Story by Capt. Andrew Lightsey IV

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – 1-101 Attack Battalion (1-101st AB) “No Mercy” reached a milestone in Army Aviation Transformation by successfully transferring the first two AH-64E Apache Version 4 (v4). Helicopters to the 1-149th Attack Battalion (1-149th AB) of the Texas and Mississippi Army National Guards on Feb. 3, 2026.

“It was a great experience watching the maintainers in our company work alongside our teammates in the National Guard,” said 1st Lt. Kamrin Rosling, a platoon leader in 1-101 AB. “The process went smoothly as Soldiers from the supply and maintenance sections came together to get the transfer done.”

The transfer aligns with the Army’s goal of ensuring that Guard component is equipped with modern aircraft to meet its mission demands. 1-149th AB headquarters is located at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Texas but has companies in Mississippi. The acquisition of the two helicopters immediately upgraded the 1-149th AB capabilities by providing more lethal and interoperable platforms.

“The 1-149th Attack Battalion retired the last AH-64A in 2012 and is now poised for the next transformation with the acceptance of our first two AH-64E helicopters from the 101st” said Lt. Col. Cody Anfinson, 1-149th AB commander. “It is an honor to collaborate with No Mercy, the National Guard Bureau, and Apache Project Management to ensure Texas and Mississippi are prepared to enhance our readiness with the AH-64E Guardian.”

The handover was a significant step in creating more hangar space for 1-101st AB, of the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade (101st CAB), to receive a battalion’s worth of upgraded AH-64E Apache Version 6 (v6.) Helicopters. According to Boeing, the AH-64E v6. features improved main rotor and tail rotor systems, an upgraded fuselage with a larger fuel capacity, and an advanced crew station with a large pilot display.

“This transfer reflects the hard work and professionalism of our No Mercy Soldiers,” said Lt. Col. Merritt Thomas, 1-101 AB commander. “By giving AH-64E v4. Apaches to the Texas and Mississippi National Guards, we helped boost their ability to provide responsive homeland security. It also enabled us to receive the upgraded Version 6 fleet to continue sharpening our readiness and project combat power. It was a win for all units involved.”

Following the transfer,101st CAB will continue restructuring efforts and become the service’s largest conventional aviation unit. In addition to its fleet of AH-64E (v6) Helicopters, the brigade will be the first to receive the MV-75 Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA), and host two Assault Helicopter Battalions with Chinooks.

“The 101st CAB remains at the forefront of transformation initiatives.” said Col. Tyler Partridge, 101st CAB commander. “As we reorganize to continue fielding next-generation aviation capabilities, we are ensuring the brigade is ready to help the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) prepare for ground combat and win the fight of tomorrow.”

Story by Kathleen “Kat” Pettaway-Clarke

Corpus Christi Army Depot, Texas–The enduring fleet of the Army’s Blackhawk helicopter ensures a continuous workload for the Corpus Christi Army Depot in South Texas, particularly in the remanufacture of legacy platforms. In response to this sustained demand, CCAD has launched the first organic composite repair program for helicopter blades in the United States.

Corpus Christi Army Depot Commander COL Kevin Considine said, “Composite blades aren’t going anywhere. CCAD is a very important part of the industrial mix, and the depot takes pride in our products.”

This initiative is a critical component of the depot’s product verification audit. In Army Aviation, a Depot Product Verification Audit is a specialized quality assurance inspection conducted by a higher echelon, such as the Aviation and Missile Command or the Defense Logistics Agency. Its primary purpose is to verify that the parts being manufactured or overhauled at the depot meet the exact engineering and safety specifications before they are sent back to the fleet.

In conjunction with the launch of its organic composite repair program, CCAD hosted a visit from Jennifer Martone, the Program Director for Black Hawk Sustainment and International Helicopter at Sikorsky. Sikorsky is a key partner.

Deputy and Chief Operations Officer Roderick Benson said, “The Sikorsky name is trusted to execute some of the most demanding military missions. That trust is earned through decades of excellence, and it continues to set the standard for rotary wing aviation.”

