Current Issue Articles
Army Special Operations Aviation (ARSOA) 2030
USASOAC Commander Update / By BG Erik C. Peterson and COL Dean Heitkamp: The Branch chief, MG Michael Lundy, has coordinated having the commanding general of the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command, BG Erik C. Peterson, his command chief warrant officer, and command sergeant major provide this article. Army Special Operations Aviation (ARSOA) was born out of the failed attempt to rescue American hostages held in Tehran, Iran in 1980. The Holloway Commission investigation, and report that followed the failed mission, asserted that our nation required a dedicated aviation force to support growing ground and maritime special operations capabilities....
Learn MoreTaking Your Voice to the Capitol
President’s Cockpit: It has been a busy month indeed. Seems like I was meeting every week with our Executive Director in Washington, representing you on some key Army Aviation issues. Most importantly, on May 20th the National Commission on the Future of the Army asked AAAA to present our views on the future aviation force. AAAA President, BG (Ret.) E.J. Sinclair (standing) testifies before the National Commission on the Future of the Army, May 20th, in Washington, DC. Our comments were well received by the Commission. The main point we made was that the Army Restructuring Initiative (ARI) is a...
Learn MoreMore Summit Reflections
Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: This is part 2 of reflections from awardee family members from the 2015 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit that I am honored to share with our readers. John J. Stanko Army National Guard Aviation Unit of the Year – MAJ Byron N. Cadiz and 1SG Keith I. Nakahara “As the spouse of a Soldier, I vowed to support Byron wholeheartedly in any endeavor that he sought out in his military career. When we started dating I wasn’t sure what kind of commitment this would entail, but over the years it became apparent that God,...
Learn MoreThe Afghanistan Special Mission Wing
By COL Donald G. Fallin and CPT Lisa Becker: The Special Mission Wing (SMW) is Afghanistan’s only Aviation Special Mission unit and is the premier night vision goggle (NVG) helicopter assault force in South Asia. The Wing, built around a fleet of Mi-17v5 and PC-12NG aircraft, provides the country’s lone NVG air assault capability and its only intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform. Supporting both the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Ministry of Interior (MoI), the SMW is an enduring U.S. counter-narcotic and counterterrorism partner, with its wing headquarters and four squadrons providing operational reach in support of more than...
Learn MoreLessons Learned for 2025
MEDEVAC Proponency / By COL Michael F. Breslin and Mr. Robert D. Mitchell: There is no question that the Army Air Ambulance fleet and its mission set have evolved into the best medical evacuation system with the most proficient aircrews in the world. This is due in large part to the management and synchronization between Army Aviation and the Army Medical Department. Numerous advancements are a direct result of more than 14 years of lessons learned in the Iraq and Afghanistan Theater of Operations. The Medical Evacuation Proponency Directorate (MEPD) at Fort Rucker, AL is aggressively coordinating multiple efforts across...
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