SCUBA Diving and Flying
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By MAJ Abigail Vargo, MD: Q: I started taking SCUBA diving classes and the instructor said I should not dive too soon before flying because it increases the risk of DCS. What is DCS, and how does it impact flight status? Photo courtesy Army.mil FS: Decompression sickness or “DCS” is a recognized risk of recreational SCUBA diving. DCS is an injury caused by the normal behavior of gas in the body when placed in environments of changing pressure. We think of air as mostly oxygen, but it is only about 21% oxygen while nitrogen, an...
Learn MoreSupporting Soldiers Helping Soldiers
President’s Cockpit / By BG Steve Mundt, Ret.: Every once in a while, we come across a situation in which each of us can make a difference. So as we begin a new year in 2018, I want to relay to you a story where one of our own, together with our organization, is making a real difference. Former Marine Garrett Carnes and his new companion dog, Unno. / PERSONAL PHOTOS FROM SFC CHRISTOPHER SMITH In the context of the AAAA and our four pillars of Networking, Recognition, Voice and Support of our Army Aviation Soldiers and Families, it is...
Learn MoreHappy Holidays to you and your family!
Dear AAAA Members, Happy Holidays to you and your family from me and the whole AAAA team! It is at this time of year that we all take a moment to reflect on all we have done and accomplished as a Team in 2017 and to look forward to another great year coming in 2018. Many of us celebrate in so many different ways such as Mawlid Un Nabi, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s with our family and loved ones. We need to remember that no matter how we celebrate, it is all based on the liberties we enjoy...
Learn MoreHome Education: An Attractive Option for Military Families
Family Forum / By Elizabeth Scruggs: As debates rage across the political landscape on how to best reform American education practices, unpopular mandates, and appointments made, a growing body of parents are looking for other options to provide a flexible, customizable, and high quality education for their children. Liz Scruggs conducts “Freedom Academy” which includes formal education (Math, Science, History, Language, Reading and Writing etc.) for her three children from 9-12. After lunch they take their learning outside for exploring, field trips, sports, and volunteer activities. / PHOTO BY MAJOR ANDREW SCRUGGS Parents are demanding more from an archaic institution,...
Learn MoreAcquired 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...
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