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March 31, 2018
ARMY AVIATION Magazine
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March 31, 2018
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Contents March 31, 2018, Vol. 67, No. 3
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TO THE FIELD 10 Branch Chief Update By BG Timothy E. Gowen 12
Chief Warrant Officer of the Branch Update By CW5 Clarence W. Shockley
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Branch Command Sergeant Major Update By CSM JamesPeter M. Matthews
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128th Aviation Brigade Update By CPT William Henderson
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AMRDEC Tech Talk By Mr. James Hutchinson and Mr. Aaron Davis
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Ask the Flight Surgeon By MAJ Roger Williams, M.D.
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SPECIAL FOCUS — Reserve Components Aviation 22
Army Reserve Aviation: Pathway to Readiness By BG Scott R. Morcomb, COL Andrew D. Doehring, and LTC Clint S. Williams
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Army National Guard Aviation Readiness 2018 and Beyond By COL J. Ray Davis
SPECIAL FOCUS — Safety 28 28
ARMY AVIATION Magazine
FY17 State of Army Aviation Safety By BG David J. Francis
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March 31, 2018
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Contents 46
March 31, Vol. 67, No. 3
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FROM THE FIELD 32 First Army: A Reserve Component Readiness Enabler
By LTC Marcus C. Hay and COL Christopher C. Vine
36 Shaping Culture In The Ranks Of Professionals
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By CPT James M. Bates
38 AAAA Presents the 2017 Functional Awards
DEPARTMENTS
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AAAA NEWS AAAA President’s Cockpit........................................................................................................8 AAAA VP Chapter Affairs.......................................................................................................44 Chapter News.........................................................................................................................45 AAAA VP Membership...........................................................................................................48 New Members.......................................................................................................................49 AAAA Family Forum.................................................................................................................52 AAAA Legislative Report........................................................................................................55 AAAA Scholarship Foundation............................................................................................42 ARMY AVIATION COMMUNITY NEWS Advertisers Index......................................................................................................................56 Art’s Attic.......................................................................................................................................62 Briefings...........................................................................................................................................6 Calendar.......................................................................................................................................49 Enlisted Aviation Soldier Spotlight.......................................................................................16 Hall of Fame.................................................................................................................................63 Historical Perspective.............................................................................................................40 Industry News.............................................................................................................................56 Letter to the Editor.....................................................................................................................61 News Spotlight............................................................................................................................19 People on the Move................................................................................................................58
ARMY AVIATION is the official journal of the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA). The views expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors, not the Department of Defense or its elements. The content does not necessarily reflect the official U.S. Army position nor the position of the AAAA or the staff of Army Aviation Publications, Inc., (AAPI). Title Reg® in U.S. Patent office. Registration Number 1,533,053. SUBSCRIPTION DATA: ARMY AVIATION (ISSN 0004-248X) is published monthly, except May and September by AAPI, 593 Main Street, Monroe, CT 06468-2806. Tel: (203) 268-2450, FAX: (203) 268-5870, E-Mail:
[email protected]. Army Aviation Magazine E-Mail:
[email protected]. Website: http://www.quad-a.org. Subscription rates for non-AAAA members: $30, one year; $58, two years; add $10 per year for foreign addresses other than military APOs. Single copy price: $4.00. ADVERTISING: Display and classified advertising rates are listed in SRDS Business Publications, Classification 90. POSTMASTER: Periodicals postage paid at Monroe, CT and other offices. Send address changes to AAPI, 593 Main Street, Monroe, CT 06468-2806.
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March 31, 2018
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March 31, Revolution 2018 Leading The Situational Awareness
Briefings u SASC Advances Gibson Nomination for CMO
Editor / CW4 (Ret.) Joseph L. Pisano Sr.
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Contributing Editor / Mark Albertson
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Editorial Address 593 Main Street, Monroe, CT 06468-2806 Tel: (203) 268-2450 / Fax: (203) 268-5870
The Senate Armed Services Committee advanced the nomination of John H. Gibson II to become the Defense Department’s chief management officer on Jan. 30. Gibson’s elevation is part of broader Pentagon reforms; he is to be elevated from his role as deputy chief management officer which is relatively new to the Pentagon. The job entails pushing forward the best business practices for the Pentagon. Gibson has been the deputy for a little more than two months. He previously served as deputy undersecretary of defense for management reform as well as assistant secretary of the Air Force for financial management and comptroller. Outside the Pentagon, Gibson served as CEO of XCOR Aerospace, a developer of rocket engine systems and components as well as space launch systems. Under a reorganization plan laid out in August, the chief management officer will have six ”reform leaders” who will oversee changes to logistics and supply chains, real property, community services, human resources, and health care.
DoD Releases Deploy or Get Out Policy
Web Master / Mary Seymour
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group automatically excepted from this policy; - Waivers may be granted; however, waiver authority will not be delegated below HQDA; - Military Services have until Oct. 1, 2018 to begin mandatory processing under this policy, but may begin such processing immediately; - Military Services may initiate administrative or disability separation upon determination that a Service member will remain nondeployable for more than 12 consecutive months – they are not required to wait until 12 consecutive months have transpired. Mattis stated in an interview that the only exemption is for those who have been injured in combat. “If they were wounded in combat, and they want to stay in and they’ve lost their leg or something like this, and they can’t be a paratrooper anymore, then we’ll find a place to use them. That’s a special category. They’ve earned that special status,” Mattis said. “Otherwise, you’re either deployable, or you need to find something else to do. I’m not going to have some people deploying constantly, and then other people who seem to not pay that price to be in the U.S. military,” he said.
In response to an internal July memorandum from Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis stating that “everyone who comes into the service and everyone who stays in the service is world-wide deployable,” Undersecretary of Defense Robert L. Wilkie signed a DoD Retention Policy for Non-Deployable Service Members memorandum on Feb. 14 establishing the following interim guidance, effective immediately: - Service members who have been nondeployable for more than 12 consecutive months, for any reason, will be processed for administrative separation… Pregnant and post-partum Service members are the only 6
Kiowa Updates Fort Stewart Main Gate U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY KEVIN LARSON, FORT STEWART PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Publisher / William R. Harris Jr.
Web Edition / Trudy Hodenfield
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Late Breaking News - Announcements
Fort Stewart’s main gate static display was updated on Feb. 26 with an OH58 Kiowa. The AH-1 Cobra that was on display is now at the 3rd Infantry Division Museum. Swapping the helicopters on the static display brings it more up-to-date with vehicles that have recently served or continue to serve in the division’s formations. The Kiowa was retired from service at Hunter Army Airfield’s 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade in May 2015. The helicopter swap was a combined effort between several installation units, including the aviation brigade, the 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, and the Directorate of Public Works.
CORRECTIONS:
Page 56 of the January 2018 issue: photos of Mike Genetti and Mike Garretson were swapped and Samuel Richardson works for Kratos Defense. We apologize for the errors. March 31, 2018
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Planning for the Future
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hings are moving quickly within the Army, DoD and Congress and your Association is right there in the thick of it representing the Army, Army Aviation and Aviation Soldiers/civilians, families and our industrial base. Since my last article, we attended the Army Aviation Senior Leaders Forum (AAvSLF) at Fort Rucker, Congress passed a budget agreement with funding in excess of the FY18/19 BCA Caps (see Kevin Cochie’s great article on page 55), the April 25-27 AAAA Annual Summit has set all kinds of records, AAAA Senior Executive Associates led by GEN (Ret.) Scott Wallace met in Huntsville, AAAA Senior VP MG (Ret.) Jeff Schloesser has been out to visit the North Texas Chapter, and… wait for it… the National Executive Group traveled to AAAA headquarters in Monroe, Connecticut for two days of briefings and strategic planning discussions on the future of Army Aviation and the AAAA! Whew, I am tired just writing this.
- What will Army Aviation’s role be in Space? - What will the force structure look like as we build multi-domain task forces? - What about the Total Force (“One Army”) will it impact Active, National Guard and Reserve Components? We need your thoughts on how we make AAAA more pertinent and valued by each of you. We would also like you to provide your thoughts/ insights on where you see our profession seven years and 32 years from now? More to follow on how we are going to provide a platform for discussion as we strive to lead the way into the future and reflect your “thought-leader” initiatives but you can start with letters to our “Editor.”
