Noncommissioned 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 MoreHappy Birthday U.S. Army and Happy Flag Day!
The U.S. Army was founded on 14 June 1775 when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year. It was on this date when Congress adopted “the American continental army” after reaching a consensus position in The Committee of the Whole. 14 June is also the day we commemorate the adoption of the United States Flag by resolution of the 2nd Continental Congress, in 1777.
Learn More2017 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit National Award Winners
Joseph P. Cribbins Department of the Army Civilian of the Year AwardSponsored by The Boeing Company Mr. Steven D. BlaseyDirector, Aviation Maintenance Support OfficeU.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (Airborne)Fort Campbell, Kentucky Mr. Steven Blasey’s vision, innovation, and leadership concerning aviation maintenance and sustainment spanned tactical to strategic levels. He championed powerful software analytics solutions to provide real-time visibility of key metrics, leveraging digital source collection, budgetary information, and maintenance transactional data to effectively mitigate risk, reduce costs, and help define flying hour ownership costs. His insight and efforts were noted by senior officials from TRADOC, AMCOM, and USAACE as...
Learn MoreHall of Fame 2017 Inductees
The Army Aviation Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Army Aviation Association of America, Inc., recognizes those individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to Army Aviation. The actual Hall of Fame is located in the Army Aviation Museum, Fort Rucker, AL. The deadline for nominations for the 2018 induction is June 1. Contact the AAAA National Office for details and nomination forms at (203) 268-2450 or visit quad-a.org Brigadier General Leo E. Soucek, Sr. (Deceased) BG Leo Soucek served in the vanguard of leaders who developed our modern Army Airmobility concepts, tactics and organizations. He tested these with the...
Learn MoreArmy Aviation Leaders
Commanders of the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Predecessor Agencies Director, Department of Air Training, U.S. Army Field Artillery School, Ft. Sill, OK COL William W. Ford 3 August 1942 – 15 January 1944 COL Gordon J. Wolf 16 January 1944 – 2 November 1945 COL William W. Ford 3 November 1945 – 6 December 1945 Commandant, U.S. Army Ground Forces Air Training School, Ft. Sill, OK MG Louis E. Hibbs 7 December 1945 – 4 June 1946 MG Clift Andrus June 1945 – November 1946 Director, Department of Air Training, U.S. Army Field Artillery School, Ft. Sill,...
Learn More
