Scouting and Retaining Night Stalkers
Special Operations Aviation / By MAJ Jason J. Dumser and CW4 Benjamin S. Arps: The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) (SOAR (A)) has the unique challenge to recruit, assess, select, train, and employ a lethal and agile aviation organization within U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in support of Joint Special Operations Forces (JSOF). To best identify the right personnel who will succeed, the Regiment underwent a comprehensive review of its recruiting and assessment procedures. Similar to college or professional sports programs, the goal of the Regiment is to identify or “scout” those personnel with the requisite attributes for success...
Learn MoreThe Secret Capability Behind the 160th
Special Operations Aviation / By COL Michael J. Hertzendorf and MAJ Michael C. Athanasakis: When you mention the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) (SOAR) (A), people may think of advanced aircraft with unique capabilities like multi-mode radar or in-flight aerial refuel probes. While these capabilities are important, the truly unique capability within the organization is the culture that is embodied by the unit’s Soldiers and leaders. The first Special Operations Force (SOF) truth states “humans are more important than hardware” and nowhere is this more important than in the 160th SOAR (A). Night Stalkers begin to learn the Regiment’s...
Learn MoreElectronic Cigarettes
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By CPT Scott A. Cygan, D.O.: Q: Doc, I’m thinking of trying E-Cigarettes. Are these safer than conventional cigarettes, and are they able to help me quit smoking? FS: Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you may have heard that smoking is hazardous to your health, but do you know just how hazardous? Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. Tobacco products are associated with heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, obstructive pulmonary disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Approximately 480,000 deaths per year are attributed to the nicotine habit....
Learn MoreAirworthiness Processes
AMRDEC Tech Talk / By Mr. Robert Copeland and Mr. John Stewart: Incremental advancements in technologies afford new capabilities for our warfighters. However, on occasion, the advances create an opportunity to delve into whole new environments. AMRDEC AED PHOTO In 1929 Jimmy Doolittle demonstrated the ability to take-off, fly and land using only instruments. Forty years ago, we tackled the night and came out with the first electro-optical forward looking infrared vision system. Soon after, we owned the night and even now we continue to evolve, mature, and upgrade that capability. Even in the 21st century, we are still bound...
Learn MoreAIT Instructors Teach More Than Just MOS Skills
128th Aviation Brigade / By SFC Douglas J. Patterson: The American Soldier comes from all walks of life, from every different region, culture, religion, that makes up our great nation and some even come from other countries. The author teaching Ohms Law to students during the Basic Electronics Training block of the 15Y AIT course. / 128th AVN BDE PHOTO BY SSG RANDY BARTZ Soldiers hold a special bond with each other, especially in their initial entry training when civilians are learning to become Soldiers. I am sure most all of us can remember that one drill sergeant or AIT...
Learn MoreLast Reserve Flight of the AH-64D Apache
Reserve Components Aviation / By CW5 John W. Bailey: Early on a Sunday morning in March, Soldiers, both current and former, along with family and community members met at the Lone Star Executive Airport in Conroe, Texas. Soldiers from 1-158th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB) stand in formation as five AH-64 Apache helicopters conduct a ceremonial “fly-over,” in Conroe, Texas, to commemorate the final flight of the Apache helicopter in Army Reserve, Mar. 6, 2016. / U.S. ARMY RESERVE PHOTO BY CPT MATTHEW ROMAN, 11TH TAC PAO The reason for this gathering was to be, in some way, a part of...
Learn MoreManaging Enlisted Experience
Branch Command Sergeant Major / By CSM Gregory M. Chambers: Managing our enlisted experience in today’s Army is imperative to our future combat success. The culture in our units has to foster an environment in which Soldiers want to learn, to progress and to become professional Soldiers. Members of the 1st Air Cav remove an aft rotor blade from a CH-47 Chinook during maintenance at Ft. Hood, TX April 5, 2016./U.S. ARMY PHOTO Documenting this experience is essential as Soldiers move around in our branch. Mid-grade leaders should have the ability to quickly assess experience on newly assigned Soldiers in...
Learn MoreHidden Risks During Shipboard Operations
AMRDEC Tech Talk / By Mr. Les Wiggins and Mr. Frank Collins: One of the more memorable days in an Army Aviator’s career can include joint operations with a U.S. Navy vessel. However, hidden in the scenic beauty of that nautical scene can lie dangers and risks that have the potential of ruining your trip. An Army AH-64 Apache helicopter takes off from the flight deck of the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), Jan. 5, 2016./ U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMM SPEC. 2ND CL. JUSTIN YARBOROUGH It is important to note that while the Airworthiness Release...
Learn MoreModernized 151A Aviation Maintenance Technician Course Graduates First Classes
128th Aviation Brigade / By CW3 Thomas Parker: March 23, 2016 marked a pivotal date in the history of the 151A Aviation Maintenance Technician training. The 12 members of the first modernized 151A Warrant Officer Basic Course graduates pause for the Kodak moment March 23, 2016 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA. First row (l to r): WO1 Joseph F. Keyes, WO1 Derek A. Wilkinson, WO1 Nicholas L. Self, and WO1 Thomas E. Robbins; 2nd Row: WO1 Chad H. Patterson, WO1 Derrick Costine, WO1 Stephen C. Daniels, and WO1 Timothy W. Livingston; Back Row: WO1 Loren M. Ruslander, WO1 Jason R....
Learn MoreProceeding to REDCON1
Reserve Components Aviation / By COL J. Ray Davis: Greetings again from your Army National Guard (ARNG). This month I’d like to highlight/review the results of the recent AAAA Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit, from an ARNG perspective. Aside from the dinners, concert, hospitality suites, and trinket-collecting, we actually used this forum to get things done. One of the highlights for the Guard was the second iteration of its Readiness & Resources Review (R3). At this forum, we brought brigade commanders of units early in their sustainable readiness model (SRM) cycle together (in this case, the 28th and 34th CABs),...
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