Birth Control
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By CPT Abigail Vargo, M.D: Q: Doc, I want to get a prescription for birth control. What are my options while on flight status? Homecoming ceremony at Fort Hood, Texas / U.S. Army photo by Spc. Sharla Lewis FS: Prescription birth control is safe and considered a Class 2A medication – it must be prescribed by a physician and reported on the annual flight physical. Estrogen or progesterone preparations do not require a waiver when used solely for contraception or hormone replacement following menopause or hysterectomy. There are many effective methods to prevent pregnancy. Choosing...
Learn MorePM-TRADOC Collaboration – A Thing of Beauty
128th Aviation Brigade / By SSG Neil R. Smith: The mission of Army Aviation is constantly evolving. With the evolution in tactics, techniques and procedures, comes training technological evolution. The L-7AY Multiplex, Avionics, Visionics, Weapons, Electrical Systems Trainer (MAVWEST) during acceptance testing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA./ U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY SSG NEIL R. SMITH For more than a decade, the AH-64D Apache Longbow has been the U.S. Army’s premier attack helicopter and has performed outstandingly. In the normal evolution of technology, this tried and true warrior is being replaced by the latest attack helicopter, the AH-64E. It is still...
Learn MoreAviation Training Site Achieves Major Milestones
Eastern Army National Guard (ARNG) / By LTC(P) Gregg Clark and CSM (Ret.) Charles Reisinger: Last year, the Eastern ARNG Aviation Training Site (EAATS) achieved two major milestones – training and graduating the 10,000th enlisted Soldier; and breaking ground on the new Aviation Maintenance Instruction Building (AMIB) at Ft. Indiantown Gap, PA. SFC Sean Merrill, an instructor at the Eastern ARNG Aviation Training Site, discusses the Black Hawk primary servo with a class. / NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY SSG BROCK LICHTENFELS, EASTERN AATS In April 1989, National Guard Aviation determined the need to start enlisted training at the EAATS. The...
Learn MoreGaining and Maintaining the Edge on Aircraft Maintenance!
Branch Command Sergeant Major / By CSM Gregory M. Chambers: Gaining the edge on aircraft maintenance and maintaining aircraft maintenance proficiency takes leader engagement at all levels to be successful. Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion (Attack/Recon), 229th Aviation Regiment gather near a unit AH-64D undergoing scheduled maintenance in September 2016 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY CSM GREGORY M. CHAMBERS More importantly, when we succeed at this as a branch, the branch and the Army succeeds. In this month’s issue of ARMY AVIATION magazine, the focus is on the Program Managers. I briefly talked about...
Learn MoreArmy Aviators Work Maritime Tactics
Spotlight / By MAJ Ian Benson and MAJ Erin Braswell: 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry AH-64s from 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Task Force Saber participated in sinking a target vessel as an exercise (SINKEX), part of the annual Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises. The Navy provided a decommissioned naval vessel that was anchored over 50 miles offshore and engaged by over 6 different Naval, Air force and Army platforms. The AH-64 conducted eight different engagements against the littoral target and validated the helicopter’s lethality not only on land but in the littoral environment as well. Two U.S. Army AH-64D Apache...
Learn MoreRecruiting the Future Today
Chief Warrant Officer of the Branch / By CW5 Joseph B. Roland and CW4 David J. Stock II: In order to provide no-fail support to our nation and the warfighter on the ground, Army Aviation strives to access, train, and develop the best aviation warfighters in the world. CW2 Sean Quillin, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment, greets Jeff Coleman, aviation instructor at Emerald Ridge High School, after landing his UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter on the school’s football field. His visit to the high school was part of a partnership with the school’s aviation program which gives aspiring pilots...
Learn MoreGetting It Right
PEO Aviation / By BG Thomas H. Todd III: Aviation Family, I was deeply honored to receive the charter to become the Program Executive Officer for Army Aviation in January. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to return to the tremendous team of more than 3,000 Soldiers, civilians and support contractors who make up this world class organization. The engineering development model UH-60V Black Hawk hovers above the runway as part of its successful initial test flight Jan. 19 in Meridianville, AL. The UH-60V is being designed to update existing UH-60L analog architecture with a digital infrastructure to address evolving interoperability...
Learn MoreYour Voice – Loud and Clear
President’s Cockpit / By BG E.J. Sinclair, Ret.: As you know, the four pillars of our mission statement, to “Support the U.S. Army Aviation Soldier and Family,” are Networking, Recognition, Voice and Support. Hosted by AAAA, members of the 115th Congress House of Representatives Army Aviation Caucus and their staffs are updated by top Army Aviation leadership on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017 at the Rayburn Building in Washington, DC. Pictured (l to r, front row) are co-chairs, Representatives Martha Roby, Mo Brooks, Rosa Delauro, and member, Marc Veasey. / AAPI PHOTO BY BILL HARRIS Last month we really hit the...
Learn MoreThis “Soldier’s Soldier” Did Not Serve Alone
Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: Many are aware that an aviation icon recently passed at the age of 93 in his residence in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Tom [BG (Ret.) Tom Konitzer] and I had the privilege of attending MG (Ret.) James C. Smith’s Memorial Service on December 17, 2016 in Snellville, Georgia. MG James C. Smith (center) during his promotion to major general receiving his new rank from wife, Doris (right), and father and mother, Cliff and Aurora Smith. / PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE SMITH FAMILY While there, we visited with his family and friends, and heard eulogies, which brought...
Learn MoreArmy Aviation Enterprise Sustainment Strategy
Aviation Maintenance / By COL K. Todd Royar and Mr. Thomas J. Barthel:There is a famous quote from writer Lewis Carroll, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” The Army aviation enterprise exists in an environment of constant change and perpetual motion. The methodologies used in developing, acquiring, maintaining and sustaining increasingly more complex aviation systems and the requirements to support those systems are numerous and often duplicative. Who decides their overall accountability or adherence to a common aviation sustainment goal, with specific objectives that make the entire aviation enterprise more efficient and...
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