NY National Guard Soldiers Test Problem-solving Skills
WEST POINT, N.Y. / By by Eric Durr – Sixteen Officers and NCOs from the New York National Guard’s 642nd Aviation Support Battalion spent their December drill weekend honing their teamwork and problem solving skills at the United States Military Academy’s Leadership Reaction Course. The goal according to Lt. Col. Shawn Hatch, the battalion’s commander, was to get to know his battalion staff and leadership while also practicing skills to lead high performing teams. “Coming in as the new BC (Battalion Commander), I wanted a way to get to know my commanders and staff, develop a team and camaraderie between all...
Learn MoreGander Memorial: Remembrance Offers Survivors Healing
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky./ By Maria McClure – Jeremy Rains remembers his father’s love of flying. He remembers he was tall, so tall he was almost too tall to become a helicopter pilot for the U.S. Army. “He was a big guy, everybody called him a gentle giant,” Rains said. “He was 6-4 and if you look at pictures he is always the tallest guy. I just remember him as a larger than life personality.” U.S. Army Capt. Terry L. Rains died Dec. 12, 1985, in the crash of Arrow Air Flight 1285 that also killed 247 of his fellow Soldiers...
Learn MoreAdams Retiring with More Than 40 Years of Service
There’s hardly an empty spot on the walls of Brig. Gen. Benjamin Adams III’s office. A museum-quality collection with decades of memories hanging as testimony to a storied career. Brig. Gen. Benjamin Adams III retires from the Kentucky Army National Guard after 40 years of service to the country. The retirement ceremony was held Saturday, Sept. 8, in Frankfort, Ky. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Ben Crane) <“I told the adjutant general, if I could do this until the day I die, I would do it. That’s how much I enjoy it,” he said. Adams has given the...
Learn MoreA Guard Nation Comes Together After Hurricane Florence
Staff Sgt. Mary Junell, NC Nat. Guard / DVIDS: National GOn Sept. 14, 2018, Hurricane Florence slammed into the Carolina coast as a Category 1 storm, and it sat there. Staff Sgt. Antonio Rodriguez, with the Maryland National Guard, looks out the rear door of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter on the way to drop off supplies near Lumberton, North Carolina, Sept. 19, 2018. Thirteen states have provided aviation assets in support of the North Carolina National Guard’s mission during Hurricane Florence recovery efforts. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Mary Junell) Florence quickly downgraded to a tropical storm but moved...
Learn MoreIndiana National Guard Two-star General Retires After More Than 32 Years of Service
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana National Guard held a retirement ceremony for Maj. Gen. David C. Wood Sunday, Aug. 5, 2017 at Camp Atterbury. Maj. Gen. David C. Wood smiles as he speaks during his retirement at Camp Atterbury, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018. Wood, a two-time combat veteran who served more than 32 years in the military, commanded the 38th Infantry Division, 38th Combat Aviation and 638th Aviation Support Battalion. “The opportunity to lead soldiers throughout my career has been my greatest honor,” said Wood. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Runser During the ceremony, Wood recounted the highlights of his career...
Learn MoreVA Flight Crews Train with WV Special Operators
By Sgt. 1st Class Terra Gatti, VA Nat. Guard: As the helicopter shut down and the blades stopped spinning, 1st Sgt. Kevin Vineyard, assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, greeted Chief Warrant Officer 2 Mike, assigned to the 19th SFG. This wasn’t their first time working together. Over the last half decade, the two have worked to develop training that meets the pre-deployment needs of the operators while also increasing proficiency for Vineyard’s flight crews. Virginia National Guard flight crews help prepare special operators assigned to the West Virginia National Guard’s 19th...
Learn MoreNew DoD Policy Prohibits GPS-Enabled Devices in Deployed Settings
“Effective immediately, Defense Department personnel are prohibited from using geolocation features and functionality on government and nongovernment-issued devices, applications and services while in locations designated as operational areas” according to a new memo from Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan. This includes physical fitness aids, applications in phones that track locations, and other devices and apps that pinpoint and track the location of individuals. Deployed personnel are in “operational areas,” and commanders will make a determination on other areas where this policy may apply. The market for these devices has exploded over the past few years, with many service members...
Learn MoreArmy Aviation Participates in Rolling Thunder 2018
News Spotlight: Members of the AAAA Washington Potomac and Mohawk Chapters capture a moment during the Rolling Thunder Run, May 27, 2018 in Washington, D.C. Pictured are (l to r): COL (Ret.) Jim Viola, former 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne); Spiro Karadimas (a friend of Viola’s); BG (Ret.) Mike Bobeck who also served with the 160th; LTC Kevin Ferreira, Command LNO with the 42nd Infantry Division; his daughter, Shea Ferreira; BG (Ret.) Joe Ferreira, former 1-9 CAV in Vietnam and Army National Guard Director of Aviation and Safety; and John Filmonchik. Rolling Thunder is an organization that seeks to...
Learn MoreFuture AAAA Members
“Russ Hagan flew Black Hawks in the Army before he and I became coworkers at NASA. Sadly he died recently. For his would-be birthday in May. I flew his twins, Robert and Isabella, in my AH-6 Little Bird for their first helicopter ride. It was a nice way to celebrate their father and experience his legacy.”Justin Wehring
Learn MoreSpecial Forces, Attack Aviation Strike at Combined Resolve X
By 1st Lt. Benjamin Haulenbeek: HOHENFELS, Germany – U.S. Army Green Berets assigned to 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and attack aviation helicopters assigned to the 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division conducted missions to engage targets deep in enemy territory during exercise Combined Resolve X here. The ability to operate far from friendly lines is a core capability for special operation forces. “Something that SOF elements are experts at is doing deep reconnaissance,” said a senior communications sergeant assigned to 19th SFG(A). “We can take the conventional forces mission further and deeper. Their forward observers can only push out...
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