This was Martone’s first visit to the depot and is responsible for overseeing strategies related to spares and repairs. Specialized capabilities at CCAD, such as non-destructive testing, make the depot an attractive partner for industry leaders like Sikorsky. Non-destructive testing allows inspectors to identify defects such as cracks, corrosion, or heat damage within a component without requiring disassembly.

“What stands out about our work with Corpus Christi Army Depot is our shared focus on the warfighter,” said Martone. “Our visit to CCAD reinforced how our combined expertise keeps Army Aviation mission-ready whenever it’s called.”

The collaboration between Sikorsky and CCAD is vital, as evidenced by the Direct Sales Partnership Agreement signed in 2018. Following this agreement, both entities began working on the implementation of the M-model blades program.

According to DSPA Program Manager Lyndon Smiling, “The process took several years and was delayed through a series of setbacks such as COVID, supply chain, and tooling issues, and now the depot has received three M-model blades.”

“We are grateful for the opportunity to support Sikorsky as a partner, and we take pride in contributing to a legacy that serves those who serve,” said Benson

The depot categorizes rotary blade repairs into three levels: full overhaul, Category 2, and Category 3. A full overhaul involves stripping the blade to its core, which includes removing all finishes, inspecting the internal structure, replacing leading-edge strips, and re-balancing the blade to industry specifications. Category 2 repairs address significant but non-structural damage, such as skin delamination, larger composite punctures, or eroded components that exceed field-level repair limits. The final category, Category 3, involves complex structural reinforcements or the use of specialized tooling to bond materials. Non-Destructive Testing is part of those processes.

A potential halt in the production line due to the phasing out of LEAP minutes could lead to a parts deficiency, ultimately increasing maintenance bottlenecks. This situation, however, presents an opportunity for CCAD to expand its role as a depot product verification auditor. By acting as a gatekeeper, the depot would ensure that all aircraft parts are airworthy.

The Continuous Transformation framework has three concurrently executed time horizons: Transforming in Contact (near-term efforts), Deliberate Transformation (mid-term efforts) and Concept-Driven Transformation (long-term efforts). This ongoing transformation allows us to adapt and evolve how we organize, equip, train and fight, and provides the Joint Force with lethal, adaptable and flexible forces.

U.S. Air Force pilots assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing fly an MC-130J Commando II during a joint helicopter air-to-air refueling exercise above the Southeastern United States, Jan. 23, 2026. HAAR serves to familiarize special operations for endurance flight missions that require a lethal, agile and forward-deployable force ready to defend the Nation at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isabel Tanner)

The U.S. Army Best Drone Warrior Competition highlights the Army’s elite drone operators — trained to be lethal, adaptable, and ready for global operations — proving the readiness of our combat formations and emphasizing T2COM’s work to transform how the Army generates and delivers war-winning capability.

The Aviation Center of Excellence is the Army’s hub for developing aviation warfighting capability — where aviators, aircrew, and unmanned aircraft operators are trained, tested, and prepared to operate in complex, contested environments worldwide. AVCOE integrates doctrine, training, leader development, and modernization to ensure aviation formations remain lethal, adaptive, and synchronized with multi-domain operations.

The U.S. Army Best Drone Warrior Competition reflects this mission in action. More than a contest, it validates the Army’s commitment to continuous improvement by identifying and sharpening the most capable unmanned aircraft operators in the force. Competitors demonstrate technical mastery, tactical judgment, and integration within combat formations — proving that U.S. Army drone operators are lethal, disciplined, and ready to fight globally.

AAAA begins this new year in great shape with membership near record levels of over 20,000 members and our strongest ever financial balance sheet. The future also looks bright as we prepare for the rapidly approaching Army Aviation Warfighting Summit April 15-17, 2026 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville.

By the time you read this I will have returned from visiting our Badger Chapter in Wisconsin for their annual ball and will have also attended the Aviation Senior Leaders Conference at Fort Rucker, AL.

In many respects these two very different events show the breadth and depth of AAAA’s mission statement of Supporting the Aviation Soldier and Family. From the grass roots level, in this case at a largely Reserve Component-based chapter, to the Branch policy and vision level with our senior Army and Branch leaders at Fort Rucker, AAAA is present, providing assistance through presence and resources.