Strategic Planning Key take-aways and questions from the strategic planning meetings in Connecticut are: - We have to continue to innovate as technology and peer competitors force us into new ways of doing business. - What will AAAA and indeed the Branch look like in 2025 and 2050? - What will be the impact of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems on the battlefield?
Summit Speaking of thoughts...here is one on the upcoming Summit. This is actually more like a fact. You MUST... I repeat MUST purchase tickets for food events (read Hall of Fame Dinner, Scholarship Luncheon, and Soldier Appreciation Dinner Concert with Big & Rich) by March 31, 2018 … there will be no tickets available after that date to include when you arrive in Nashville. After March 31st we give the chef the
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final counts, print the tickets and stuff the registration envelopes. Please go to our website at quad-a.org today and get your tickets. If you don’t have a room yet, don’t panic. While you will not get a room at Opryland they are placing folks at other Marriott properties nearby. Again, get on the website or give Opryland a call. They will accommodate you as best they can. Networking, Recognition, Voice and Support are what we are all about. Don’t miss out on the biggest event of the year that brings every aspect of our profession together, AC/RC, civilian, retired, industry, R&D, acquisition, operators, maintainers and everyone in between to achieve real-world solutions for our Soldiers around the world. We are fortunate to have so many of our members who are also members of the 160th Night Stalkers, 2-6th Cav, the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion and the state aviation officer gathering. Key to note – there is a dedication to the helicopter crewmembers of all services who were killed in Vietnam the week prior on the 18th of April at Arlington National Cemetery. More information is available on page 45 of this issue. The future is a team sport. Be an active part of it by coming to Nashville. Looking forward to seeing everyone there! BG Steve Mundt, Ret. 33rd President, AAAA
[email protected] March 31, 2018
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u Branch Chief Update Editor’s Note: The Deputy Commanding General for Army National Guard, BG Timothy E. Gowen, is providing the Branch Chief ’s article for this reserve components special focus issue.
Three Components, One Army By BG Timothy E. Gowen
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It goes without saying that if the Army is fully engaged, then Army Aviation is fully engaged. This is true for Reserve Component Aviation as well – especially Compo Two (National Guard). Army National Guard Aviation is actively and continuously engaged in a whole variety of operations, from major collective training events to full scale domestic operations to overseas deployments in support of combatant commands. In 2017, Army National Guard Aviation deployed more than 2,500 Soldiers and provided support with 120 aircraft per 9 month rotation. This represents 52% of the personnel force and 57% of the aircraft currently supporting mobilizations. This is a 100% increase in personnel and a 200% increase in aircraft since 2015. The Army National Guard recently unveiled Army National Guard 4.0 – an initiative aimed at higher levels of readiARMY AVIATION Magazine
U.S. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY SSG ERICA KNIGHT, 108TH PUBLIC AFFAIRS DETACHMENT
he operational tempo of the Army is near maximum capacity. The demands on the Army are much higher than Compo One can manage alone. This is especially true in Army Aviation.
The South Carolina Army National Guard held a departure ceremony Aug. 26, 2017 at McEntire Joint National Guard Base to recognize Soldiers of the 1-151st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion deploying to provide aviation capabilities under the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade in Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
ness for all units and an especially high level for selected brigade combat teams and attack reconnaissance battalions. The overall goal is for the Army National Guard to move beyond the role of an Operational Reserve to become an Operational Force. To meet that objective, the Army National Guard has increased its combat training center rotations to 4 per year; more than ever before. Across the board, National Guard Soldiers have seen significant additional training time above and beyond the traditional annual training. The ARNG executed more than 111% of its Flying Hour Program during the previous training year, result10
ing in the ARNG Aviation reaching company (-) readiness. The method the Army National Guard uses to achieve its readiness goals differs greatly from Compos 1 and 3. These differences include leadership State Army Aviation Officers, funding though a non-command authority structure known as the National Guard Bureau, and primary focus area of Combat and Combat Support branches. There are important differences in the National Guard that members of the other components should understand in order to strengthen our partMarch 31, 2018
nership. One of the most important become more familiar with each other’s can lead to frustration of Compo Two is the role of the State Aviation Offimethods and structures, strengths and members when decisions are made recer (SAO). The SAO is the Adjutant weaknesses, and rules and procedures. garding Reserve Component funding or General’s aviation authority. The SAO force structure. is responsible for aircraft readiness, Above the Best! Meeting the operational needs of aircraft fielding, transfers, and modifications, selection of candidates for aviation schooling, and the management of the state’s aviation training and maintenance budget. In general, these responsibilities would ultimately fall to battalion or brigade commander for Active Duty units. Because the National Guard force structure for a single aviation unit can be spread out across many states and these are state-specific responsibilities, each state must then have a responsible officer. That is why the state aviation officer exists. It is also important to understand the role of the National Guard Bureau (NGB). The NGB is a federal instrument responsible for the administration of the National Guard. Its mission is to participate with Army and Air Force staffs in programs pertaining to Born from the National Guard in all states and a Legacy of territories. While the NGB is a vital organization for the operations and efMission-Proven fectiveness of the National Guard, it is Performance not a higher headquarters for the states. The Director of the Army National Guard is not in the chain of comThe DC ONE-XM...made ONE-X mand of the Adjutants General. The for the military cockpit. unfortunate second order effect of this Outstanding comfort features relationship (ultimately driven by the HYBRID combine with advanced Hybrid Constitution) is that it makes access Electronic Noise Cancelling to ARNG forces by other components technology on a rugged, yet complicated. In any condition short lightweight alloy suspension−just of a Presidential Call Up, the ultimate authority of the disposition of ARNG 12.3 ounces. It’s the new standard forces are the 54 Governors. of excellence in a long line of Because very few members of Compo mission-proven, military aviation Two or Three have ever served in upper headsets from David Clark. echelon assignments while in uniform, Visit www.davidclark.com or call there are many higher level functions of 800-298-6235 to find out more. which they have insufficient familiarity. Some members of the Reserve Components have a detailed understanding of the acquisition system, requirements An Employee Owned W W W. D AV I D C L A R K . C O M definition, force structure decisions, American Company or creation and management of the Army’s budget. However, many have never served in MACOMs or ASCCs representing the Army National Guard 2/15/18 1:44 PM equities. The majority serve in joint230-35069 ONE-XM 45625X7AAM.indd 1 the Total Army requires an intense force headquarters or subordinate posiMG William K. Gayler is the Army Aviapartnership across all three components. tions within the State with a focus on tion branch chief and commanding general This partnership will require very battalion or below operations and Deof the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excelhigh levels of trust, confidence, and fense Support to Civil Authorities. All lence and Fort Rucker, AL; BG Timothy E. communication. The best way to of these functions have direct and indiGowen is the USAACE deputy commandimprove communications and to rect impact on the Reserves themselves. ing general for Army National Guard. eliminate misunderstandings is to This lack of institutional understanding Futura Med w/Bernard Fashion
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u Chief Warrant Officer of the Branch Update Editor’s Note: The Army National Guard aviation standardization officer, CW5 Clarence W. Shockley, is providing the chief warrant officer of the branch’s article for this reserve components special focus issue.
Experience Is a Difficult Teacher
U.S. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY STAFF SGT ROBERTO DI GIOVINE
By CW5 Clarence W. Shockley
I
n Aviation, “experience is a difficult teacher, because she gives the test first and the lesson follows afterward.” Vernon Sanders Law
CW2 Natalie Miller, Detachment 1, Company B, 2-238th General Support Aviation Battalion, South Carolina ARNG, preflights a CH-47F Chinook as her unit prepares to depart for a week-long training mission at the High-Altitude ARNG Aviation Training Site (HAATS), Eagle County, CO.
