OV-1 Mohawk and the Oregon ARNG
News Spotlight / By MG (Ret) Charles Rosenfel: In October 1972, a lone Mohawk departed Fort Rucker, Alabama en route to the Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) in Salem, Oregon. This was the beginning of the 1042 Military Intelligence Co. (Aerial Surveillance) of the Oregon Army National Guard. The 1042nd would become one of only six aerial intelligence units focused on detecting the strength, disposition and activity of enemy forces day or night, regardless of weather. One of two OV-1 Mohawks providing surveillance of the Mt. St. Helens eruption in 1980. While optimized for battlefield surveillance, the ‘weekend warriors’ recognized...
Learn MoreMaintenance Mission Command in the Army Reserve
By COL Andrew Cecil and Robert Singler: The Army Reserve’s (AR) CH-47F fleet consistently meets or exceeds Department of the Army (DA) standards in Operational Readiness (OR) rates. The average AR CH-47F fleet OR rate for 2018 was 79% and for 2019 it was 82% Making 2019’s OR rate even more impressive is the fact that the AR Aviation Support Facilities (ASF) are operating at 60% of their authorized personnel strength but still maintaining 100% of their CH-47 fleet. The key to this success is effective Mission Command which enables and promotes engaged leadership, unity of effort, pride in ownership,...
Learn More“1.0 or I Don’t Go!”
Maintenance / By CW5 Michael D. Cavaco: The Stubby Pencil Maintenance Burden. We’ve all been there… Showtime three hours prior to takeoff, crank to meet commo check, takeoff at noon for a five-hour mission, hit the FARP, and back to the house – mission complete. Or is it? AH-64 Apache helicopters from 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, await to be reassembled October 27, 2019, in Volos, Greece. 3-CAB is arriving in Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve to conduct bilateral, joint, and multinational training. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY SPC ELLIOTT PAGE, 21ST THEATER SUSTAINMENT CMD The chances...
Learn MoreMastering the Fundamentals
Branch Chief’s Corner / By MG David J. Francis: The adversaries we face in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) will employ multiple layers of standoff across all domains in an attempt to disrupt our operations in competition as well as in conflict. This change of strategy requires a counter stratagem on our part, which is what the concept of Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) provides. Central to Army Aviation within MDO is the concept of independent maneuver. This entails continuing operations in a contested environment for an extended period without continuous support from higher echelons while retaining the ability to converge capabilities...
Learn MoreTaking Off Into the New Year!
President’s Cockpit / MG Jeff Schloesser, U.S. Army Retired: We start off 2020 with a deep dive into the fundamentals of our Army Aviation profession: maintenance, sustainment, and logistics. As a deputy division commander in Iraq and a division commander in Afghanistan, it was clear to me that no matter how well planned and led our operations were, our ultimate success was equally dependent on logistics, and everything and everyone that support our combat formations’ sustainment. Attendees at the opening professional session of the 2019 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit on April 16 in Nashville, TN./ AAPI FILE PHOTO BY...
Learn MoreThe Avalex Cockpit Management Unit Family
By Daniel Eckiss: New concepts to enable multi-domain operations (MDO) are emerging from Government, industry and non-traditional sources at an ever-quickening pace. Likewise, innovative technology incubation and rapid acquisition contract vehicles implemented by the U.S. Army and Department of Defense are moving technology from concept to prototype faster than ever. Prototypes are great tools to gather user feedback and perfect concepts in a non-operational environment. However, the warfighter benefit of our nation’s investment in leap-ahead technology research and development is not realized until enabling technology is integrated, trained and fielded. It is critical that the requirements for both new...
Learn MorePrivate Sector SATCOM and Tactical Networking
Industry Support & Challenges / By Ken Peterman: The U.S. Army is currently building an Aviation Mission Common Server (AMCS) to enhance storage, data processing and transport capabilities across every aircraft in order to ensure the current fleet is ready to fight and win in multi-domain operations. Viasat commends the Army for implementing AMCS and other initiatives to enhance communications technology across airborne platforms and speed up the introduction of new capabilities. In order to maintain a tactical edge and deter near-peer adversaries, it will be critical for the U.S. military to deliver enhanced communications and cloud-enabled technologies across all...
Learn MoreCorneal Refractive Surgery for Applicants
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By MAJ (Dr.) Eric Abdul: The popularity and success of corneal refractive surgery (such as LASIK, LASEK or PRK) has prompted questions from those applying for Aviation duty. Here is an introduction to the topic for initial applicants. Photo: Army.mil FS: Light enters the eye through the clear portion of its front known as the cornea. The cornea refracts, or bends, incoming light through the lens and directs it onto the retina at the back of the eye. Most of the refractive power of the eye resides in the spherical shape of the cornea, with...
Learn MoreAviation Support Facility (AASF) – The Center of Gravity
Reserve Components Aviation / By COL Joseph Bishop: In my previous article I focused on how the ARNG utilizes its Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Groups as one element within a holistic aviation sustainment maintenance architecture. The second element within that maintenance architecture and where the rubber meets the road are the 97 Aviation Support Facilities across the United States. The AASFs are the center of gravity for unit level aviation maintenance and the hub for aircrews that operate Army aircraft. Kankakee ARNG Aviation Support Facility ILARNG is the ARNG’s newest aviation support facility. The Kankakee ASF is home to 1-106...
Learn MoreLow Altitude Training
Combat Readiness Center / By COL Jason L. Miller: Army units are moving rapidly to fully implement the training required to prepare for large-scale combat operations (LSCO) against a peer or near-peer competitor. This training will focus on the tactics necessary to rapidly deploy, execute combined arms maneuver, and succeed in a complex, multi-domain environment. One of the primary challenges is training Soldiers who have been fighting counterinsurgency (COIN) for over a decade to refocus their efforts to fight against a threat which requires them to fly at terrain flight and nap-of-the-earth altitudes. As our branch chief put it, “We...
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