Cardiovascular Disease
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By CPT Karl Swinson, MD, MPH: Q: I am a male 39-year-old active duty UH-60 pilot.My time in service is 17 years, and I anticipate transitioning to civilian aviation once I retire. I am in excellent health and have no waivers. I do not drink or smoke, and I take no medications. My father had coronary artery disease diagnosed at 62. I was worried when I heard that I will be screened for cardiovascular disease at my next flight physical. What does that mean? FS: Cardiovascular events are the single largest risk factor for...
Learn MoreAviation Warrant Officer Transformation
Branch Chief’s Corner / By MG David J. Francis: Leader development is the most important thing we do, and we do it better than any Army in the world. We find ourselves at a significant inflection point in our Army, one that requires us to change the way we develop leaders to be prepared for the future challenges of large scale combat operations (LSCO). And, in Army Aviation, we are beginning that change with our Warrant Officer Corps. U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers with Det. 1, Company B, 2-238th General Support Aviation Battalion, South Carolina National Guard, complete their gunnery...
Learn MoreTransforming Today to Meet Tomorrow’s Challenges
Branch Chief’s Corner / By MG David J. Francis: Army Aviation continues to demonstrate to our nation the resilience and inherent flexibility we possess across our branch. This past year was one of shared challenges and significant progress with an unprecedented unity of effort across the Army Aviation enterprise. Our aviation leaders across all three components kept the momentum through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, unprecedented social unrest, and the demands around the world for aviation capabilities. Throughout this tumultuous year, we implemented initiatives that will prepare our aviators for Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO). Given the...
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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