Army aviation has been through a significant transformation in the past 30 years and there will be significant challenges going forward into the next decade. Not only have the airframe and systems technology changed but the way we train and fight has gone full circle from the conventional battlefield
ment a challenge on the best of days and makes reserve component aviators most vulnerable to change. Balancing a civilian and guard career with increased training requirements for new equipment fielding and more mobilizations demand the maximum efficient use of time and assets available to train the
ARMY AVIATION Magazine
to counter insurgency operations and back to conventional with space and cyber warfare added to the recipe. We now fight in a multidimensional battleground plagued by the added complexity of the aircraft, onboard systems, and the ebb and flow of the military budget and flying hours. This makes sustain12
March 31, 2018
reserve component aircrew member. The Army National Guard (ARNG) makes up nearly half of the Total Army’s aviation force and currently sources approximately half of the named operations in the CENTCOM area of responsibility. The demand for trained aviators has never been higher and experience has shown that a reduction in training, standardization and safety programs cannot be the bill payer for the sustainment of other programs. The formula is simple, a reduction in any of these programs will result in increased accidents across the Army. We must reinforce our awareness that strong training, safety and standardization programs are a partnership that enhances the overall readiness and safety for the Army. A common belief is that an ARNG aviator trains thirty nine days (two days a month and one 15 day Annual Training Period (ATP)) per year. This could not be further from the truth. It’s actually up to seventy five days a year – not counting schools or combat training center (CTC) rotations. Crews are authorized up to thirty six days of Additional Flight Training Periods (AFTPs) which serve as a valuable tool for ARNG aviation commanders. AFTPs are training periods that provide the commander flexibility to conduct individual or collective training leaving weekend drill periods and ATPs to focus on collective training. AFTP programs vary from state to state and give the aviation commander and his soldiers the flexibility to fly weeknights, weekends and the occasional holiday. They are a force multiplier and reduce training time at the Mobilization site prior to deployment.
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Regulations and Guidance In order to be successful in meeting the demands of the next 10 years, it’s important that our Regulatory guidance and training programs are foundationally solid. As with SOPs, regulation needs to keep up with **EQUIPPED WITH COBRA BUCKLES FOR doctrinal change. An SOP is a living RAPID PATIENT PACKAGING breathing document and to some degree so are aviation regulations. Regulation must provide clear concise SKEDCO® PJ SKED guidance with no room for ambiguity. SKEDCO PJ SKED (SK-215C) “LIGHTER Supplemental regulations must FAS T E R remain up to date in order to keep EASIER TO CARRY” pace with their parent regulation. Contradictory regulation is a time drain for our aviation program. How many times have we been mired in lengthy debate over ambiguous or outdated regulation? It’s important that our governing documents serve to remove confusion and provide clear understanding to the reader. Know your audience when it comes UNIVERSAL LITTER to writing regulation and SOPs, and TIE-DOWN STRAPS™ write accordingly. The efficiencies gained by these simple principles will NSN: 6530-01-530-3860 provide the aviation enterprise with a strong foundation and the payback is PATIENT LITTER STRAPS time spent training verses time spent interpreting regulation. NSN: 6530-01-536-4145 Empower and develop your flight crews at home station by providing them with the appropriate leadership, proper training, and a robust standardization program to successfully execute the mission.
CW5 Joseph B. Roland is the chief warrant officer of the Aviation Branch with the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Ft. Rucker, AL; and U.S. ARMY PHOTO
Lessons Learned So what has 30 years of aviation operations taught us? We have learned that a lack of standardized procedures across our formations result in confusion and time wasted when trying to work together. It’s not enough to know how to operate the aircraft I.A.W. the operators manual and the aircrew training manual. The true measure of success is to bring several units together and collectively operate as one with seamless execution. One single SOP created for the total Army would go a long way in fulfilling this requirement. To this end, in February
the Army National Guard completed the Tactical SOP portion of an ARNG 1 SOP. This was staffed across all states and territories and could serve as the base document to refine and adopt for use across all components of the Total Army. We expect a domestic operations section will be completed in the April May timeframe.
CW5 Clarence W. Shockley is the Army National Guard aviation standardization officer, National Guard Bureau located in Arlington, VA. 13
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March 31, 2018
u Branch Command Sergeant Major Update Editor’s Note: The Army Reserve Aviation Command senior enlisted advisor, CSM JamesPeter Matthews, is providing the branch command sergeant major’s article for this reserve components special focus issue.
Who is America’s Army Reserve Aviation? By CSM JamesPeter M. Matthews
A
A formation consisting of a general officer functional command headquarters, two expeditionary combat aviation brigades (ECAB), each task-organized with two general support aviation battalions (plus up with two MEDEVAC companies), two assault helicopter battalions (AHB), two theater aviation battalions (TAB), one aviation support battalion (ASB), supported by sixteen aviation support facilities (ASF), operationalized by a force of approximately 5,000 Soldiers, over 580 DA civilians, military technicians and contractors, more than 190 aircraft, spread across CONUS in 17 locations, 13 states, four time zones (not including our deployed forces) and eight of the 10 Federal Emergency Management Agency regions. The Army Reserve Aviation Command, formerly known as the 11th Theater Aviation Command, headquartered at Ft. Knox, KY, exercises mission command over all assigned Army Reserve aviation assets in order to deploy ECABs to a specified area of operations ARMY AVIATION Magazine
U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY CPT MATTHEW ROMAN, ARAC PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
merica’s Army Reserve Aviation is the greatest group of Americans I have had the honor to serve, and to serve with.
in support of our combatant commanders OCONUS, or in support of Defense in Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) operations by providing aviation needs to our nation’s citizens during manmade or natural disasters. As a functional command, the ARAC provides command, control, and staff planning for all Army Reserve Aviation assigned missions such as air assault, air movement, MEDEVAC/CASEVAC operations, personnel recovery, air traffic services, airfield management and inter- and intra-theater transportation, to name a few, in support of Army and joint operations. Restructure Army Reserve Aviation was not untouched by the Aviation Restructuring Initiative; we experienced significant reorganization directives which ultimately resulted in a more combat ready aviation reserve force prepared to deploy resources in support of the needs of the nation. Among those changes 14
Aircrews from the 11th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade (ECAB) flew three CH-47 Chinook helicopters, specially outfitted with Bambi Bucket equipment, to assist in the relief efforts of those who were affected by the wildfires in Kansas, Mar. 9, 2017.
were the reorganization and redesignation of the ARAC as a two-star headquarters construct; the activation of the 11th ECAB, headquartered at Ft. Carson, CO; reorganization and redesignation of 244th Theater Aviation Brigade as 244th ECAB, headquartered at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ; conversion of two attack helicopter battalions into assault helicopter battalions (1-158th AHB headquartered at Conroe, TX, and 8-229th AHB headquartered at Ft. Knox, KY); inactivation of 2-58th Airfield Operations Battalion headquartered at Ft. Rucker, AL; activation of two air traffic control companies (headquartered at Ft. Knox, KY and Ft. Rucker, AL); and the realignment of the ARAC subordinate units under the two ECABs, in March 31, 2018
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with our commanders and their teams to ensure the maintenance needs of each tail number supports the complex scheduling challenges of our reserve aviation crews. Further, the foundation of our maintenance standards success rests within the uniqueness of our ASFs. Our ASFs play a pivotal role in the maintenance-based leadership of junior Soldiers and NCOs, and many of our ASF civilian maintenance force are dual status maintainers in our units, the very green-suiters that make up the rolls of our flight and maintenance company formations. This is why our enlisted maintainers are second to none, and while deployed are routinely entrusted to perform tasks above their green-suit paygrades.
u Enlisted Aviation Soldier Spotlight Each month we will feature a past AAAA National or Functional Enlisted or NCO Award winner as part of our ongoing recognition of the Best of the Best in our Aviation Branch. The CY 2017 National winners were featured in the April/May AAAA Annual Summit issue.
