The 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...
Learn MoreArmy Special Operations Aviation (ARSOA) 2030
USASOAC Commander Update / By BG Erik C. Peterson and COL Dean Heitkamp: The Branch chief, MG Michael Lundy, has coordinated having the commanding general of the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command, BG Erik C. Peterson, his command chief warrant officer, and command sergeant major provide this article. Army Special Operations Aviation (ARSOA) was born out of the failed attempt to rescue American hostages held in Tehran, Iran in 1980. The Holloway Commission investigation, and report that followed the failed mission, asserted that our nation required a dedicated aviation force to support growing ground and maritime special operations capabilities....
Learn MoreTaking Your Voice to the Capitol
President’s Cockpit: It has been a busy month indeed. Seems like I was meeting every week with our Executive Director in Washington, representing you on some key Army Aviation issues. Most importantly, on May 20th the National Commission on the Future of the Army asked AAAA to present our views on the future aviation force. AAAA President, BG (Ret.) E.J. Sinclair (standing) testifies before the National Commission on the Future of the Army, May 20th, in Washington, DC. Our comments were well received by the Commission. The main point we made was that the Army Restructuring Initiative (ARI) is a...
Learn MoreMore Summit Reflections
Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: This is part 2 of reflections from awardee family members from the 2015 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit that I am honored to share with our readers. John J. Stanko Army National Guard Aviation Unit of the Year – MAJ Byron N. Cadiz and 1SG Keith I. Nakahara “As the spouse of a Soldier, I vowed to support Byron wholeheartedly in any endeavor that he sought out in his military career. When we started dating I wasn’t sure what kind of commitment this would entail, but over the years it became apparent that God,...
Learn MoreThe Afghanistan Special Mission Wing
By COL Donald G. Fallin and CPT Lisa Becker: The Special Mission Wing (SMW) is Afghanistan’s only Aviation Special Mission unit and is the premier night vision goggle (NVG) helicopter assault force in South Asia. The Wing, built around a fleet of Mi-17v5 and PC-12NG aircraft, provides the country’s lone NVG air assault capability and its only intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform. Supporting both the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Ministry of Interior (MoI), the SMW is an enduring U.S. counter-narcotic and counterterrorism partner, with its wing headquarters and four squadrons providing operational reach in support of more than...
Learn MoreLessons Learned for 2025
MEDEVAC Proponency / By COL Michael F. Breslin and Mr. Robert D. Mitchell: There is no question that the Army Air Ambulance fleet and its mission set have evolved into the best medical evacuation system with the most proficient aircrews in the world. This is due in large part to the management and synchronization between Army Aviation and the Army Medical Department. Numerous advancements are a direct result of more than 14 years of lessons learned in the Iraq and Afghanistan Theater of Operations. The Medical Evacuation Proponency Directorate (MEPD) at Fort Rucker, AL is aggressively coordinating multiple efforts across...
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