No Fail Support to the Soldier on the Ground
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 MoreThe Voices of Awardee Spouses
AAAA Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: Most enjoyable for me at the 2016 AAAA Summit was having the opportunity to meet our awardees and many of their families. Several spouses acceptied my invitation to share their acceptance remarks or thoughts with us. Travis StewartWife of Colonel Harvey E. Stewart (Deceased), Army Aviation Hall of Fame inductee “My family and I thank you for this wonderful occasion of honoring our loved one. Not only have you brought to mind some wonderful memories, but we are now experiencing what will become wonderful memories for the future. Harvey would be very humbled...
Learn MoreGoodbye to an Old Friend
Spotlight / By SSG Christopher Freeman, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs Office: The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior has been a mainstay in the skies over the North Carolina and the Fayetteville community for over 25 years. The 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, made their final formation flight from Fort Bragg, N.C. April 15. The flight saw 32 helicopters flying in a formation from Fort Bragg to downtown Fayetteville and back to Simmons Army Airfield. The final Kiowa Warrior flight honored past and present service members that have had the privilege of operating and...
Learn MoreWhen New Technology Outpaces Current Systems
AH-64E Manned-Unmanned Teaming / By CW4 Brett S. Chivers: Technological advancements in combat systems, especially in Army aviation, have seen marked improvements over the past 14 years of war. One of the most notable of these advancements is the development and integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) by all four branches of the military. Army Aviation is committed to not only integrating UAS into the fight, but also into its newly configured combat aviation brigades (CAB). The Aviation Restructuring Initiative (ARI), which is currently ongoing, has removed the OH-58 Cavalry squadron from the CAB and replaced it with a second AH-64...
Learn MoreAmplifying Talent
By MAJ Aaron C. Schilleci: Integration of Active and National Guard Components in Support of Operation Inherent Resolve A 15U crewmember preflights a Task Force Heavy CAV CH-47 Chinook prior to a battlefield circulation mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve./ALL PHOTOS – U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY SPC ALTON PELAYO, 3-6 CAV “The Active Duty guys…” “The Guard guys…” As aviation professionals, we have all heard or seen these colloquialisms to describe our service component brethren. Some may feel a sense of pride, allegiance or stigma associated with these equally essential elements of our Army Aviation community and Army team...
Learn MoreTraining Deliberate Attack Operations in Decisive Action
Joint Readiness Training Center / By LTC Bryan Chivers and MAJ Adam Camarano: The Attack has long been the defining offensive task for Army Aviation. Today we find ourselves in an interesting transition period where current conflict calls for maintaining proficiency in the current era of team tactics while the Army focuses on training for the decisive action fight, a more deliberate employment of AH-64s at the platoon and higher level. Maintaining proficiency in two distinctly different mission sets is an incredible challenge, and commanders must strike a delicate balance between training for the current fight and being prepared to...
Learn MoreNational Training Center – Evolving the DATE
Eagle Team Update / By LTC Zachary Mundell: The Eagle Team at the National Training Center (NTC) continues to focus on providing world-class training to aviation professionals. Our charter remains to coach, teach and mentor aviation task forces on the application and execution of joint and multinational decisive action aviation operations supporting unified land operations in a realistic, competitive environment. Our aim is to improve the warfighting skills, integration, and effectiveness of multi-functional aviation task forces as they prepare for combat. Every unit that trains at the NTC will leave better prepared for the reality of combat in today’s increasingly...
Learn MoreSkin Cancer
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By MAJ Jason MacDonnell, M.D: Q: Should I be concerned about sun exposure in myself and family and what should I do for sun protection? U.S. Army soldiers participate in a 2.35-mile run to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 235th birthday on Forward Operating Base Farah, Afghanistan, June 14, 2010. The Soldiers are assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division’s Headquarters Troop, 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Senior Airman Rylan Albright FS: With summer in full swing, taking a second to address the risk of sun exposure and skin...
Learn MoreThe Way Ahead
Aviation Branch Chief Update / By MG William K. Gayler: I am absolutely honored and humbled to serve as the Army Aviation Branch Chief and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence. I look forward to serving with the great Soldiers and civilians from across the enterprise as we tackle the challenges facing the branch and our Army and forge a path to the future. The strength of the branch is not our aircraft, but the outstanding people who fly, fix and support Army Aviation operations across the globe. Building and sustaining readiness is the primary objective...
Learn MoreMission Accomplished!
President’s Cockpit / By BG E.J. Sinclair, Ret.: The 2016 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit in Atlanta once again brought our whole Army Aviation Community together for a few days of Networking, Recognition, Voice and Support events to make sure we were on track to make our mission statement real for you. AAAA National President and Executive Director, BG (Ret.) E.J. Sinclair and Bill Harris, respectively, present COL (Ret.) Harry Townsend with the Art and Dotty Kesten Founders’ Award, Apr. 29th at the 2016 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit in Atlanta, GA while his friend, Ann Burke (seated next to...
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