Army Aviation DUSTOFF Flight Medic Of The Year Award Sponsored by Air Methods Corporation
SGT Vitaly A. Tsaregorodtsev
SGT Vitaly A. Tsaregorodtsev serves as a Critical Care Flight Paramedic in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. He participated in all of the major events executed by his unit transporting and providing medical care to 35 critically injured patients on 54 separate medical evacuation missions (MEDEVAC), with over 140 combat flight hours, between March and August 2015. He excels at his duties providing appropriate medical treatment to many U.S. and coalition service members. His most notable achievement was on 7 August 2015, when he transported and expertly treated 6 critically injured patients in a high profile mass casualty in Northern Kabul. His timely and appropriate emergency medical treatment ensured the patients’ survival and eased long term care for them. Although all MEDEVAC crews flew patients that night, SGT Tsaregorodtsev provided care for the most. He took control of the situation and guided his crew chief who was helping him treating casualties. His professionalism, dedication and willingness to do whatever necessary to preserve life serve as a heroic example of the ongoing Dedicated Unhesitating Service To Our Fighting Forces (DUSTOFF) legacy.
accordance with an east and west geographical strategy consistent with the structural needs of each ECAB. Although the ARAC is a reserve aviation force, our rated and nonrated crew members must meet the same proficiency requirements as our active component brethren in order to sustain readiness. In order to support this requirement, last year ARAC fully executed a $70 million flying hour program, consisting of 43,082 total hours. Our crews flew 21.5K rotary wing hours, 21.5K fixed wing hours, plus 5.8K combined rotary and fixed wing flying hours while deployed OCONUS. On average, our CW4s have over 4,000 flying hours under their belts, and our enlisted Soldiers are ARMY AVIATION Magazine
Soldiers Army Reserve Aviation offers the unique opportunity for individuals to simultaneously serve our nation in uniform as a reserve aviation Soldier while continuing to pursue the civilian career they desire. On the enlisted side we have opportunities to serve in most of the 15-series MOSs (15G, 15N, 15P, 15Q, 15T, 15U, 15Z, etc.), 68WF2, 91-series and many of the low density MOSs such as 42A, 31B, 88M, 27D, 56M, 92Y and 25U. But I warn you, if you desire to embrace such a unique opportunity, come with your game face on, determined to succeed and with the desire to “Rise Above.” We will offer you the opportunity to broaden your horizons, excel in your tradecraft, and even expand your experience in NCO leadership assignments. The NCO Corps shoulders a tremendous amount of responsibility for the overall success of our individual Soldiers and units in our charge across the entire Army. Army Reserve Aviation Command is no different. Army Reserve Aviation Command – America’s Army Reserve Aviation!
just as experienced as non-rated crew members and/or in the back shops. Sustainment That is a lot of flying to achieve combat readiness. Such a successful flying program cannot be achieved without a professional, operationally-synced maintenance program. Our maintenance numbers speak for themselves, many senior Army leaders are routinely encouraged by our high maintenance readiness numbers (FY17 OR Rates were 83% for CH-47s and 70% for UH-60s, and both currently sit at 78%). Truth be told, it cannot be done in a reserve force without our ASFs. Each of our 16 ASFs work directly 16
“Phoenix Valor ~ Rise Above!”
PERSONAL PHOTO FROM CSM MATTHEWS
AAPI FILE PHOTO
Company C, 6th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment Task Force Shadow
CSM Gregory M. Chambers is the command sergeant major of the Aviation Branch and the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, Fort Rucker, AL; and CSM JamesPeter M. Matthews is the senior enlisted advisor to the commanding general of the Army Reserve Aviation Command, headquartered at Fort Knox, KY. March 31, 2018
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ARMY AVIATION Magazine
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March 31, 2018
u 128th Aviation Brigade Update This issue I have asked CPT Henderson to write about the importance of instilling a safety oriented mindset in Army Aviation’s newest maintainers from the very beginning. “Above the Best!” COL Zampelli, Commander
Aviation Safety Starts Here
128th AVN BDE GRAPHIC
By CPT William Henderson
128
th Aviation Brigade Safety Philosophy encourages “every member of the Brigade to constantly challenge yourself and your teammates to refuse unnecessary risk.”
15G AIT Soldiers training with Company C, 2-210th Aviation Regiment.
Across all components, Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve Army Aviation, it is important to note that Army Aviation maintenance safety starts here in the 128th Aviation Brigade. The mission within the 128th Aviation Brigade ensures that safety is on the forefront of each Soldier’s mind. On average, over 5,000 junior professionals enter the brigade annually for Aviation MOS training. Here senior professionals ensure their actions are always safely executed. Upon graduation these Soldiers are well equipped with the mentality that “Safety doesn’t happen by accident.” With several recent Army Aviation incidents being maintenance related, it is key for all Army Aviation professionals to have the integrity to seek out answers for safe measure, rather than using the mentality of “this is how we do it here.”
from turning wrenches in the hangar, to flying mixed-ship, multi-ship at NOE altitudes in Special Visual Flight Rules for processing targets in support of ground commanders, Army Aviation has been deeply calculated to identify and reduce friction points that could stop the mission. The flight portion has such high visibility that rarely do mistakes in planning get overlooked; however, safety knows no bounds. The risk mitigation lifestyle should start at the Fort Eustis schoolhouse, and be carried throughout all tasks. As Leonard Wong and Stephen Gerras mentioned in their book “…it takes remarkable courage for a senior leader to acknowledge the gritty shortcomings and embarrassing frailties of the military as an organization in order to better the military as a profession”. (Lying to Ourselves: Dishonesty in the
ARMY AVIATION Magazine
Tools The Deliberate Risk Assessment Worksheet is an underused asset by leaders. Its intent is to inform commanders of potential hazards that must be identified and controlled to mitigate risk for the sake of conducting safe training operations. The underutilization of this tool can be observed in aspects of military life ranging from simple mishaps to Preliminary Loss Reports. Part of the issue seen in the military family is that the military, by and large, attracts the “risk embracing” personality. The goal is not to deter risk embracing personalities, but to educate in order to acknowledge and control unavoidable risks. Risk Mitigation Army Aviation is known for its associated risks. To address every task, 18
March 31, 2018
Reporting It is equally as important for each commander to ensure each Soldier understands appropriate reporting procedures. This task has no rank and the training should be clearly communicated in a manner that everyone involved understands how it is done. AR 385-10, Chapter 3 Accident Investigation and Reporting, is a document that each service member should be familiar with and know the location of. Ensuring each trainee is prepared for training with their personal protective equipment is a standard that all instructors and Soldiers adhere to as seen in the 128th. With 5,506 initial entry students passing through the Aviation maintainer’s school in FY2017, the 128th is taking strides towards their goal of zero reportable accidents. The 1-222nd Avn. Regt. Battalion Safety Officer, CW4 Dan Prock, reinforces this philosophy within the brigade with two simple statements. “Everyone is a Safety Officer. All accidents can be prevented with proper risk management, safety implementations, and engaged leadership.” Understanding the risks, mitigating these risks, and controlling the hazards of training events are the responsibility of every commander. Executing this mission well is what keeps us, “Above the Best!” CPT William Henderson is the commander of Company B, 1-222nd Aviation Regiment at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA; his company is responsible for the soldierization of all new 15N and 15Y Soldiers received from basic combat training. ARMY AVIATION Magazine
u Aviation News Spotlight
PHOTO BY BRIGITTE ROX
Army Profession, Wong/Gerras, 2015). The desire for the 128th Aviation Brigade is that every junior Soldier leaving its ranks has the knowledge to identify unsafe acts, past, present and future, and is prepared to notify leaders. The expectation for safety in the junior Soldier leaving AIT for their first assignment is that unsafe acts are obvious, and reported. It is imperative that the next generation observe the enforcement of safe practices in every task so they can embrace these practices in everything they do. As an Initial Military Training unit, the paradigm shift towards safe operations starts here. The 128th demonstrates what “right” looks like early to ensure the Soldiers carry the standard forward when they arrive at their next unit.
