Taking Off Into 2021!
President’s Cockpit / By MG Jeff Schloesser, U.S. Army Retired: It is finally 2021! Like most of you, I have been looking forward to a new year for many months. Always an optimist, I hope that this new year brings all of us health, prosperity, and the ability to continue to support Army Aviation in the best possible manner. Army CH-47 Chinook crew members assigned to the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, Joint Task Force-Bravo, sanitize after transporting a pregnant COVID-positive patient in Guatemala City, Guatemala Nov. 27, 2020./JOINT TASK FORCE BRAVO PHOTO BY AIR FORCE SSGT. ELIJAIH TIGGS That...
Learn MoreRecap from the AUSA 2020 Annual Meeting
AAAA Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: I normally get to attend Family Forum events at this meeting in Washington, DC, but this year I attended them from my home because it was “virtual.”It was held on October 13-16 and you can view presentations “On Demand” at AUSA.org, then link to Meetings and Events. The GEN Creighton W. Abrams Medal for exceptional service to the U.S. Army was awarded to GEN (Ret.) Richard and Vicki Cody at the 2020 AUSA Annual Meeting held “virtually” on October13-16 in Washington DC. / PHOTO BY KIMBERLY CODY AUSA presented National Awards honoring individuals...
Learn MoreQ Fever
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By MAJ (Dr.) Sara B. Snyder: Q: I am about to deploy to the Middle East, and I heard that there was a risk of getting something called Q fever. What exactly is Q fever, and should I be concerned? Dr. (Col.) Michael Zapor, a staph infectious diseases physician at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, treats Afghans during his tour there as a battalion surgeon with the 82nd Airborne Division. / army.mil FS: Coxiella burnetii, the bacteria that causes Q fever, is found worldwide and often finds a host in farm animals, especially goats,...
Learn MoreAirworthiness Qualification of UAS with Swarming Applications
Tech Talk / By Jeremy Rimmer and Robert Helton: Imagine walking through your neighborhood, looking into the distant sky, and seeing hundreds of small specks coming your way as a sharp buzz sound gradually grows louder and louder. Drone Swarm/SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO BY ANDY DEAN PHOTOGRAPHY You keep staring, mesmerized, until they are almost on top of you. That is when you realize that they are a swarm of drones. By this time, it is too late for you to react if this is an adversary force. As it has been so often in the past with the evolution of Unmanned...
Learn MoreNCO Feedback Vital To Capability Development
Sergeant Major of the Program Executive Office Aviation / By SGM R. Woody Sullivan: The project management offices across Program Executive Office Aviation support aviators in the field with the development, design, delivery and support of all aviation systems and subsystems across the U.S. Army. PFC Kenneth Duncan, an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Repairer (15E) assigned to Delta Company, 82nd Aviation Regiment in the Middle East performs a post flight maintenance check on an unmanned aircraft system, Gray Eagle, on May 3, 2020./ U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY SGT SYDNEY MARIETTE, 34TH EXP. CBT. AVN. BDE. They are staffed with officers, civilians,...
Learn MoreNew Norms for Mission Execution
PEO Aviation Command Chief Warrant Officer Update / By CW5 Travis Dixon: As with the rest of the nation, Program Executive Office Aviation has been challenged by the impact of COVID -19 across our operations. Pilots from the 1-229th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, train on the newest version of the Apache AH-64 helicopter as part of the certification process to fly the version 6 Apache aircraft./ U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY CH (CPT) JOSHUA HUGHES, 1-229 ARB The PEO, BG Rob Barrie, responded to the rapidly changing environment and implemented the measures necessary for safe and...
Learn MoreModernization Priorities
Army Aviation Branch Chief’s Corner / By MG David J. Francis: Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) significantly increase the demand for the enduring, first order capabilities of Army Aviation; ‘See’ (reconnaissance and security), ‘Move’ (air assault, air movement and aeromedical evacuation), and ‘Strike’ (close support and interdiction). MG David Francis, commanding general of the Army Aviation Center of Excellence (in aircraft right seat) adjusts his helmet in preparation for a flight demonstration of the Degraded Visual Environment Pilotage System (DVEPS) by CW5 Adam Jarvis of the Systems Integration and Management Office, U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command at Fort Campbell,...
Learn MoreOn the Move!
President’s Cockpit / By MG Jeff Schloesser, U.S. Army Retired: As I begin writing this “Cockpit” for our December issue of ARMY AVIATION, we have reluctantly just made the decision to cancel our Joseph P. Cribbins Symposium scheduled January 20-22, 2021 in Huntsville, Alabama. MG Jami C. Shawley assumed command of the Army Reserve’s 81st Readiness Division (RD) headquartered at Fort Jackson, Columbia, SC during a “virtual” ceremony Nov. 14. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO After consulting with our medical experts as well as Army Aviation Branch Chief MG Dave Francis, Bill Harris and I decided we could not safely hold...
Learn MoreSharing the Gratitude for 2020 AAAA Scholarships
Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: This year AAAA awarded 313 Scholarships totaling $537,000 to deserving students, spouses, and Soldiers. Many showed their appreciation with thank you notes, and I want to share some excerpts from a few who captured the essence and gratitude of all for these awards, AAAA, and military life as well. Lorie A. Hanna (Lawrence ‘Larry’ D. Bell Memorial Scholarship)My husband is celebrating 20 years of service in the TX Army Aviation National Guard. Other than motherhood, being a military spouse has been the greatest honor of my life. I have met true patriots, selfless heroes,...
Learn MoreArmy Air Traffic Controllers Support Operations in East Africa
Air Traffic Services / By LTC Keith A. Haskin: October 2019 marked the beginning of a now-enduring capability as the Army assumed responsibilities of airfield management and air traffic control support to multiple airfields within the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) area of operations. The deployment of 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment (Airfield Operations Battalion (AOB)) into this area of operations initiated a cycle of Active Duty and National Guard forces to support the strategic goals of AFRICOM in East Africa: to enhance partner nation capacity, promote regional stability, dissuade conflict, and protect U.S. and coalition interests. 1-58th...
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