Current Issue Articles
Accident Trends
Combat Readiness Center / By LTC James T. Donovan: Army Aviation units continue to do an outstanding job of mitigating risk to acceptable levels, thereby conducting missions safely in complex environments both at home and across the globe. Today’s aviation force is the most seasoned, dedicated and capable in our Army’s history, and without question the safest. Yet, we must ask ourselves, are we doing enough to proactively prevent the next accident? CH-47F on a low illumination NVG training flight contacted a sand dune during a dust landing approach. / USACRC courtesy photo Safety metrics are notoriously difficult to quantify,...
Learn MoreEducation is Only a Tool
Branch Command Sergeant Major / By CSM Eric C. Thom: Its Effectiveness Depends on the Workman Who Uses It. NCOPDSAs most of you are aware there are changes happening across the board when it comes to Professional Military Education (PME) and promotions for our enlisted Soldiers. So I am taking this opportunity to make sure that our entire enterprise knows what is happening and how it will affect our NCOs. To start with our Noncommissioned Officer Education System (NCOES) is now our Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development System (NCOPDS), and the first course in the system has been renamed from Warrior...
Learn MoreWarrant Officers in the Army Profession
Chief Warrant Officer of the Branch / By CW5 Allen R. Godfrey: As outlined in Army Doctrine Reference Publication 1, the Army is a profession. As a military profession, our relationship with the American people is built on a foundation of trust, continuously reinforced as we contribute honorable service, demonstrate military expertise, provide faithful stewardship, and exhibit courageous esprit de corps. 2LT Saint Blanchard (3rd from left) leads key personnel through mission rehearsal on the terrain model prior to executing an air movement in the Aviation Leader Exercise. Pictured from left to right are: W01 Busen (flight lead), W01 Castro, 2LT Saint...
Learn MoreSurviving to Fight and Win
From the Aviation Branch Chief / By MG Michael D. Lundy: We must be ready to “fight tonight with what we’ve got.” That means we must ensure our leaders, Soldiers and equipment are up to the task. Potential adversaries strive to leverage aspects of the operational environment to create ‘niche’ overmatch capabilities against the U.S. military and counter areas of U.S. overmatch. Army Aviation is one of the areas of U.S. overmatch that adversaries are, and will continue to make efforts to counter. LTC Chris McKenna (2nd from right), commander, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, speaks...
Learn MorePlanning for ATL in April
President’s Cockpit / ByBG E.J. Sinclair, Ret.: The 2016 AAAA Mission Solutions Summit 28-30 April 2016 in Atlanta is on the horizon and approaching fast!! We opened registration and housing on 1 October and are well on the way to a successful event already. The response has been phenomenal! Key Army Aviation leaders like BG Bob Marion, PEO Aviation, and his project managers, shown here during a Q&A during the 2015 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit at the Opryland Hotel, Nashville, TN, March 29-31 will once again be available at the 2016 Summit in Atlanta. /AAPI PHOTO BY RENÉ BIDEZ...
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