CCAD Builds UH-60s Faster Than Ever With New Benchmark For New Year By Brigitte Rox
C
CAD had a lot to celebrate when its first Black Hawk completed its journey through a fully remodeled UH-60 recapitalization (recap) program, Nov. 30, 2017. The aircraft had been rebuilt faster than ever, setting a benchmark for future Black Hawk recaps to 274 days. With the V-Model replacing the UH-60L aircraft, CCAD commander COL Allan H. Lanceta knows the depot’s UH-60 recap program has a tall order to fill as increasing numbers of V-model aircraft come through their doors. By 2025, the depot plans to make history by producing as many as 113 helicopters per year with possibly 48 L-V and as many as 65 L-L for the recap line. “This is going to be what makes CCAD move forward as far as that goal of 113,” Lanceta told the team responsible for the achievement. “This is just the start of where we’re going to be in 2022-2025.That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing with the program we have in place now,” he said, referring to the continuous improvement process program, Art of the Probable, which he and leadership introduced at the beginning of Fiscal Year 2017. “This is a big deal for us,” Lanceta told the crowd who had delivered the good-as-new aircraft in 274 days. “This is an example of what we can achieve when the material flows as planned.” The digital age enables the depot to give their customers more flexibility up front when choosing to send work to the depot. Enterprise-wide communication also means that no depot or arsenal has to operate like an island, isolated entities stockpiling whatever parts they could find. Automation delivers maneuverability, communication and parts- and record-tracking from which analysts can plan, forecast and learn. These tools married with AoP helped CCAD develop a focus group with a mission on maximizing their resources in an endeavor of efficiency and excellence. “This is what we can do when we have everything in place,” Lanceta said. “This is what we can do with pre-induction planning,” he said, referring to everything occurring before a helicopter comes to the depot (also referred to as left of induction). Lanceta says continuous improvement is part and parcel with AoP, and that they are already looking at ways to beat their 274-day benchmark. Tool kitting, for instance, would speed up the Black Hawk production process considerably. As CCAD continues to coordinate with their defense and industrial partners to rapidly deliver aircraft and components back to the Soldiers, Lanceta emphasizes the need for all stakeholders – from employees to industry partners to defense leaders – to remain actively engaged and prepared to collaborate in new and innovative ways to ensure the strength and sustainability of the Army aviation industrial base. Ms. Brigitte Rox is a public affairs specialist with the Corpus Christi Army Depot Public Affairs Office, Corpus Christi, TX. 19
March 31, 2018
u Tech Talk
Service Life Considerations for Army Fixed Wing Commercial Derivative Aircraft By Mr. James Hutchinson and Mr. Aaron Davis
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he use of Commercial Derivative Aircraft (CDA) offers cost and schedule advantages to the Army. AMRDEC AED GRAPHIC
In place of long and costly development efforts to produce aircraft to meet mission requirements, CDA may offer a “close enough” solution much more quickly if the aircraft can be modified to perform military missions. In many cases, however, the military usage spectrum will be quite different from the original civil design usage spectrum utilized to calculate the maintenance inspection schedule and service life documented in the commercial maintenance manuals. As a result, the Army must perform aircraft usage evaluations to determine the effects of military usage on aircraft maintenance schedules in order to ensure continued airworthiness.
instructions and adjust the maintenance program accordingly for the military profile. Service Life Assessment A typical aircraft service life assessment will consist of usage collection, consolidation of usage data to define the military usage spectrum, usage spectrum evaluation, and creation of an aircraft maintenance manual supplement or aircraft usage assessment report. However, because the aircraft technical design data is often proprietary and resides with the manufacturers, the Army typically does not have full design technical data packages for commercial aircraft. As a result, the Army must engage with manufacturers to assist in the evaluation and recalculation of service life. The manufacturer evaluates the provided military usage spectrum data and produces either an Army specific maintenance manual supplement or usage assessment report. A maintenance manual supplement will contain adjusted critical component maintenance requirements and service lives. A usage assessment report will contain methods for the Army to calculate maintenance requirements and service lives. In the case of one Army aircraft platform, the service life evaluation resulted in an increase by greater than ten percent for military usage, as compared with the service life of the commercial aircraft. In other cases the service life has been reduced or maintenance occurred more frequently when compared to the commercial aircraft. Whether the military usage spectrum results in an increase or decrease to the aircraft service life when compared with a civil aircraft, it is critically important to perform the service life evaluation to ensure the safety of aircrews operating Army aircraft.
Expectations The design of commercial aircraft seeks to offer an air vehicle suitable for the civil market, where the customer expects to be able to operate the aircraft at an average tempo, for an average span of time, at a cost that makes it affordable for that use. Accordingly, the designers make assumptions regarding the altitude profile, flight duration, number of cabin pressurization cycles, and number of takeoff/landing events when designing an aircraft. Engineering calculations are performed based on these assumptions, aircraft material properties, and anticipated aircraft structural loads to determine an expected span of time over which aircraft’s critical components are expected to safely perform their function. Maintenance schedules and component life limits are then established based on these considerations. For some components, it may be feasible to repair or replace them as they wear with use. For others, typically larger and more costly components comprising the airframe itself, the point at which they have fatigued too much to safely perform their required function is usually the end of the aircraft service life. For military missions, a small aircraft originally designed to transport a few people over short ranges with short flight durations may instead be equipped with military equipment and flown for long durations or be used as a pilot training aircraft with a much higher frequency of takeoff/landing events. Aircraft designed to fly at high altitudes for fuel efficiency may instead be flown at lower altitudes, in thicker more turbulent air, resulting in an increased rate of fatigue on the airframe. As a result, the Army must re-examine the assumptions behind the civil flight profile and other usage parameters used to create the commercial aircraft operating and maintenance ARMY AVIATION Magazine
Mr. James Hutchinson and Mr. Aaron Davis are both aerospace engineers supporting the Fixed Wing Branch of the Aviation Engineering Directorate of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center at Redstone Arsenal, AL. 20
March 31, 2018
u Ask the Flight Surgeon
Metabolic Syndrome By MAJ Roger Williams, M.D.
Q:
Recently, I gained a lot of weight. At my long flight physical, my doctor said I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome. What is metabolic syndrome? What can I do to treat it?
FS: Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of conditions related to obesity. It places the individual at increased risk for heart disease, diabetes and other health concerns. To be diagnosed, a person must have at least 3 of the 5 following criteria: 1) increased waist circumference (35 inches or more for females or 40 inches or more for males), 2) elevated triglycerides of 150 mg/ dL or more, 3) decreased High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) of less than 50 mg/dL for females or less than 40 mg/ dL for males, 4) either a systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg or more or a diastolic blood pressure of 85 mm Hg or more, 5) elevated blood sugar of 110 mg/dL or more. Each risk factor’s significance is explained in the following sections. Abdominal Obesity Based on reported heights and weights captured at the Army Physical Fitness Test, 13% of soldiers are categorized as obese. This is concerning as obesity increases a person’s risk for physical injury and developing chronic diseases such as diabetes. To aid in weight loss, Soldiers should focus on the Performance Triad goals of quality sleep, healthier diet, and increased exercise. A provider can assist with achieving these goals including a referral to a nutritionist. In addition, the Army Wellness Center offers a comprehensive weight management program for DOD beneficiaries and soldiers can engage their unit’s Master Fitness Trainer for an exercise program to facilitate their objectives. ARMY AVIATION Magazine
Elevated Cholesterol The risk of having elevated cholesterol is increased in the obese individual. Those with chronically elevated blood triglycerides (fats) or low levels of High Density Lipoprotein (the “good” cholesterol) should switch to a diet low in saturated fats and increase their aerobic exercise. If your cholesterol is still not in a healthy range, a provider may start you on medications to decrease the long-term risk for heart disease or stroke. Elevated Blood Pressure Prolonged elevated blood pressure leads to damage to several organs, including the eyes and kidneys. A single elevated blood pressure will not be enough to make the diagnosis of hypertension (elevated blood pressure). The individual must complete a series of blood pressure checks at the health clinic to verify that blood pressure is consistently elevated. Blood pressure can improve with weight loss and a regular exercise program. These lifestyle modifications may correct the high blood pressure leading to decreasing or even eliminating the need for medication. Elevated Blood Sugar Obesity may cause “insulin resistance” and lead to increased blood sugar levels. Diabetes damages multiple organs and increases the risk for heart disease. Providers should educate patients with pre-diabetes (i.e. those at high risk of developing diabetes) or diabetes regarding the disease risks. Im21
proving diet and exercise can prevent further disease progression. Final Recommendation The goal of the aviation medical system is to maximize safety and minimize risk for our aviators. Many Americans are unaware that they have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. Each of these illnesses is associated with increased risk for negative outcomes like heart attack, stroke, or renal failure. Prompt diagnosis and long-term treatment of chronic health conditions has the potential to extend longevity and improve quality of life. If an aviator has metabolic syndrome, they will initiate a diet and exercise program as well as follow-up with the provider to verify improvement. If lifestyle changes do not improve blood pressure, lipids, or blood sugar, or if those values are extremely elevated, the provider may recommend initiating medications. This treatment is to protect both the aviator’s life and career for years to come. Fly safe! Doc Williams Question for the Flight Surgeon? If you have a question, email it to
[email protected]; we’ll try to address it in the future. See your unit flight surgeon for your personal health issues. The views and opinions offered are those of the author and researchers and should not be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless otherwise stated.
