ARNG Aviation: Always Ready – Always There
Reserve Components Aviation / By COL J. Ray Davis: The Army National Guard has the vital role of providing essential capability to civilian authorities. As the combat reserve of the Army, the ARNG’s primary role remains to provide trained and ready forces to the Army to fight and win our Nation’s wars. North Carolina National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters fly over flooded areas of Eastern N.C. after Hurricane Matthew. Guardsmen from across the state executed rescue and relief missions with more than 1,000 Guardsmen activated in the wake of the storm. / U.S. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY CPT...
Learn MoreThe Waiver Process and Aircrew Member Access to AERO
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By MAJ Sonya H. Heidt, MD: Q:What is the process for obtaining a medical waiver? Also, how can I check the status of my flight physical and waiver request? military.com FS: Air-crewmembers complete an annual flight physical during the APART (Annual Proficiency and Readiness Test) window, where your flight surgeon or other aeromedically-trained provider reviews your prior medical records and conditions as well as any screening tests conducted for this exam (e.g. hearing, vision, EKG, and lab results). Then, he/she completes a physical exam. If your flight surgeon identifies a disqualifyingcondition or treatment that requires...
Learn MoreMEDEVAC Search and Rescue Missions
Tech Talk / By Mr. Nathan Proper: A successful medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) search and rescue (SAR) mission must quickly and accurately locate/navigate to the person(s) in distress. Soldiers standing by to load simulated casualties on a MEDEVAC Black Hawk / U.S. ARMY PHOTO Therefore, having the latest life-saving and personnel locating technology on the aircraft is critical. Alongside the properly trained medics, the well-equipped MEDEVAC pilots and crew significantly increases the chance of survival for wounded soldiers, downed crews, and other persons in imminent danger. One of the life-saving items of equipment used for these SAR missions is the Personal...
Learn MoreNonrated Crewmember Water Survival Training
128th Aviation Brigade / By CPT James A. Gleason: After completing Basic Combat Training, Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve Component Soldiers are assigned to the 128th Aviation Brigade for training in a wide range of Aviation Military Occupational Specialties. A Foxtrot Company Soldier demonstrates the proper trouser flotation technique. / 128th AVN BDE PHOTO BY 1SG MELISSA K. WHITE The 17 week 15U10 course provides Chinook helicopter maintainers with classroom instruction and valuable hands-on experience with the Army’s largest rotary wing aircraft. Upon successful completion of the course, some of these Soldiers will be assigned to maintenance units while...
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 MoreThe Army Reprogramming Analysis Team: 25 Years of Transformation
By Jason M. Juliano and Joseph S. Skarbowski: December 2016 marked the 25th year of the Army’s Rapid Software Reprogramming (RSR) infrastructure that develops, delivers and sustains software for electronic warfare (EW) systems and other electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) capabilities to support commanders across the full range of military operations. The Aviation and EW Communities know this organization as Army Materiel Command’s (AMC) Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) Software Engineering Center (SEC) Army Reprogramming Analysis Team (ARAT). The dispersion of aviation units during Operation “Desert Storm” highlighted the difficulties of ASE reprogramming./ PHOTO FROM DEFENSE.GOV ARCHIVE For 25 years, ARAT software and network...
Learn MoreAir Cavalry and the Aviation Restructure Initiative
By LTC Andrew M. Beyer: Early in the spring of 2015, 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry deployed to the National Training Center (NTC) as an aviation task force with 47 aircraft and a 500 trooper task force supporting 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team’s (ABCT) preparation to deploy to Iraq. In the months following this rotation, the Squadron would quickly shift fires to focus on the transition of the Squadron to the new Heavy Armed Reconnaissance Squadron (H-ARS) structure as part of the Aviation Restructure Initiative (ARI). OH-58 Kiowa helicopters from 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment., 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry...
Learn MorePreparing Now for Multi-Domain Battle
TRADOC Capability / By COL Jeffrey W. White: The emerging operational environment indicates future operations will be significantly different than those of the recent past. Multi-Domain Battle allows US Forces to outmaneuver adversaries physically and cognitively, applying combined arms in and across all domains. – Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC) Multi-Domain Battle Pamphlet An Army AH-64 Apache helicopter prepares to land on the flight deck of the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51). / U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS JUSTIN YARBOROUGH How can we leverage the hard fought lessons of the past and the extensive...
Learn More
