Fully Integrated Army Aviation Sustainment and Maintenance Capability
Branch Chief’s Corner / By MG David J. Francis: Army Aviation remains an expeditionary force and a dynamic option for maneuver commanders at all echelons We organize, man, train, and equip our organizations to deploy anywhere in the world, at any time, in any environment, against any adversary, to accomplish its assigned mission. Essential to our expeditionary nature is sustainment and support that is suitable for the mission and the environment. SSG Odale Bell performs post-flight maintenance checks on a CH-47 during Defender Europe in Bulgaria, April 30, 2021. Shifting Focus Over the past 20 years, our focus was on...
Learn MoreModernizing Our Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Branch Chief’s Corner / By MG David J. Francis: The next version of FM 3.0, to be published next summer, identifies the Division as the unit of action in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO). The Combat Aviation Brigade is one of the most lethal and flexible tools the Division Commander has to shape the deep fight, synchronize the close fight and manage transition. Army Aviation will play a significant role in synchronizing the execution of reconnaissance and security for combined arms forces. The ability to gain and maintain enemy contact, report rapidly and accurately, and provide reaction time and maneuver...
Learn MoreOur Youth Share Their COVID Challenges
Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: Life during COVID had a profound impact on our youth, and some have willingly shared their experiences with reflections, along with those in last month’s Family Forum. Hopefully the joy arising from lifting the restrictions is not short lived, and our youth will be able to look back on how they successfully stepped up to their challenges. Bennett Solomon (19) Presidio of Monterey: “I had only lived in Monterey for 9 months when lock down began. We were quarantined off/on for over a year with the last day of in person school March 15,...
Learn MoreWe Have One Another
Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer and and Chaplain COL(Ret.) Alvin M. “Sonny” Moore III: Have you ever had a moment when happy memories flooded your psyche? It happened on a sunny Friday afternoon when our daughter-in-law Laura McCabe Konitzer and son Tom Jr. called to say hi while enroute to Laura’s good friend Tracy Moore Ray and husband COL Mark Ray’s retirement ceremony at Fort Bragg, NC. After 25 years of illustrious service to our nation, the Rays were entering a new chapter in their lives, and our children were there to help them celebrate. Photo by Rene V....
Learn MoreDr. S. Harry Robertson III, the Father of the Crashworthy Fuel System
Dr. S. Harry Robertson III, the Father of the Crashworthy Fuel System Dr. S. Harry Robertson III recently passed away, a monumental loss to Army Aviation. He is personally responsible for saving the lives of more than 8000 Army servicemen and women. The technology he pioneered has flown on every Army Helicopter series since its invention and continues to serve or Army Aviation Soldiers around the world to this day. He was acclaimed in the Aviation industry as responsible for inventing the crashworthy fuel system. He was not only a pioneer in his field, but he also gave back to...
Learn MoreOn the Go at Full Throttle
President’s Cockpit / MG Tim Crosby, U.S. Army Retired: By the time you read this I will have already visited with the leadership of over a dozen AAAA chapters. MG (Ret.) Tim Crosby addresses attendees at the 60th Birthday Celebration of the Lindbergh Chapter in St. Louis, MO following the induction of chapter president, Mr. Dave Weller, into the Gold Honorable Order of St. Michael on June 5, 2021. See page 45 for more photos and info. / LINDBERGH CHAPTER COURTESY PHOTO As I mentioned last month, my goal is to personally engage on site with all 78 chapters to...
Learn MoreScholarship Deadlines Moved! Suspense – December 15
President’s Cockpit / MG Tim Crosby, U.S. Army Retired: s I mentioned in my previous article, I have been focusing my attention on our diverse chapters, visiting as many as possible (up to 15 now), and seeking their counsel and ideas. Photo: During a July 15, 2021 visit to the Jack Dibrell Alamo Chapter, AAAA National President, MG (Ret.) Tim Crosby (left) and chapter president, COL Robert Guevara, posthumously inducted CW3 (Ret.) Alfred Cargen into the Gold Honorable Order of St. Michael for his decades long work in Army Aviation accident prevention. Accepting the induction are his widow, Katie Cargen, and...
Learn MoreHeading 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...
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