Leading the Way – Giving Back to the Force
Special Ops / By COL Philip Ryan, CW5 Michael Hardy, and CSM Christopher Bosowski: The bonds between Army Aviation and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) run deep and strong. We’ve shared the same desert airspace, flown around the same harsh and unforgiving peaks, choked on the same dust, fought the same enemy, and, ultimately, bled the same blood. The Regiment traces the roots of its distinguished history to Army Aviation, the famed 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) to be exact; the Regiment could not exist as it does today without the lifeblood of Army Aviation. An MH-60 conducts...
Learn MoreObstructive Sleep Apnea
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By CPT Albert J. Lee, MD: Q: I have sleep apnea. I use a breathing machine while sleeping. Why is it a disqualifying condition? What other treatments can pilots use? What medical documentation do I need for this physical and future physicals? Soldiers, who are deployed, average just three hours of sleep a night. / DAVID VERGUN, ARMY.MIL FS: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition where a person stops breathing or has difficulty breathing due to an obstruction of the airway during sleep. When breathing becomes inefficient or stops, the brain will send a signal...
Learn MoreNoncommissioned Officer and Advance Individual Training Platoon Sergeant of the Year
128th Aviation Brigade / By SFC Craig M. Sunstedt: On 9 March 2017, the winners of the 128th Aviation Brigade (AVN BDE) Fiscal Year 17 NCOY/PSOY competition were announced during a ceremony held on Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. SSG Brittany Barfield negotiates the last of 15 obstacles during the first day of competition. SSG Mathew Johnson from Charlie Company 2nd Battalion, 210th Aviation Regiment took the NCO of the Year honors and SSG Brittany Barfield from Delta Company 1st Bn., 222nd Avn. Regt. took the Platoon Sergeant of the Year honors. Of the 519 NCOs assigned to the 128th AVN...
Learn MoreReleasing Untapped Potential
Reserve / By COL J. Ray Davis and Mr. Christopher Flemming: Winds were out of the south at 10 knots with the temperature nearing 80 degrees (F) as the cannon boomed to start the Army Birthday Run. Det. 1/B/642nd ASB, SCARNG, Jan. 23, 2017, Camp Buehring, Kuwait with the first in-theater-completed AH-64E phase inspection. (left to right) SSG Cori Simmons, SPC Christopher Powell, SSG Todd Sturgell, SSG Brock Thomas, SPC Jesse Gable, SPC Ean Laubach, SGT Thomas Brown, SGT Tim McCoy, SPC Robert Waller, SPC Joseph Nalley, SGT Joshua Sligh, SSG Nathan Bloom, SGT Peter Savarese, SGT Robert Rutledge, WO1...
Learn MoreNCO Contributions in the Current Fight
ARSOAC CSM / By CSM Stephen H. Helton: I recently completed battlefield circulation of our Army Special Operations Aviation (ARSOA) deployed elements. I wanted to take this opportunity to share my thoughts and provide assessments with regard to aviation NCO leadership currently and in the future. Soldiers in the USASOAC take notes as they are instructed on the next training event. / ARSOAC COURTESY PHOTO ARSOA elements are deployed to numerous locations around the globe. They operate in relatively small teams for limited duration in support of specific, tailored mission sets. I was struck with the diversity of mission requirements...
Learn MoreSuccessful Aviation Warrant Officer Career Defined
ARSOAC CWOB / By CW5 Mark A. Meyer: There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. — Colin Powell As a senior warrant officer, I have been asked many times during leader professional development (LPDs), what is considered a successful career as an aviation warrant officer? I refer back to a mentor of mine, CW5(Ret.) Robert Huffman, who wrote an article when he worked at the aviation proponent in 2003. At the time I was a CW3 working as the chief of warrant officer recruiting for United States Army Recruiting...
Learn MoreProviding Strategy Value in a Complex World
ARSOAC Commander Update / By BG John R. Evans Jr.: Among those executing operations across the Global Combatant Commands (GCCs) tonight will be the men and women of Army Special Operation Aviation (ARSOA). 1SFG and Malaysian partner forces prepare to load up a combat rubber raiding craft in an MH-47G during amphibious assault training near Penang, Malaysia, March 10, 2017. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY CPT ADAM SWARTZBAUGH A member of the total Army Aviation Team, ARSOA units over the past 15 years have become widely known for their enduring commitments on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. Inextricably linked...
Learn MoreCleared for Take Off
President’s cockpit / By BG Steve Mundt, Ret.: It is hard to believe that it was over six years ago when I first became a member of the AAAA National Executive Group and began my journey to become your new AAAA President. New AAAA President, BG (Ret.) Steve Mundt (left), shares a laugh with outgoing president, BG (Ret.) E.J. Sinclair while presenting him with a Black Hawk pilot t-shirt following the passing of the gavel at the Annual Membership meeting on April 28, 2017 during the Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit in Nashville, TN. / AAPI PHOTO BY MIKE ULLERY...
Learn MoreArmy Aviation Photography Contest Winners
ARMY AVIATION Magazine is proud to present the winners of our annual photography contest. 48 qualified AAAA members, submitting 76 Army Aviation related photographs taken during CY 2016, competed for the top 12 places. We congratulate the winners and thank all of the contestants for their efforts and service. We invite all AAAA members to participate in our 2017 contest. Visit the AAAA website, quad-a.org for details and submission requirements. Bill Harris, Publisher First Place – “Battling Zeus” by Chief Warrant Officer Three Jeffrey A. Kennedy Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, Task Force Fighting Eagles, Wamego,...
Learn MoreSpouses Who SOAR – A Different Approach to Family Readiness
Family Forum / By LTC Reggie Harper, MAJ Mike Nguyen, Mrs. Karen Harper and Ms. Birgit Jones: The cornerstone organization for family readiness is the company-level Family Readiness Group (FRG). Members of 3rd Bn., 160th SOAR (A) Family Readiness Group discuss upcoming events. / ARMY PHOTO BY ARSOA STAFF MEMBER A well-functioning company FRG is the foundation through which spouses and family members access information and connect to a support network to overcome unique challenges faced by military families. This is certainly the case in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), and we anticipate that it will remain so...
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