In a just a few weeks, AAAA is sponsoring the inaugural annual Army Best Drone Warfighter Competition in Huntsville, AL, February 17-19, 2026. We have had a tremendous response from the most senior levels of the Pentagon, all the way down to our individual units. The three-part competition will take place in the mornings on the 2,300 acre University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) Drone Range, while the working groups will meet every afternoon at the Huntsville Marriott at the Space & Rocket Center, a few minutes away.

This is an Army Soldier event coordinated by the Aviation and Maneuver Centers, but we will have a few industry partner exhibits, both at the hotel and the UAH range. Special thanks to Neros Technologies for sponsoring, supplying and supporting the standardized drones for the individual warfighter competition at the UAH Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) site at the range.

In the second phase of the competition, the tactical Hunter-Killer event teams will bring their own unmanned aircraft systems, as will the Innovation Competitors who will present their unit-built systems. Exhibits sold out almost immediately and we are going to have to expand the event for next year to accommodate the demand for everything from moving targets to counter-drone operations.

As mentioned earlier, the Annual Summit is just around the corner and we are putting the final touches on that agenda now. We will have an outstanding roster of speakers and opportunities for interaction and networking that span the breadth of the Army Aviation Enterprise from sustainment to acquisition. We’ll also showcase many of the emerging technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), drone warfare, launched effects (LE) and of course, the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) MV-75. We’ll also continue to offer opportunities for professional career development and post-Army employment. Continuous Transformation is the name of the game as we prepare to face our peer competitors and support the Army Aviation Branch to remain agile, adaptive and lethal on the modern battlefield.

At the end of the day, everything we do from sponsoring the Army Aviation Congressional Caucus, to the millions of dollars that AAAA has provided in support of scholarships over the decades, AAAA has one goal in mind. Since AAAA’s inception in 1957, almost 70 years ago now, we have had no higher calling than to support you, your family, and your career by remaining relevant to you, the Branch, and the Army. Let us know how we can do even better.

Above the Best!

MG Wally Golden, U.S. Army Retired
37th President, AAAA
walter.golden@quad-a.org

Story by Brittany Trumbull

FORT RUCKER, Ala.– While away for military training, a Fort Rucker Soldier received the call that every parent fears – his son was missing. Hours later, a second call from a fellow soldier and friend brought three words of relief – “I’ve got him.”

The Enterprise Police Department (EPD) responded to a report of a missing 9-year-old boy at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 27, 2026. Home surveillance video showed the child running into a wooded area after being dropped off by a school bus, according to the EPD media release.

Shortly after seeing the notice on social media, Staff Sgt. Nick Cruz of Fort Rucker recognized the last name and made a few calls to the family of the missing child and fellow soldiers that may be available to help head out to join the search party. One of those friends was Capt. Grant Wilson, a Fort Rucker flight school student, who Cruz knew from their kids playing sports together locally.

Cruz and Wilson hit the road before sending out group texts to invite others to join the search. The two Soldiers were on the way to Enterprise together, putting boots to the ground, by 5 p.m.

After a quick call to law enforcement, they were notified that the party included K-9 teams, helicopters, drones and multiple agencies searching the area. “At that time, that’s all we knew,” Cruz said.

“They had dogs out, helicopters, drones… everything,” Wilson said. “One of the sheriff’s county helicopter pilots who was on the ground assisting with the aircraft even ended up being my previous instructor pilot from Fort Rucker, Mr. Bill McCoy.” He noted that it was easy to communicate with the aircraft overhead due to the connections previously built on Fort Rucker.

The pair connected with EPD and integrated into volunteer search teams. They were pairing up volunteers and sending them out to specific locations, clearing wooded areas, underground drainage pipes and other terrain where the child could have taken shelter. “We were basically clearing the woods,” Wilson said. “Sweeping through, checking anything a kid could fit into.”

After hours of searching in below freezing temperatures, EPD authorities shifted teams to check yards, sheds and trash containers. “We looked at each other and agreed to go toward the tree line,” said Cruz. “With our training, we knew we’d be a better asset back in the woods.” They followed a dirt path beyond the tree line.