MAJ (Dr.) Roger Williams is a flight surgeon at the School of Army Aviation Medicine, Fort Rucker, AL. March 31, 2018
U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY CPT MATTHEW ROMAN, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, ARAC
Special Focus u Reserve Components Aviation
Army Reserve Aviation: Pathway to Readiness By BG Scott R. Morcomb, COL Andrew D. Doehring, and LTC Clint S. Williams
T
hroughout its history, Army Aviation has established itself as an invaluable member of the combined arms team. From the battles fought in Viet Nam to the ongoing operations in Afghanistan, commanders and soldiers on the ground continue to rely on the lethal, responsive, dedicated, and flexible capability of Army Aviation. This is significant to understand given the Army has refocused its warfighting capability on unified land operations. Army Aviation has done well incorporating this focus within its current doctrine, thereby driving rigorous, challenging collective training events. Army Reserve Aviation is no exception, and over the past 12 months has made a significant effort to expand its collective training opportunities. The Army Reserve Aviation Command (ARAC) at Fort Knox, KY, is responsible for ensuring its downtrace
ARMY AVIATION Magazine
aviation units are meeting training objectives and remain at the highest level of readiness for all contingency operations they are called upon to support. In line with the Commander’s Guidance for the United States Army Reserve Command and Forces Command, the ARAC’s priority is readiness. “We must become the most capable, combat-ready, and lethal Federal Reserve force in the history of the Nation,” states LTG Charles D. Luckey, Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command. This is exactly the pathway the ARAC is enabling its units to travel, as they prepare for both known and unknown mission requirements. The 244th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade (ECAB), commanded by COL H. Allan Cutchin, is aligned for a known-demand mission and simultaneously maintains availability as 22
Soldiers from the Army Reserve Aviation Command, participate in XCTC 17-01 at Fort A.P. Hill, VA. As a multi-component training exercise, Exportable Combined Training Center, or “XCTC” 17-01, included an Infantry Brigade Combat Team from the New Jersey National Guard, as well as Attack and Reconnaissance aviation assets from the 101st Airborne Division.
a Focused Readiness unit. This year, the capstone collective training event for the 244th ECAB is a warfighter exercise (WFX). This will be the first time for a Reserve aviation headquarters to participate in a WFX, and it will enable the 244th ECAB to conduct operations in a mission essential task focused, decisive-action training environment. This will drive the ability to develop core warfighting competencies while simultaneously meeting unit training objectives. End state will be an ECAB that March 31, 2018
are executed. While not facing an enemy threat, the 11th ECAB dealt with environmental conditions on a scale never seen before in southeast Texas. Springing into action in response to the devastation caused by Harvey, the 11th ECAB executed a rapid mobilization/deployment and performed mission command on the move and over significant distances, all the while incorporating elements of sustainment, movement and maneuver, and leadership to deliver lifesaving capabilities to the hurricane and flood affected area.
and an excellent forcing function for leaders and units to plan, prepare and execute training. The scenarios are not “canned,” rather they offer fluid, realistic changes and unpredictability which further accentuates training value and challenges commanders and junior leaders to develop thorough decisionmaking processes. These are but a few examples of how Army Reserve Aviation is tailoring its training to achieve higher levels of collective readiness in order to facilitate decisive action capability. Maintaining
U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY CPT MATTHEW ROMAN, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, ARAC
facilitates, in accordance with ADP 3-0 (Unified Land Operations), the ability to seize, retain, exploit the initiative to gain and maintain relative position of advantage through decisive action combinations of offense, defense and stability tasks. This exercise will ensure the 244th ECAB is at the required level of readiness and able to successfully meet known and unknown demands. In order to be positioned for success during the WFX, the ARAC will provide key enabler capability, to include a robust response cell responsible for providing subordinate unit response actions. Responses will be based off of actions generated by the 244th ECAB. Additionally, the ARAC is providing an observer coach/trainer augmentation team to facilitate warfighting functions to include mission command, movement and maneuver, fires, sustainment, protection and intelligence. The ARAC will utilize personnel within the headquarters, as well as from the 11th ECAB and subordinate units.
CTC Rotation
Another example of setting pathways to higher readiness is participation at a combat training center (CTC). The 5-159th Aviation Regiment (GSAB), an organic unit under the 244th ECAB, and aligned for their known demand mission and focused readiness, is set to participate in a rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center ( JRTC) this summer. This will mark the first time a Reserve Aviation battalion has participated in a CTC rotation since January 2003. Of most importance in conducting this training is the ability for the battalion to conduct mission command in a live, combat training environment. The subordinate companies of the 5-159th are dispersed throughout five different states. By coming together at JRTC, the battalion will have a portion of all of its units, as well as additional aviation assets, utilize a unique opportunity to gain company and battalion level collective proficiency in a decisive action training environment. The ARAC, specifically the 11th ECAB, commanded by COL Jerome T. Clarke, was able to exercise decisive action in a Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) role during Hurricane Harvey. ADRP 3-0 (Operations) includes DSCA as an element of decisive action; the fundamental method in which Unified Land Operations ARMY AVIATION Magazine
U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the Army Reserve Aviation Command, transport senior citizens off of a HH-60 MEDEVAC Helicopter, to first responders in Conroe, Texas, Aug. 30.
Additionally, the Harvey Task Force was seamlessly integrated into a larger multi-component Aviation task force. Combined efforts resulted in over 400 personnel evacuations from flood affected areas and delivery of 500,000 pounds of critical supplies to those in need. This ad hoc mission ultimately contributed to building the readiness of the newest ECAB in the USAR inventory which will contribute greatly to future mission success. Joint training opportunities with sister services continue to provide a means to improve Reserve Aviation Unified Land Operations capabilities. The 1-158th Aviation Regiment (AHB) provided support to Trident 18-01 (West) at Cannon AFB, NM in Oct/Nov 2017. The support package was comprised of an assault helicopter company, with slice support from HHC, D Company (maintenance) and E Company (Forward Support). This type of exercise is an ideal training opportunity for low density MOSs 23
focused readiness provides the Army with a force able to meet the Nation’s call at any time. This is especially important as global threats continue to evolve and traditional threats become more and more unpredictable. The ARAC vision statement sets the conditions for future success: To provide the nation with the most capable, combat-ready, and lethal Army Reserve Aviation forces to win our nation’s wars abroad and defend the homeland in an increasingly complex world. We will accomplish this by continuing to develop the most competent combat aviation professionals who are always ready to serve and protect the freedoms of our nation. BG Scott R. Morcomb is the commanding general, COL Andrew D. Doehring the deputy commanding officer, and LTC Clint S. Williams the deputy G-3/5/7 of the U.S. Army Reserve Aviation Command, headquartered at Fort Knox, KY. March 31, 2018
WEST VIRGINIA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD FILE PHOTO
Special Focus u Reserve Components Aviation
I
would like to take the opportunity in this edition of ARMY AVIATION magazine to discuss some details of ongoing efforts and recent initiatives to enhance the readiness, capability and availability of aviation formations in your Army National Guard (ARNG) along with the ARNG 4.0, which prepares the ARNG to quickly and effectively meet readiness challenges. Like our sister components, readiness challenges are the Achilles’ heel of our Aviation formations and actions are laser focused on mitigating readiness challenges while providing more capable and ready ARNG aviation units. The initiatives described below along with the ARNG’s 4.0 are part and parcel to our overall aviation mission to equip, train and make ready the best aviation units to support Army missions abroad and while supporting our 50 States, 3 Territories and District of Columbia.
