Constructing 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...
Learn MoreWorking Hard and Giving Thanks
It is hard to believe how fast 2017 is flying by! It seems like we just left the Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit and now we are in the midst of celebrating Thanksgiving with the New Years and religious holidays just ahead. AAAA National President BG (Ret.) Steve Mundt opens the 13th Luther G. Jones Aviation Depot Forum Oct. 4, 2017 at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. We have just finished our series of Fall symposia to include the Luther Jones Depot Forum at Corpus Christi, TX and the Aircraft Survivability Equipment and Joseph P. Cribbins Product...
Learn MoreThe Miracle of Grandchildren
Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: Tom and I have had an amazing journey as grandparents for twenty-one years. Our 9 grands (and soon to add twins in March) range in age from 1 to 21 and live in 4 different states as well as Australia. COL Charles Heckel, a retired Aviator, was always there for his friend’s grandchildren, pictured with Kimberly and Rob Ewing. Nevertheless, thanks to daily phone calls, FaceTime, frequent visits, the ever-popular “Camp Nana,” and most holidays, we do stay close to them and in turn they stay close to each other. In many ways being...
Learn MoreThe U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command at 20 Years
From the Field / By Kaylene Hughes, Ph.D.: On the afternoon of July 17, 1997, U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) Commander, GEN Johnnie E. Wilson, presided over the provisional stand-up ceremony for the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) thereby merging the Army’s missile and aviation commands as recommended by the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC-95) Commission. As part of the approved BRAC-95 action, the PEO Aviation also relocated from St. Louis, Missouri, to Redstone Arsenal. AMCOM Activation Ceremony, July 17, 1997. Standing left to right: MG James M. Link, GEN Johnnie E. Wilson, MG Emmitt E. Gibson....
Learn MoreThe Degraded Visual Environment
Aviation Support / By Mr. Shawn Gresham: To maintain Army Aviation’s asymmetric advantage over our enemies and mitigate risk, the Degraded Visual Environment (DVE) Product Office is committed to delivering solutions that will provide our pilots the capability to fly and maneuver in degraded visual environments. PM DVE COURTESY PHOTO MONTAGE The U.S. Army Aviation community defines a DVE as an environment of reduced visibility, wherein situational awareness of the aircrew or control of the aircraft can be completely lost, or cannot be maintained as comprehensively as they are during flight operations within clear or undiminished visibility. DVE conditions are...
Learn MoreAviation Networks and Mission Planning (ANMP)
Aviation Support / By Mr. Timothy J. Vinson and Mr. James M. Pruitt: To meet its mission, the Aviation Networks and Mission Planning (ANMP) Product Office provides the Army Aviation community with state-of-the-art interoperability, mission planning, maintenance, and operations tools that enhance crew members’ situational awareness (SA), command and control (C2), and safety. ANMP supports and interfaces with all aviation rotary wing, fixed wing, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) platforms; fielding products essential for the successful planning and execution of the Army Aviation mission set. Improved Data Modem (IDM) / ALL GRAPHICS/PHOTOS COURTESY AVN. SYS. PMO As we develop, update,...
Learn MoreToday’s Fight, Tomorrow’s Challenges
Aviation Survivability / By CW5 Christopher A. Johnson: As I begin my 4th year as the Project Manager for Aircraft Survivability Equipment, I am sincerely thankful for the incredible opportunity to protect our Nation’s most valuable assets – the lives of American Soldiers. And along with that reflection, I also marvel at the technical skills, dedication, professionalism, and passion that the ASE enterprise displays to accomplish that mission. Soldiers from JagerBattalion 291 pose in front of a Tiger Attack Helicopter and an AH-64 Apache from 12th Combat Aviation Brigade during exercise Strong Punch near Fritzlar, Germany. Strong Punch is an...
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