investing in our Night Stalker families is a critical component of ensuring that our families remain resilient as they enable our Night Stalkers to accomplish...
Learn MoreTactical Aviation and Ground Munitions Project Office (TAGM) Update
Arming the Force / By COL Chris Snipes: Over the past year the Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space completed realignment and declared Full Operational Capability to focus efforts into an Integrated Fires focus set of capabilities providing Joint Multi-Domain solutions to the Warfighters. Upon successful integration between the Joint Attack Munition Systems (JAMS) and the Close Combat Weapons System (CCWS) Project Offices to create TAGM, COL David Warnick, now retired, and COL Chris Snipes executed a Change of Charter in August 2020. The TAGM Project Office remains a Product-Focused, Functionally Aligned organization. As such, the TAGM Project Office has...
Learn MoreTactical Aviation and Ground Munitions Project Office (TAGM) Update
Arming the Force / By COL Chris Snipes: Over the past year the Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space completed realignment and declared Full Operational Capability to focus efforts into an Integrated Fires focus set of capabilities providing Joint Multi-Domain solutions to the Warfighters. Upon successful integration between the Joint Attack Munition Systems (JAMS) and the Close Combat Weapons System (CCWS) Project Offices to create TAGM, COL David Warnick, now retired, and COL Chris Snipes executed a Change of Charter in August 2020. The TAGM Project Office remains a Product-Focused, Functionally Aligned organization. As such, the TAGM Project Office has...
Learn MoreTraining and Validation – Expanding Competitive Space
Special Operations Aviation / By MAJ Mike Kinsel: With the reduction of troop numbers and combat operations in the Counter Terrorism/Violent Extremism (CT/VEO) campaign, the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC) seeks to maintain lethality and flexibility by placing greater emphasis on stateside training to address Great Power Competition (GPC). Specifically, the focus has evolved to address those concerns that deal with a peer or near-peer adversary. Achieving multi-domain dominance across the future competition spectrum is not guaranteed and requires a deeper look and more focused efforts. Flying every hour with purpose, the ARSOA enterprise is leaning forward on tomorrow’s...
Learn MorePregnancy in Aviation
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By MAJ (Dr.) Douglas R. Hogoboom and Dr. Michael T. Acromite: Q: Hey doc, I am considering becoming pregnant. How would pregnancy affect my flight status? Photo: Army.mil FS: First of all, thank you for a very important question. Many pregnant women have safely flown during pregnancy, but there are risks that must be considered. The aviation environment presents various exposure risks (noise, vibration, temperature changes, decreased oxygen, G-forces, toxic gases, etc.). These environmental changes are known to affect the mother and baby, but the extent of adverse effects remain uncertain. This uncertainty stems from research...
Learn MoreUSASOAC Culture – A Decade in the Making
USASOAC Command Chief Warrant Officer / By CW5 David F. Greenwood: The U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC) turns 10 this year. Many may simply view USASOAC as the higher headquarters of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) (SOAR [ABN]). However, as the Title 10 headquarters, USASOAC plays a supporting role to the Regiment’s commander. A 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) MH-6 Little Bird helicopter delivers Soldiers into an urban environment under the coverof night. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY JEFF RANKHORN, TNG. DEVELOPMENT & SPT. CELL In recognition of this anniversary, the USASOAC commander directed a...
Learn MoreUnited States Army Special Operations Command Army SOF Update
This Is Your Army! / By LTG Fran Beaudette and CSM Marc Eckard: In a year marked by uncertainty and adversity, Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) adapted and persevered in unprecedented ways to fulfill our unwavering obligation to defend the Nation. Army Special Operations Aviation meets the needs of the operator on the ground. / ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF USASOAC PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE Army Special Operations Forces provide more than 53 percent of the Nation’s Special Operations Forces and consistently fill over 64 percent of all United States SOF deployments worldwide. We deploy for purpose to strengthen partners and allies,...
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