While sweeping the area, the soldiers remembered an earlier report of a sighting near a barn and decided to recheck the location. “It was just a gut feeling,” Cruz said. “We both said, ‘Let’s double-check these open barns.’” During a military style sweep of an open pole barn around midnight, Cruz moved along the interior wall, checking behind equipment and stored items. Behind a zero-turn lawn mower, he discovered the missing child, curled up and zipped inside his jacket to stay warm.

“At first there was no response, and that was the scary part,” said Cruz. “He was cold, his arms and head tucked inside his jacket. When I shook him, I saw his hand move and that’s when it set in, he was going to be ok.”

Cruz and Wilson immediately called out to say that the child had been found. Law enforcement, emergency medical services and additional personnel arrived within minutes. “I started yelling, whistles were blowing ‘I found him,” Cruz said. “From there, everything happened fast.”

The child was carried to a police vehicle, warmed and medically evaluated by EMS. Cruz contacted the child’s father and mother to notify them their son had been found and was safe. “My first call was to his dad,” Cruz said. “I told him, ‘I’ve got him.’ My second call was to his mom back at the house to let her know he was being warmed up and checked out.”

Once authorities secured the scene, the two service members stepped back to allow responders to complete their procedures. Authorities later transported the boy back to the family’s home, where they were met with emotional reunions. The father, who drove nearly six hours from his military training location, later thanked Cruz personally. “He shook my hand and gave me a hug and said, ‘Thank you, brother,’” Cruz said.

Personnel from Alabama Law Enforcement, Enterprise Rescue, Coffee County Sherriff’s Office, Houston County Sherriff’s Office, Geneva County Sherriff’s Office, Coffee County EMA, and Coffee County CERT participated in the search, supported by aviation and K-9 assets. Despite the large scale of the operation, the child was ultimately located by two service members searching on foot. “Out of everyone out there from the helicopters, drones, the dogs, all of it, it was just me and Grant (Wilson) on the ground that ultimately got eyes and hands to him,” Cruz said. “It felt like it was meant to be.”

The group of Fort Rucker volunteers, including Wilson’s current flight school class and Cruz’s team from 164th TAOG, played an instrumental role alongside EPD and community volunteers, in the ultimate successful outcome and reunion on Jan. 27.

Fort Rucker would like to thank the following Soldiers for their contributions as volunteers in the search, and any others whose names we have not yet been notified of.

Flight School Students W01 Matthew Cahill WO1 Jake Ames WO1 lan Nogle WO1 David Greer WO1 Josh Lindly WO1 Thomas Weems WO1 Jadea Robinson 2LT Anthony Gibson 1LT Aubrey Stuber 1LT Austin White 1LT Brady Weathers 1LT Caitlin Boothe 2LT David Szatmari 1LTEli Marshall 2LT Elijah Wallace 1LT Stephen Cone 1LT Zachary Nemecek CPT Grant Wilson 1LT Nicholas Wentling 1LT Erden Ucok CPT Thomas Hogan 1LT Sean Sullivan 2LT Aubrie Overton 1LT Maggie Duval 1LT Lionel Robert 2LT Caroline Courtney 1LT Trent Weller 1LT Logan Melendez 2LT Evan Fitch 2LT Liam McCarthy WO1 Jadea Robinson

164th TAOG SSG Nicholas Cruz SGT Robert Smith CW4 George Lambert CW3 Phillip McGee CW2 Shane Polidoro

Story by Kelly Morris

The commanding general of U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command, Gen. David M. Hodne spoke to Army Aviation leaders gathered for the Aviation Senior Leader Forum at Fort Rucker on Jan. 26.

The previous day, he toured the installation’s facilities and talked with Soldiers and leaders. The tour included a stop at the MV-75 prototype simulator, the Aviation Captain’s Career Course where he spoke with students about their current challenges and the direction the Army is headed, and an orientation flight in the UH-72 Lakota helicopter.

