What Happens to Those We Ask to Leave?
Branch Command Sergeant Major / CSM Eric C. Thom: “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” – General George Washington, November 10th, 1781 Soldiers case the unit colors for the 4th Attack Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment during a formation gathered at Watkins Field on Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The 4-6 ARS inactivated the Kiowa squadron, Aug. 14, 2014 .U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY SSG MARK MIRANDADid you know that just one-half...
Learn MoreArmy Aviation – Engaged around the World What will it look like in the future?
President’s Cockpit / BG Howard W. Yellen, Ret.: Thirteen years of high-intensity ground combat came to a close in December 2014. But many troops across the Army are still grinding like it’s 2009, with individuals seeing very little, if any, decline in the overall operational tempo. President Obama addressing the United States Congress, Washington D.C.That is especially true in Army Aviation where almost no mission is conceived, planned, and launched without complementary aviation assets. The Ebola mission in West Africa is the latest example. In this month’s issue General (Ret.) Dick Cody and members of his AAAA Strategic Planning Committee provide...
Learn MoreAdjusting to Coming Home
AAAA Family Forum / Judy Konitzer: I may be “preaching to the choir” as I expound on some expectations that military families have when coming together again after a long deployment, however research and accompanying data have made observations and suggestions that have proved timely and valuable. A Soldier from Company E, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, is reunited with his family in time for the holidays at a ceremony at Cottrell Field on Fort Stewart, GA, Dec. 19.A few months ago I also requested some help from the field to share the highs and lows of enduring repeated deployments, but garnered...
Learn MoreGetting Smarter With Help from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
AAAA Family Forum / Judy Konitzer: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Assistant Director, Office of Servicemember Affairs, Holly Petraeus, joined Marietta Jelks, the General Services Administrator’s editor in chief of the Consumer Action Handbook, for a live Google Hangout on December 9, 2014 where they answered consumer questions and discussed ways servicemembers and veterans could find help tracking debt, scams, and fraud. I watched the program and it reinforced my belief that scams are alive and well. With the holidays behind us, consumers may find themselves facing increased debt, credit report errors, debt collector issues, and a whole host of other...
Learn MoreAsk the Flight Surgeon: Coughs
Q: I’ve had a cough for almost three weeks now that started out as a sore throat and nasal congestion and drainage. I’ve taken Mucinex and some over the counter cough syrup at night, but still have the cough. I had a fever the first few days off and on, but that’s gone now. What can I do to stop the cough? FS: We’ve seen a lot of upper respiratory infections recently in the clinic, and most seem to have been caused by a strain of enterovirus. This is unusual since this type of virus ordinarily infects the digestive tract...
Learn MoreSCARNG – UH-60 Recovery
News Spotlight:Soldiers from the South Carolina Army National Guard (SCARNG) work to prepare a UH-60 Black Hawk from Detachment 2, Company F, 1st Battalion (General Support Aviation), 171st Aviation Regiment SCARNG, for sling-load movement to McEntire Joint National Guard Base, Eastover, SC, Dec. 7, 2014. The Black Hawk made an emergency landing in an open cornfield Dec. 3, 2014, near Columbia, SC due to a main rotor blade malfunction. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD PHOTOS BY SGT BRIAN CALHOUNNo further damage or injuries resulted from the forced landing. The aircraft was released by the Accident Review Board for recovery and was being...
Learn More151A Aviation Maintenance Tech
128th Aviation Brigade Update: The 151A Aviation Maintenance Technician is a technical warrant officer specializing in the management of personnel, supply, equipment, and facility assets to maintain and repair Army rotary, fixed wing, and unmanned aircraft systems. They operate at the maintenance company, divisional G4, and theater support commands; providing commanders counsel to aid decisions pertaining to aviation sustainment. An initiative by MG Lynn Collyar, former commanding general of U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM), to “re-green” aviation maintenance, refers to the gradual transition of aviation maintenance from contract maintenance teams to army maintainers. This initiative fell in line with...
Learn MoreU.S. Army Reserve Aviation: Our Strategic Plan
Reserve Component Aviation Update: Today, the United States Army Reserve (USAR) Aviation’s focus is in complete alignment with the Army Reserve mission of providing ‘trained, equipped and ready Soldiers, leaders and units to meet America’s requirements at home and abroad.’ As basic as this statement seems, its execution will lead to the transformation of USAR Aviation. This transformation, accomplished through current restructuring initiatives, provides USAR aviation a pathway to change that includes a unified operational and functional command, a force structure capable of meeting both operational and strategic priorities, and mission capabilities focused on serving our country in times of war...
Learn MoreAMCOM – Bringing Support to the Fleet
AMCOM Command Sergeant Major Update: In almost 30 years of fixing helicopters and working with the best Soldiers in the Army, I have learned a lot about our branch, our capabilities, and our challenges. Throughout my career, I have been trained and mentored by many great leaders and peers, and I have welcomed assistance from anywhere I could find it. For the past ten years my focus has been on the many challenges our units face, which boil down to getting ready for war, fighting the war, and then recovering my Soldiers and equipment and getting ready for the next deployment....
Learn MoreLeadership Emphasis on Readiness Training
Aviation Branch Maintenance Officer Update: Our commanders must understand that maintenance is training and it requires the commitment of command teams from platoon up to brigade level. This is especially critical now as we transition from our wartime model to reduced levels of contractor maintenance support. To illustrate “A WAY” to tackle this type of readiness and bank time-building problem set, this article offers a process that can be used to execute a structured collective training event using phase maintenance as the battle task. Specialist Jason Barnes, UH-60 Black Hawk repairer, C Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th General Support Aviation Battalion, 25th...
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