Acquired Anemia
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By MAJ Eric Abdul, M.D.: Q: I just went through a long process to get a waiver for anemia during my first flight physical. I didn’t know I had it, and it doesn’t affect me. I had to see an Internal Medicine doctor and they ran a lot of tests, but didn’t find anything wrong. What happens next year if they test me and my numbers are the same? Do I have to go through the whole process again? Is there anything I can do differently to prevent being anemic in the first place? Photo...
Learn MoreAviation Operations and Air Traffic Control Skills!
By CSM Gregory M. Chambers: The Aviation Branch has 16 different military occupational specialties (MOSs) within the Branch that we use to accomplish very specific tasks from the tactical level up to the strategic level. AIT Soldiers from the 1st Bn., 13th Avn. Regt., 1st Avn. Bde., training on the operation of the “Theodolite” system as part of the 15Q qualification course at Fort Rucker, Nov 2017. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO Although most of our enlisted skills are used at the tactical and operational level, two of our MOSs are used to conduct aviation operations at all levels. Our 15Ps...
Learn MoreUniversal Aviation Battle Book
CWOB / By CW5 Joseph B. Roland: Today’s operational environments (OE) see consistent utilization of non-organic multi-functional aviation task forces (MFATFs) and blended combat aviation brigades (CABs). U.S. Army MAJ Kurtis P. Evick (left), with the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), attends a joint coordination meeting with FEMA, Air Force, and Marine Corps, at Ceiba, Puerto Rico, Sept. 28, 2017. The 101st CAB conducted medical evacuation and relief efforts to support FEMA in the recovery process of Puerto Rico after the devastation created by Hurricane Maria. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO SSG PABLO N. PIEDRA Each of these units utilizes...
Learn MoreEnsuring Aviation Overmatch Now and Into the Future
PEO Aviation / By BG Thomas H. Todd III: Today our Soldiers are challenged with operating in a multi-domain battle space against threats that are rapidly growing in both scale and complexity. A U.S. Army AH-64E Apache helicopter crew chief assigned to Task Force Tigershark, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, 7th Infantry Division directs pilots during departure for a mission at Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan, June 12, 2017. The Tigersharks provide aviation support to U.S. Forces Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel./ U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY CPT BRIAN HARRIS, 16TH CAB Our peer competitors have continued to invest in technologies that...
Learn MoreOn Final to 2018
President’s Cockpit / By BG Steve Mundt, Ret.: What a special time of year this is, with the close of 2017 coming in the midst of a joyful holiday season, carrying us through the final days to 2018. AAAA National President, BG (Ret.) Steve Mundt (standing left), listens as attendees ask questions of the speakers during the AAAA Aircraft Survivability Equipment Symposium Nov. 13, 2017 at the Von Braun Center, Huntsville, AL . Just as we started with Thanksgiving where we all took time to recognize how much we each had to be thankful for, AAAA clearly recognizes that we as...
Learn MoreMaking Tactical Advancements to Enable the Warfighter
Unmanned Aircraft Systems / COL Courtney Cote: Commanders in the field today have an insatiable appetite for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), because it directly saves lives on the battlefield. The ability to see beyond what the human eye can see is invaluable, whether that be over the horizon, in an urban environment, marginal weather, inhospitable terrain, ship to shore, or in degraded visual environments. The team in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Management Office (UAS PMO), with the support of our industry and military partners, continues to design, develop and deliver capabilities to the Soldier that provide critical advantages...
Learn MoreConstructing an Airspace Management Team for the Future Force
Air Traffic Services / By CW3 LeBron Elder Jr., CW3 Kristal I. Hoover & CW3 Raphael E. Lopez: In 2007 the Army reintroduced the Air Traffic and Airspace Management (ATASM) Technician (150A) into its force structure. Ten years later, the first groups of Air Traffic and Airspace Management Technicians are now shaping airspace management training, doctrine, and the professional development for future generations of airspace management personnel at all echelons throughout the Army. CW3s Elder, Hooper and Lopez provide the following key insights to help you effectively build and train your airspace management teams, avoid pitfalls in airspace planning and...
Learn MorePost-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By CPT Laura Ball, DO: Q: Recently I have been experiencing nightmares, and I feel anxious and on guard most of the time. My wife says that I am moody and we have been arguing more frequently. I think I might have PTSD from my deployment 2 years ago. What can I do to get better and will I have to be grounded? The Army’s Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Mild Brain Injury Program (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Medical Department) FS: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder characterized by nightmares, flashbacks of traumatic events,...
Learn MoreMIL Spouses Behind The Scenes
Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: With a myriad of wonderful organizations providing outstanding programs in support of our military spouses, I would like to showcase one for your consideration, thus giving you an opportunity to nominate a deserving spouse for their upcoming 2018 Military Spouse of the Year event. The author at home researching her article. / PERSONAL PHOTO BY TOM KONITZER For the past 9 years, Armed Forces Insurance (AFI) has sponsored this ceremony in May in Washington, DC and it has been attended by Congressional members, senior military, DoD leadership, and military spouses. The awards honor spouses who...
Learn MoreHow To “Fight Tonight” As Complexity Increases – Supervised Autonomy
Aviation Branch Chief / By MG William K. Gayler: Every time someone says that aviation will not be a factor on the future battlefield due to the IADS (integrated air defense systems) threat, they are completely wrong and misinformed. Let’s consider a scenario to illustrate the point. An Army CH-47 Chinook cargo helicopter crew member types a message on his phone to communicate over the engine noise of the helicopter during an air assault exercise on Sept. 14, 2017, at Fort Hood, TX. Army Chinook and AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crews worked with Air Force joint terminal attack controllers to...
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