Scorecard
The first initiative, a continuing effort introduced in 2012, is the ARNG ARMY AVIATION Magazine
Aviation Scorecard. The Scorecard is NOT a unit status report but is a tool to assist the adjutants general (TAGs), aviation brigade commanders and state army aviation officers (SAAO) to better monitor their Aviation units earlier in the force generation or sustainable readiness process to ensure units arrive at the mobilization station better postured and prepared for mission success. By utilizing quantitative metrics normalized within the force generation process and weighting the most important parameters for accurate State and Brigade–wide assessment, the Scorecard assists the ARNG in ensuring that States are optimizing flying hours, funding and training allocations that are the key component in building unit readiness. The Scorecard provides details such as readiness levels of rated and nonrated crewmembers, flying hour execution rates, simulator training execution and aircraft readiness / availability. The Scorecard has evolved with upgrades to enhance information sharing between 24
Army National Guard Aviation Readiness 2018 and Beyond By COL J. Ray Davis
A UH-60 helicopter from Company C, 2nd Battalion (General Support Aviation), 104th Aviation Regiment, West Virginia Army National Guard, conducts live hoist/swift water training.
the ARNG Aviation and Safety Division and the respective state Aviation leadership. It allows National Guard Bureau (NGB) to holistically view the entire ARNG Aviation Enterprise and optimize the utilization of resources. Recent improvements include a resourcing module as part of the overall unit assessment plus systematic and quarterly reviews. Additional enhancements include the integration of SharePoint 2016 that will further enable information and data flow. The Scorecard is not used for punitive reasons and State data is considered proprietary and is not shared outside the State or Brigade command channels. The Scorecard is an instrument that not only helps each State shepherd their aviation units towards mobilization but also allows for sharing of best business practices among the units and helps set the conditions for unit success. March 31, 2018
Aviation SOP
The ECAB
The third initiative is an effort recently undertaken to pursue a redesign of the ARNG Aviation Brigade Headquarters. The resultant impact of Aviation Restructure Initiative (ARI) and the ARI Force Design Update depleted the Aviation mission command capabilities of the ARNG’s pre-ARI combat aviation brigade (CAB) headquarters. The S-2, S-3 and S-6 staff sections incurred the most significant change to both personnel and equipment reductions along with Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WINT) capability. The ARNG pre-ARI CAB headquarters in comparison to the post ARI ARNG expeditionary CAB (eCAB) Headquarters are now markedly different with respect to size and equipment. This change in design within the ARNG CAB headquarters now necessitates cross-leveling of personnel and critical equipment from non-aviation formations if the ARNG eCAB Headquarters is expected to perform mission command comparable to an Active Component CAB Headquarters. The loss in mission command capability came to further light during recent mobilizations and invigorated ARMY AVIATION Magazine
the urgency for needed changes. The ARNG in coordination with the United States Army Reserve (USAR) seeks to ensure the Reserve Component Aviation brigade headquarters have a mission command capability on a
reliance upon the ARNG as a force provider to the Total Army. Through deliberate changes to the training construct and optimum prioritization of resources, the ARNG generates a force that is more capable for the Army and
TENNESSEE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD FILE PHOTO
A second more recent initiative is the ARNG 1 Aviation Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). The ARNG 1 Aviation SOP is designed to provide an operational template that ARNG aviation units will use when conducting aviation operations while most importantly standardizing aviation operations. The major components of the ARNG 1 Aviation SOP include a tactical SOP (TACSOP) section for all mission sets (e.g., attack, assault, aeromedical evacuation), a domestic operations (DOMOPS) section (state, territory, district focused), and an administrative and maintenance section. The States are reviewing and providing NGB input on the final draft of the ARNG 1 Aviation SOP and our goal is to publish the first version of the ARNG 1 Aviation SOP on or about March 30, 2018. The intent is to facilitate commonality in ARNG Aviation operations and ultimately enhanced readiness of the ARNG aviation force. The overall end state is to offer this SOP to the Army as a template for a common SOP for a total Army Aviation SOP similar to those in use by other services.
A crew from Company C, 1st Battalion (Assault Helicopter), 230th Aviation Regiment, Tennessee Army National Guard, supporting a wildfire mission in the summer of 2017.
closer par with the active Army CAB headquarters. This will provide more ready aviation command and control, and significantly minimize any potential need to cross level personnel and/or equipment from other organizations to meet mobilization requirements. Additionally, the supported combatant commands will operate on a more common frame of reference and expectations when seeking brigade aviation mission command capability.
ARNG 4.0 Era
These initiatives described above are nested in the type of innovation our force needs in the ARNG 4.0 era. LTG Timothy J. Kadavy, Director, ARNG, describes ARNG 4.0 as a paradigm shift; a new reality for our force that necessitates change. It is an evolutionary response to an ever-changing operational environment characterized by emergent threats, a smaller active component force, and budgetary challenges all of which demand greater 25
more responsive to the governors of our States, Territories and District. ARNG 4.0 maximizes limited resources, prioritizes efforts and enhances capabilities of readiness within the Army Total Force. The ARNG’s Aviation capabilities are interwoven within the ARNG 4.0 construct in a number of ways. Select units such as the four ARNG attack reconnaissance battalions (ARBs) will receive additional resourcing (e.g., training days and unit manning in excess of 100%) to meet an expected greater demand than in the past. The operational demand placed upon Active Army ARBs necessitates a more readily available ARNG ARB force to mobilize and deploy. ARNG 4.0 will allow for building enhanced readiness and response times of ARBs to meet the future demand signal. The remainder of the ARNG’s Aviation force will maintain normal readiness levels and achieve increased readiness and modernization overtime as ARNG 4.0 March 31, 2018
MONTANA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD FILE PHOTO
Company A, 1st Battalion (General Support Aviation), 189th Aviation Regiment, Montana Army National Guard, UH-60 conducts water bucket training.
evolves and matures. The ARNG 4.0 relies on the dedicated and professional ARNG Soldiers and employer partnering to meet the stated goals. It will also provide more training predictability for both contingency and known rotational missions, thus increasing preparedness for the unknown and unpredictable contingencies. ARNG 4.0 for Aviation
will further develop over the coming months and we are moving forward to meet its intended outcome. The Army’s readiness challenges today are in no way an aberration but a constant. The ARNG, in concert with the Active Army and USAR, are meeting today’s aviation demands with great effort, enthusiasm and devotion. We look to these initiatives outlined above
along with ARNG 4.0 to provide even greater capability to support the Nation and meet the ARNG Aviation maxim: Always Ready, Always There! COL J. Ray Davis is the chief of the Aviation and Safety Division for the Army National Guard Directorate, in Arlington, VA.
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March 31, 2018
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March 31, 2018
Special Focus u Safety
FY17 State of Army Aviation Safety
U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY SSG LETICIA SAMUELS, 449TH CBT. AVN. BDE.
By BG David J. Francis
F
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment load a simulated-wounded casualty onto a UH-60 Black Hawk from 1st Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment, 449th Combat Aviation Brigade during Army Day at Camp Buehring, Kuwait Feb. 9, 2018.
or nearly 17 years, Army Aviation has continuously deployed to increasingly harsh and hostile environments across the globe, all while maintaining rigorous training schedules at home station. This unprecedented OPTEMPO has become a matter of course for our leaders, aviators, maintainers and support personnel, but not without safety and readiness challenges along the way. In an effort to better understand both near- and long-term mishap trends, the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center recently completed its annual assessment of the Army Safety Program for Fiscal Year 2017, including a comprehensive review of Aviation safety since FY 2008.
of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom have fallen to historically low levels today. Class A manned mishap rates averaged 1.33 mishaps per 100,000 flight hours between FY08 and FY17, dropping to 1.14 for the latest five-year period (FY13-FY17) and at or below 1.0 for both FY16 and FY17. However, human error still accounts for approximately 80
Army Aviation Mishaps and Culture
ALL FIGURES – COMBAT READINESS CENTER GRAPHIC
Fortunately, the significant spikes Aviation experienced in Class A mishaps and fatalities during the initial phases
Figure 1. ARMY AVIATION Magazine
Figure 2. 28
March 31, 2018
percent of all flight mishaps and remained Aviation’s leading causal factor in manned aircraft mishaps during FY17 – including overconfidence, complacency, aircrew coordination failures, inadequate mission planning, and failure to follow procedures.