“It’s great to get back to the home of Army aviation. I’m always inspired at where we develop the world’s greatest aviators,” Hodne said.

Hodne, who assumed command of T2COM during its activation in October 2025, explained the last time the Army inactivated a four-star command was in the 1970s. He described the formation as “bold, historic and decisive,” adding that his organization is only 100 days into its existence. Hodne explained T2COM’s focus on force generation, force development and force design.

He described the Army as Army Service Component Command centric, and his job is to provide a supporting command.

“My job is to make sure that I deliver capability to those service components. Capabilities are not solely materiel. It’s people—through Army recruiting command, it’s trained and developed leaders that go through the various schoolhouses; and doctrine—programs of instruction that are revised in real time to keep pace with the changing character of war. It’s an exciting time. From recruits to robots, transformation and training command is responsible for delivering capability to the operational force.”

Hodne explained the difference between the operational force—the part of the Army that must be ready to fight tonight if called upon; and the generating force–the part of the Army that builds the Army that fights.

“The first is the showroom floor; the second is the assembly line. Everyone wants to be on the showroom floor. That’s cultural habits of the Army. Everybody wants to be standing next to the Maserati and they want to describe what they are doing on the showroom floor (operational Army). The assembly line is an essential component of our Army’s readiness. There are some incredible professionals that are all members of the assembly line,” Hodne said.

Part of that generating force is the Aviation Center of Excellence that trains Army aviators and Air Traffic Controllers at Fort Rucker; Army Aviation maintainers at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.; and Unmanned Aircraft Systems operator/maintainers at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. The Center prepares Army Aviation leaders and Soldiers to serve as part of the ground fight operating in the upper tier of the land domain.

Hodne said there will always be a need in the Army for manned and unmanned aviation capability in the air-ground littoral. “We’ve got to make sure we can operate both at the same time,” he said.

T2COM is also revamping how the Army looks at lessons learned as the Army Combined Arms Command works on a smart search, AI-enabled generative tool. This would enable Soldiers across the Army to ask questions, and it will cite the sources and provide feedback to them.

For force design, Hodne said the Army must consider its main potential adversaries and ask the question, “Is our Army purpose built? If not, do we have the stomach to do whatever it takes to make sure it is purpose built?”

Hodne also said his command supports the Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAE), that are partnered Center of Excellence commanding generals and Program Executive Officers that directly report to Hodne. Maj. Gen. Clair A. Gill, AVCOE and Fort Rucker commanding general, serves as the PAE-Maneuver Air.

The bottom line for T2COM’s efforts is enabling the Army to win by redefining how the Army generates, develops, and designs its forces to ensure readiness at the speed of relevance.

“Changing today is insufficient; we’ve got to transform,” Hodne said.

Gill thanked Hodne for visiting Fort Rucker, adding that Hodne has been “moving” the Army in a short time frame.

“You all probably feel it,” Gill said. “We certainly know it here in the Aviation Center of Excellence. Our branch has been right in the mix of it.”

The Aviation Center of Excellence trains, educates and develops Aviation warfighters. The Center continuously drives change and transformation to maximize manned and unmanned Aviation’s effect as a member of the combined arms team on current and future battlefields.

FORT RILEY, Kan. -Soldiers and families from the 1stInfantry Division Combat Aviation Brigade gathered during a ceremony to mark the activation of Foxtrot Troop, 1st Attack Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade on January 23, 2026.

The Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System – Launched Effects (TUAS-LE) unit introduces advanced technology to the 1st Infantry Division, signifying a new chapter in Army aviation.

“Standing up a new unit is a significant moment,” said Army Cpt. Paul Shorkey-Chacon, company commander. “We’re here to activate a Troop that will push the Army forward. But as we look forward, we also need to acknowledge the legacy we now inherit. We are filling the role once held by 1-6 Air Cavalry Squadron and their Apache helicopters. They set a standard of excellence, and it’s our job to honor their history by building a future they’d be proud of.”

The activation of Foxtrot Troop represents the cutting edge of Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), effectively extending the eyes and ears of Apache pilots, allowing them to detect, identify and engage threats long before they enter the enemy’s weapons engagement zone.

