Transforming for the Future
U.S. Army Reserve Aviation / By BG Troy D. Kok: 2025 may be ten years away according to a calendar, but in terms of force modernization, it is right around the corner. In preparation for an unknown and ever evolving geopolitical landscape, the United States Army Reserve’s sole operational Aviation command is posturing itself for continued success in the upcoming decade. SGT Robert Self, an AH-64 Armament Electrical Avionic Systems repairer with Company D, 1st Bn., 158th Avn. Regt. “Ghost Riders,” loads rockets into an AH-64 Apache during a gunnery range at North Fort Hood, Texas, June 2, 2015. The...
Learn MoreTraining to Task in Varying Conditions
Branch Command Sergeant Major / By CSM Eric C. Thom: There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. – Colin Powell The Army’s Training Concept (ATC) 2012-2020 was designed to strike a balance between operational and institutional training, and offers flexibility, efficiencies, and a broad range of training capabilities for leaders to maintain an agile, ready Army in a period of reduced resourcing. Soldiers from Delta Company, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, assess casualties while recovering a downed aircraft during Decisive Action Rotation 15-03...
Learn MoreSimulation Integration
Aviation Warrant Officer Advanced Course / By CW5 Allen R. “Randy” Godfrey, CW4 Shawn N. Paris, and CW3 Charles L. Brown: The current Aviation Warrant Officer Advanced Course (AWOAC) is a distinct improvement from AWOAC past. There are now two distinct resident phases. Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (AVCATT) Master Control Station operations during an exercise at the Seneff building, Fort Rucker, AL. The first is the warrant officer mid-grade learning subjects required for all warrant officers. The second is the technical specific track phase. This phase allows our aviation warrant officers to build on training and education received in...
Learn MoreTraining Leaders Who Thrive
From the Aviation Branch Chief / By MG Michael D. Lundy: As we continue to prepare to fight in unknown and unknowable conditions and threats, leaders who thrive in uncertainty are our primary weapon system. Tough, realistic, performance based training is how we prepare our leaders to operate in these environments. Simulators, such as this CH-47 Chinook simulator at the Southeast Regional Flight Simulation Training Center on Simmons Army Airfield at Fort Bragg, NC, replicate the complexity of current and future environments and provide the rigor and repetitions necessary to present tough training. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY SSG APRIL...
Learn MoreTurning Up the Heat
President’s Cockpit / by BG E.J. Sinclair, Ret.: Summer is in full swing, but the Army Aviation Branch and AAAA remain very engaged. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter promotes LTG Ron Lewis in a private ceremony in the Secretary of Defense’s Office in the Pentagon on July 2nd, 2015. / AAPI PHOTO I had the great pleasure of visiting the Aloha Chapter last month and getting to know some outstanding Americans who were honored with The Order of Saint Michael (OSM). The Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) from Hawaii and Gold Star father Alan Hoe, and...
Learn MoreThe Bedrock of Army Aviation
128th Aviation Brigade Instructors / By CPT Joseph R. Snoke and SSG Owen M. Cunningham: Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 210th Aviation Regiment, 128th Aviation Brigade provides world class CH-47 Chinook maintenance training utilizing state-of-the-art training devices, classrooms, and equipment. When Advanced Individual Training (AIT) Soldiers pass through the doors for the 17 week 15U10 training course, they will be taught fundamental maintenance procedures to prepare them for the responsibilities of their first assignment. They will receive training on how to navigate through the electronic technical manuals, how to use interactive software to demonstrate maintenance tasks, and how to use Cargo...
Learn MoreKnow Yourself…
Reserve Component Aviation Update / By COL J. Ray Davis: Greetings again from your Army National Guard (ARNG). I just took over the reins of the ARNG Aviation and Safety Division from Mark Weiss. Mark left behind some incredibly big shoes to fill, but I’m fortunate to have a great team that will help me do so. I’d like to publicly thank Mark for his 28-plus years of service, as he heads off to retirement and another chapter in what’s been an amazing life thus far. Aircraft mechanics with 1st Bn., 185th Avn. Regt., Mississippi Army National Guard perform scheduled...
Learn MoreOwning the Environment
Combat Readiness Center Update / By BG Jeffrey A. Farnsworth and COL Michael D. Higgenbotham: The UH-60L Black Hawk aircrew has one minute and forty-seven seconds to live. With the routine precision of countless iterations, the left and right crew chiefs clear the aircraft up and the pilot in command smoothly applies collective. The aircraft ascends into the dark night providing escort to the MEDEVAC aircraft en route to the assigned Category Alpha 9-line evacuation mission. Reported weather for the mission was skies clear, greater than 3 miles visibility, and zero illumination. The terrain surrounding the remote forward operating base...
Learn MoreA Culture of Standards
USASOC Command Sergeant Major Update / By CSM Gregory M. Chambers: Standards — the accomplishment of every Army mission, is grounded in the strict adherence to a task standard, and carried out by disciplined and responsible Soldiers and leaders. Although Army doctrine, Army regulations, unit regulations, programs of instruction, and unit standard operating procedures provide Soldiers and leaders with an understanding of the standard, it requires strong leadership to foster an environment where strict enforcement can be maintained. Regardless of the framework used, whether it’s time-on-target plus or minus thirty seconds, the Army Special Operations Promise, or the imperatives contained within...
Learn MoreA Profession Within a Profession
USASOAC Command Chief Warrant Officer Update / By CW5 Douglas M. Englen: An airline transport pilot certificate requires a pilot to be 23 years of age and have 1,500 hours total time as a pilot. Pilots with fewer than 1,500 flight hours may qualify for a restricted privileges airline transport pilot certificate beginning at 21 years of age if they are a military-trained pilot, have a bachelor’s degree with an aviation major, or have an associate’s degree with an aviation major. USASOAC COURTESY PHOTOS What does that mean with respect to our profession as Army Aviation Warrant Officers? What does...
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