Out of Sight – Not Out of Mind
Reserve Components / By BG Scott R. Morcomb: On any given day, behind the pleasant noise of the cadenced and rhythmic prop wash, often lays a select few Army aviators who earn their pay above the clouds at 25,000 feet. Aviators from the Army Reserve Aviation Command assisted in the transfer of remains of U.S. Soldiers from the Mexican-American War. The multi-day mission required the aviators to fly into Monterrey, Mexico to retrieve the remains and then transport them to Dover Air Force Base for a Dignified Transfer Ceremony led by the U.S. Army’s Old Guard, Sept. 28. / U.S....
Learn MoreMoving Forward – Green Suit Maintainers In the Lead
AMCOM Command Sergeant Major / By CSM Glen Vela: As I travel and talk with aviation Soldiers and NCOs, I continue to notice a common theme. The departure from green suit led aircraft maintenance. An Aviation noncommissioned officer coaching, teaching, and mentoring an enlisted Soldier on maintenance procedures / U.S. ARMY PHOTO Let’s start by realizing that we have challenges with providing adequate maintenance training and development to an entire generation of leaders. This has resulted in Army Aviation becoming far too reliant on contract maintenance; moreover, it has directly impacted the development of our Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Corps which...
Learn MoreAre We Ready Tonight?
AMCOM Commander Update / By MG Douglas M. Gabram: Your cell phone goes off on a Sunday afternoon. You answer to hear the voice of your battalion commander, “I need all of the company commanders in my office at 1600 today. Aviation Soldiers performing sea port of embarkation (SPOE) operations in support of combatant command (COCOM) requirements / U.S. ARMY PHOTO Bring your deployable personnel status, your updated load plans, vehicle and aircraft maintenance status, the rest of the details we will discuss at HQ.” Hours later, you and your fellow company commanders emerge out of the battalion commander’s office....
Learn MoreOn the Winds of Change
President’s Cockpit / By BG E.J. Sinclair, Ret.: I hope everybody had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. It is amazing to think we are already in 2017. No doubt 2017 is going to be a year of changes in many ways. Celebrating the U.S. Army Aviation Soldier and Family at the Army Aviation Association of America display on the exhibit hall floor during the 2016 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit in Atlanta, GA. Join us in Nashville 26-28 Apr. 2017! We will have a new President and Administration by the time you read this. The Army’s end-strength drawdown...
Learn MoreThe Greatest Generation Remembers Pearl Harbor Day
Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer, CPT Heba Bullock and SGT Daniel K. Johnson: The 75th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor was an opportunity to honor our “Greatest Generation” as they endured incredible sacrifices on December 7, 1941, the “date which will live in infamy.” Thomas Pesto, a Pearl Harbor survivor, addresses Soldiers, veterans, civilians and family members at the 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance Ceremony at Wheeler Army Airfield Hangar 206 on December 5, 2016. The hangar was the first to come under attack on the “day that will live in infamy.” Soldiers from the...
Learn MoreExpeditionary Fight
601st Aviation Support Battalion BSA / By LTC Aaron M. McPeake, MAJ Jason Knapp, and CPT Mark A. Yore: Seldom does an aviation support battalion (ASB) have the opportunity to train at one of the Army’s combat training centers (CTC). Without the advantage of scheduled rotations to a CTC, training to achieve mission essential task (MET) proficiency in an expeditionary environment must be conducted at home station. The 601st ASB, Fort Riley, Kansas achieved that through nesting training with our supported battalion’s mission readiness training exercise (MRX). With nearly 30% of the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade’s (1CAB), 1st Infantry Division...
Learn MorePM JAMS: Production Challenges in Today’s Environment
Arming the Force / By COL David Warnick, LTC Phillip Rottenborn, Mr. Forrest Collier, and Mr. Timothy Kay: As part of the Army Aviation and Missile Materiel Enterprise, the Joint Attack Munition Systems (JAMS) Project Office develops, fields, and sustains versatile weapon systems for the U.S. Army, Joint, and Coalition War-fighters, providing decisive advantages. For more than 30 years, the JAMS Project Office (under many names) has delivered more than 80,000 HELLFIRE missiles and 4.5 million Hydra-70 rockets/motors to the U.S. Warfighters and coalition partners. Today, the JAMS Project Office consists of three product offices: the Aviation Rockets and Small...
Learn MoreOver the Counter Medications
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By CPT Scott A. Cygan, O.D.: Q: Doc, I’ve used a few over-the-counter medications in the past to avoid seeing my flight surgeon. Is this allowed or am I breaking the rules? FS: Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are defined as drugs that are reasonably safe and effective for use by the general public without seeking treatment from a health care professional. However, this does not mean these medicines should be considered completely safe or free of potential side effects. In addition, all air crewmembers should be astutely aware that many of these medications are strictly prohibited while...
Learn MoreRobbie Kimbrough Reflects about Life in the NASA Family
Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: Seems like yesterday when Tom and I were in Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Then LTC Robert S. (Shane) Kimbrough had arranged to have COL Bill McArthur inducted into the Gold Honorable Order of St. Michael aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Robbie Kimbrough with her husband, Shane, in Kazakhstan on the grounds of the Russian space training facility./ KIMBROUGH FAMILY PHOTO We watched as COL Jeff Williams, who was replacing Bill on the ISS in April 2006 did the honors. Tom congratulated Bill and a video of...
Learn MoreThe Aviation Engineering Directorate
R&D/S&T / By Mr. Jeffrey L. Langhout: What have you done for me lately, and more importantly, what are you planning to do for me? A Chinook landing in white out conditions in Shah Joy, Afghanistan. / PHOTO BY PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS JON RASMUSSEN Since becoming the AED Director in 2013, we have attempted to increase our focus on the customer. Our engineering capabilities have long been superior, thus upon arriving at AED, my focus was simply to take that engineering excellence and, through building relationships both with our customers and our original equipment manufacturers, develop trust and mutual...
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