National 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 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),...
Learn MoreNo 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 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...
Learn More2016-2017 ARMY AVIATION Photography Contest
1st Place – “Black Thunder” by John M. Dibbs, Redmond, Washington, June 16, 2015; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington A mighty Guns-a-Go-Go MH-47 trains in the twilight near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. 2nd Place – “Help Has Arrived” by Sergeant Jose D. Ramirez III, 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Bliss, Texas, November 9, 2016; Fort Bliss, Texas Soldiers from 1st Armored Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade conduct 9-line medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) training at Fort Bliss, Texas. 3rd Place – “Approach into Diamond Head Crater,” by First Lieutenant Clayton C. Gorton, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, Wheeler Army Airfield,...
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