“As part of a sweeping modernization effort, we are retooling our formations to confront and defeat a contemporary peer threat,” said Army Col. Eric Megerdoomian,1st Combat Aviation Brigade commander. “This requires us to be more agile, more lethal and more resilient than ever before.”

The Soldiers of Foxtrot Troop are tasked with a mission that did not exist a decade ago. They will operate systems designed not just for surveillance, but the ability to confuse, disable and destroy adversary defenses autonomously or under the control of aviation crews.

Shorkey-Chacon ended his ceremonial speech with a message of resolve and mission focus.

“Wherever this Division goes, from Europe to the Middle East, to the Americas, I am proud that we are establishing this unit to get ahead of the threats we will face.”

Story by Joseph Siemandel

A story, years in the making, came to an end for the city of Oak Harbor when a CH-47 Chinook air crew from the Washington Army National Guard air lifted a World War II-era PBY-5a bomber from downtown Oak Harbor to the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum on January 21, 2026.

“This event marks a proud and memorable milestone not only for the PNW Naval Air Museum but also for the many volunteers, agencies, and government officials whose dedication and perseverance made it possible,” said Barry Meldrum, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum. “It is truly a triumph for our community and for all who have supported the museum along the way. We are deeply grateful for the passion, hard work, and belief that helped turn this dream into reality.”

The event had significant meaning for Whidbey Island, which was home to a Squadrons of PBYs in 1942 when they were put into service during World War II. The PBY-5A served in patrol, search-and-rescue, and long-range bombing roles. Known for its versatility, it could operate from water or runways, dropping bombs/torpedoes and carrying heavy armament, serving as the “eyes of the fleet” in various roles from the Atlantic to the Pacific, with famous “Black Cat” night attack missions. The Navy retired the plane in 1957 and many found their way to plane bone yards, some to museums. In 2010 the museum won the plane in an auction and a private helicopter company lifted it to Oak Harbor. Since that time the museum has moved to a permanent location and wanted the PBY to also have a permanent display.

As the museum began looking at options of how to move the plane, they realized the issues they had moving something that heavy and large. They looked at trailering the plane, but the road system and crossings would be too small. They looked at using a boat but that still wouldn’t get it to the museum. That is when Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Bobeck, former state aviation officer for the New York Army National Guard and museum board member, suggested tapping the Washington Army National Guard for assistance.

The team at the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum reached out to the Guard this past summer and began building the packet and conducting stress tests on the plane to see if it could withstand the air travel for one last trip.

“That is when we thought that maybe this is possible but of course needed to do that paperwork to see if it was allowed,” said Chief Warrant Officer Four Crosby Olsen, pilot in charge of the mission.

For the city of Oak Harbor, the significance of the day and the 83-year-old PBY-5a Catalina, were on full display the morning of January 20, 2025, when the aircrew flew in to attempt the lift. More than one thousand community members came out to watch as Guard members from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation began doing preparation for the lift and movement.

“The whole town came out to see this event,” said Olsen. “It’s a cool opportunity. I’ve been doing this for 18-and-a-half years and this is the first time something like this has come across for me to fly.”

Originally scheduled for October, this lift was postponed numerous times and almost didn’t happen and the morning of the 20th, spectators probably thought that the PBY would never make it to the museum. As the Chinook hovered about the PBY, the plane spun around right as it was lifting.

“We noticed that the amount of down draft coming off the Chinook was causing the PBY to move too much, and we knew that the window of time we had was limited so we decided that safety was the number one priority and disconnected and repositioned the plane,” said Crosby. “We came back the next morning with different equipment ready to go.”

Equipped with a long cable the Chinook lifted the PBY, hovering above the park before making the turn over the harbor and towards its forever home at the museum.

