Operational Support Airlift Agency
Fixed Wing Aviation / By COL James W. Ring: Activated on October 2, 1995, the Operational Support Airlift Agency (OSAA) and its operational subordinate unit, the Operational Support Airlift Command (OSACOM), merged fixed wing assets and personnel of the Active Component and the Army National Guard to form one of the Army’s first multi-component operational commands. As an Army Field Operating Agency and a subordinate operational fixed wing command, OSAA and OSACOM are optimally structured to sustain fixed wing readiness in support of total Army fixed wing requirements. OSACOM aircrew with TF ODIN returning from a mission in Afghanistan./ U.S....
Learn MoreEfficient, Effective and Reliable
Fixed Wing Aviation / By COL Steven B. Clark and Ms. Tracey Ayres: The Fixed Wing Project Office (FWPO) continues to emerge as a multi-faceted organization transitioning from its traditional sustainment role of a diverse fleet of niche capabilities to the full-on modernization and life cycle management of the Army’s fleet of transport and manned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft. “The fixed wing fleet is dynamic and diverse; it affords the Army increased capabilities,” said BG Robert “Bob” Marion, the Program Executive Officer for Aviation. “From providing executive transport for the Army’s key personnel to conducting aerial ISR missions...
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U.S. Army Reserve Aviation /By BG Troy D. Kok: As I wind down my time here as the commanding general of the 11th Theater Aviation Command (11th TAC), located at Fort Knox, KY, I would like to share some of the key reasons for our success as the home of United States Army Reserve (USAR) Aviation. USAR Aviation is a complex enterprise whose success relies on its multiple partners that include the Department of Defense (DOD), State, Federal, and private industry. Due to the current fiscal realities, Army Aviation is undergoing a transformation. Aviation is consolidating its number of locations,...
Learn MoreStill Engaged in the Away Game
Army National Guard Aviation / By COL Mark Weiss and COL (Ret.) Kevin Scherrer: A recent case study of an air traffic controller who developed type II (neurologic) decompression sickness (DCS) after a series of four consecutive training SCUBA dives illustrates the dangers of DCS for military and civilian divers and aviators. On final approach into El Dorado International Airport, Bogata, Colombia. / ALL PHOTOS COURTESY U.S. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD Despite the end of IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM, your Army National Guard force is still engaged in the Away Game, and contributing on multiple fronts. Most visible is our...
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President’s Cockpit / By BG E.J. Sinclair, Ret.: I would like to start by first thanking you for the opportunity to be your new AAAA National President. Starting this part of my AAAA journey six years ago as Treasurer and then Secretary, and Senior VP two years ago, it has been a privilege to serve Aviation Soldiers and their Families and I have learned a lot about this great organization. Looking back I could hardly imagine when I first joined AAAA over 30 years ago that I would end up here. I am truly honored and humble to lead AAAA...
Learn MoreWarrant Officer Promotion Board – Fiscal Year 2015
Warrant Officer Promotion Board – Fiscal Year 2015: Chief Warrant Officer of the Branch / CW5 Allen R. “Randy” Godfrey On 9 January 2015, the U. S. Army Human Resources Command (HRC) released MILPER Message 15-009 on the Fiscal Year 2015 Active Component Chief Warrant Officer Three, Four, and Five Promotion Board. This board returns to the standard of 12-month zones of consideration. In 27 January 2015, HRC released MILPER Messages 15-025 and 15-026 on the Fiscal Year 2015 Reserve Component Chief Warrant Officer Three, Four, and Five Promotion Board. Each MILPER message describes in detail the required items and deadlines...
Learn MoreOnce a Soldier, Always a Soldier… A Soldier for Life!
From the Field / By LTC Wenceslao G. Angulo: About 100,000 Soldiers will transition out of the Army each year over the next several years. In 2014, 8,666 Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard Soldiers with an aviation military occupational specialty (MOS) retired or separated. To address this changing landscape of the American military, and to maintain trust among the Army Family during and after service, the U.S. Army established the Soldier for Life (SFL) program. This initiative is designed to enable Soldiers, Retired Soldiers, Veterans and Families to leave military service “career ready” and connected to an established network to find...
Learn MoreAAAA Presents the 2014 Functional Awards
AAAA, together with the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence (USAACE), paid tribute to the 2014 National Functional Awards winners Feb. 5 during the annual Aviation Senior Leaders Conference at Fort Rucker, AL. AAAA’s President, BG (Ret.) Howard Yellen, and MG Michael D. Lundy, Aviation Branch chief and USAACE commanding general, were joined by CW5 A. Randy Godfrey, chief warrant officer of the branch; CSM Eric Thom, branch command sergeant major; and industry partners, association members and many of the branch’s senior commanders, chief warrant officers and non-commissioned officers to honor this year’s individual and unit winners. The Raytheon Company...
Learn More2-4th GSAB Black Hawk Crew Rescues Stranded Hikers
CW2 Benjamin Ingraham was flying a training mission in a Black Hawk helicopter the afternoon of February 18th when he and his crew from 2nd Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Carson, CO, saw a group of hikers stranded behind Cheyenne Mountain. Soldiers from 2-4th General Support Aviation Battalion rescue stranded hikers and their dogs on Feb. 18, 2015.“They were waving at us … it looked kind of strange and it looked like they were stuck,” Ingraham said. The two men, one woman and two dogs had been stranded since the night before when their vehicle got...
Learn MoreThe Initial Journey of Aviation Safety Starts in AIT
128th Aviation Brigade Update / CW3 Rosa M. Alvarez: In this issue, I’ve asked CW3 Rosa Alvarez to provide some insight as to the challenges your school house faces in ensuring the safe training of our future Army Aviation maintainers. “Above the Best!” —COL Rigole, Commander A student, PVT Mitchell Spychalski, performs a main rotor damper torque check at the 128th Aviation Brigade. 128th AVN BDE COURTESY PHOTOThe 128th Aviation Brigade at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia is the proponent for the Advanced Individual Training (AIT) of Army Aviation maintenance Military Occupational Specialties (MOS). The 2nd Battalion, 210th Aviation Regiment directs the...
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