“Though I have been impressed on several occasions in my life, this experience will rank atop the list as the most inspiring, most jaw-dropping of operations I could have participated in. I am humbled by the professionalism and dedication of the Army National Guard and was privileged to work with them on this mission,” said Meldrum. “The determination and clear focus of the men and women who fixated on the success of this fantastic idea – with no casualties of any kind – was truly remarkable. Many thanks to everyone involved in making this happen. It took many months, and overcame many hurdles, but our friends at the Washington Army National Guard persisted. Thank you to the ‘slingers,’ engineers, mechanics and crew for the creativity to solve problems, and for agreeing to work with our ‘Old Lady.’ We all know there was no flight manual on how to lift a WWII PBY but working with everyone at the Guard was smooth and friendly.”

Story by Staff Sgt. Robert Whitlow

CLAY NATIONAL GUARD CENTER, Ga. – Master Sgt. Jerome “Jay” Rademacher’s military journey began in 1984, long before many of today’s Soldiers were born. On Dec. 7, 2025, surrounded by family, friends, and fellow Soldiers, he closed out more than 40 years in uniform at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Marietta, Georgia.

Before his retirement ceremony began, the focus was on a new beginning. Rademacher’s youngest son, Nathan, raised his right hand and took the oath of office, joining his father and two brothers in the ranks of those who wear the nation’s uniform. With one son already serving as a second lieutenant while deployed to Washington, D.C., and another as a sergeant in Army aviation, the commissioning completed a picture of service that spans two generations of the Rademacher family.

The commissioning ceremony followed longstanding Army traditions, including the oath and first salute. “This ritual recognizes those who have paved the way and is a commitment to serve with the same honor,” the master of ceremonies explained as Second Lieutenant Nathan Rademacher presented a silver dollar to his father.

With the new lieutenant’s first salute complete, the formation turned its attention to honoring a career that stretched across the active Army, Army Reserve, and Georgia Army National Guard. Rademacher’s service began as a combat medic after training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Fort Sam Houston, Texas, followed by assignments at Fort Bliss and later as a flight medic and crew chief in the Reserve. He mobilized in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, joined the Georgia Army National Guard in 1995, and went on to serve as a Huey and Black Hawk crew chief, platoon sergeant, aviation maintenance inspector, and senior S3 noncommissioned officer for the 78th Aviation Troop Command.

Over four decades, he deployed to Kuwait and Iraq, supported disaster-response missions for hurricanes and other emergencies, and helped maintain aviation standards across the National Guard through years on the Aviation Resource Management Survey team. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medals, multiple Army Commendation and Achievement Medals, campaign and service medals for Iraq and the Global War on Terrorism, the Master Aviation Badge, and the Combat Action Badge.

Speakers emphasized that his impact could not be captured by awards or dates alone. “Those words, and as comprehensive as they are in his bio, only capture part of who Master Sergeant Rademacher is, and what he has meant to our formation here, our aviation community, and our Army,” said Brig. Gen. Jason Fryman, commanding general of the 78th Aviation Troop Command. “For four decades, Master Sergeant Rademacher has embodied what it means to be a noncommissioned officer… with competence, honesty, and a level of reliability that made commanders breathe easier, Soldiers feel confident, and missions succeed.”

Captain Chris Garner, speaking on behalf of the 78th Aviation Troop Command, framed the day’s theme in a single word: time. “Master Sergeant Rademacher stands before us with 40 years in uniform. Just think about that for a second. That’s four decades… marked by dedication, leadership, mentorship, and impact,” he said. “He didn’t just exist in those 40 years, he filled them. He filled them with service, with purpose, and with an unwavering commitment to Soldiers.”

When it was his turn to speak, Rademacher kept his remarks characteristically modest and direct. Rademacher, who once enlisted “for the college money,” as he joked, ultimately filled four decades with service, completing a mechanical engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology along the way and growing into one of the aviation community’s most experienced senior enlisted leaders. For Rademacher, some of the most meaningful moments came during natural disasters when aviation units brought help directly to communities in crisis. “When you actually help people and you see their faces, it really makes it all worth it,” he told the audience, reflecting on missions that supported hurricane and wildfire responses Rademacher closed by thanking those who had served alongside him and supported him, from Vietnam-era aviators who mentored him early in his career to the Soldiers he later trained, inspected, and led. Looking out at his family and the newest lieutenant in the Rademacher lineage, he left the Army knowing the legacy of service he helped build will continue long after his final formation.