Manned Aviation
The Army recorded 76 Class A-C manned mishaps across all components during FY17, with nine Class As resulting in 10 fatalities and a 0.99 flight mishap rate, as compared to 73 Class A-C mishaps, eight Class As, eight fatalities and a 0.87 rate reported in FY16. Ten fatalities resulted from four UH-60 accidents and one AH-64 mishap. Of the Class A mishaps, six occurred at night and three during the day; six at home station and three while forward deployed; and six were directly caused by human error. Despite the slight year-overyear increase, manned mishap rates remained near historic lows through FY17 with no significant new causal trends. Class B manned mishaps dropped slightly from FY16 (11 total versus 12), with 10 flight mishaps and one aircraft ground mishap. Three mishaps occurred at night and eight during daytime hours. Class C mishaps totaled 56 (45 flight, three flight related, and eight aircraft ground), with 45 occurring during the day and 11 at night. Causal factors included 32 human error, three environmental, and 21 undetermined or unreported. Figure 1 depicts Class A-C manned mishaps and associated rates for FY08-FY17. Figures 2 thru 4 show total mishaps and rates by aircraft type for the five-year period. AH-64: The Army reported two Class A, three Class B, and seven Class C mishaps in AH-64 airframes during FY17, resulting in a Class A flight mishap rate of 1.44 per 100,000 flight hours and 7.19 Class A-C rate for the year. The fiveyear Class A rate was 2.09 and 6.67 for Class A-C (Figure 2). UH-60: The Army recorded seven Class A, four Class B, and 30 Class C mishaps in UH-60 airframes during FY17, resulting in a Class A flight mishap rate of 2.00 and Class A-C rate of 9.44. The five-year Class A rate was 1.32 and 6.78 for Class A-C (Figure 3). CH-47: The Army reported no Class A mishaps in CH-47 airframes during FY17, resulting in a Class A flight mishap rate of 0.00. However, two Class B and five Class C mishaps
Figure 3. ARMY AVIATION Magazine
resulted in a 9.15 Class A-C rate for the year, with five-year rates closing at 1.03 for Class A and 8.21 for Class A-C (figure 4). Across all airframes, four of FY17’s Class A and B manned mishaps occurred in degraded visual environments (DVE). Since 2002, DVE has factored into more than 30 percent of all UH-60 and CH-47 Class A and B mishaps. Ten Class A mishaps in DVE conditions resulted in 24 service member fatalities in the past five years. Brownout conditions were cited in 59 percent of mishap reports for the five-year period, as well as three FY17 mishaps (one Class A and two Class B). One additional DVE Class A mishap occurred in low illumination/low contrast conditions when the aircrew became spatially disoriented and crashed, resulting in five fatalities. Aircrew coordination errors, a subset of human error, contributed to approximately 32 percent of Class A mishaps during FY17. Three Class A mishaps were associated with crew coordination errors, including failure to effectively communicate among crewmembers and lack of assertiveness to state or obtain critical information.
Unmanned Aviation
Class A-C unmanned mishaps increased 35 percent during FY17, with 74 mishaps recorded versus 55 the year prior and a Class A rate of 12.41. MQ-1C Gray Eagle Class A mishaps did fall 49 percent in FY17, but RQ-7B Shadow Class B-C rates climbed 49 percent during the last two years, due primarily to materiel failures. For the 10-year period from FY08 to FY17, the Army recorded 627 Class A-C unmanned mishaps with a Class A rate of 10.17 for MQ-1 and MQ-5 (the only unmanned aircraft that can reach the cost threshold for Class A classification). The combined 10-year Class A-C rate for MQ-1, MQ-5 and MQ-7 airframes was 35.25. MQ-1C Gray Eagle: Units reported 15 Class A-C mishaps during FY17 (Figure 5): nine Class A, two Class B, and four Class C. The Class A flight mishap rate was 10.03, a 49 percent decrease from FY16. Human error was cited in 53 percent of mishaps; materiel failure in 41 percent; environmental factors in 7 percent; and unknown/unreported factors in 7 percent. RQ-7B Shadow (cannot reach Class A threshold): The Army recorded 15 Class B and 37 Class C mishaps in FY17.
Figure 4. 29
March 31, 2018
ational figuraith an aining ments, e simse and ntinue ments n order e tasks d with After ors will ty and
Figure 5.
Approximately 71 percent of those mishaps were attributed to materiel failure; 19 percent to human error; 2 percent to environmental; and 8 percent unknown/unreported. Figure 6 depicts total flight hours and associated Class B-C mishap rates. Aerostat: Of the six Class A mishaps and one Class C during FY17, environmental factors (high, gusty winds) were determined as the primary causal factor. While not a primary causal factor of unmanned mishaps, human error contributes to a significant number of UAS losses. Factors include failure to follow proper procedures, maintenance errors, and inadequate supervision. The best mitigation measures for human errors are proper adherence to established procedures and checklists while conducting mission tasks, maintaining training proficiency, and ensuring based maintenance, is now applying machine-learning qualified supervisory Dan personnel. techniques to provide more comprehensive and accurate asnity. The added revolutionary capabilities that FVL will bring sessments of drive system health. Dan earned bachelor’s and Ongoing Initiatives to the fight provide superior tactical advantages forthe theUniverArmy. master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from The U.S. Army Aviationin moving Center forward of Excellence is The Army should be confident acquire an sity of Cincinnati and the University of Alabama,to respectively. developing a standardized Aviation TACSOP to establish agile, next generation vertical lift platform. He is maneuverable using his education and extensive experience to common operating procedures within technical the Aviation Branch. increase aircraft readiness and reduce maintenance burdens on Standardization of keyiselements in operating procedures, COL E. Ramsey Bentley the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Aviation Soldiers. to include operational risk for management, will optimize Command Capability Manager Future Vertical Lift, andsince Mr. Kevin Reeves has been leaping over tall obstacles interoperability between units, enhance support to customers, Kevin Gordon serves as the FVL Aerospace Engineer and Army high reduce school, risk whenassociated he distinguished himself planning as a 6A state and mission and Civilian Training, Education &with Development System champion in the high jump. His latest challenge was to(ACTEDS) develop execution. intern; both at the U.S. Army requirements Aviation Center Excellence at comprehensive airworthiness for aofProgram new tail rotor Fort The USACRC continuing to work with ExAL. tois improve blade,Rucker, designed the Black Hawk’s directional
ns of estions n, and agility, ndling rkload. tween
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Mr. Keith R. Darrow, a Master Army Aviator and former exBG David test J. Francis director of Army Safety and the perimental pilot, is isthethedirector of the Aviation Engineering commanding general of the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center Directorate, Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and located at Fort Rucker, AL. Engineering Center, located at Redstone Arsenal, AL.
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February 28, 2018 30
December 31, 2017 March 31, 2018
ALL FIGURES – COMBAT READINESS CENTER GRAPHIC
control margins in high/hot environmental conditions. The experimental flight test program began last summer. Following data analysis, the flight test results will be used to plan future engineering development for H-60 series aircraft. Maintaining pace with rapid advances in electronics presents another set of airworthiness challenges. Duane Driver recently investigated an issue with flickering multi-function displays. The equipment manufacturer was initially puzzled, but Duane successfully leveraged his 15 years of electronics testing and airworthiness experience to help identify the root cause and provide a technical solution that corrected the issue. On any given day, if you stop by AED’s Propulsion Division, you’ll likely see Ironman competitor Ross Armstrong leading our fast-paced support for the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP). Intended as the replacement Figure 6. for Apache and Black Hawk Helicopters, ITEP is engine a 3,000 shaft horsepower class engine with improved fuel efficiency and reliability. ecutive Office-Aviation to incorporate theASafety Awareness few doors down Program-Aviation (SAP-A) into the new Data ExfromAviation Ross, you’ll probaploitation Capability Program, currently in the testing phase. bly find Nolan CarpenA proactive hazard reporting programter designed workingtoonenhance revised safety, SAP-A is an anonymous, self-reporting program damage criteria for modeled after similar systems embedded in many airlines to driveshafts. He comencourage voluntary reporting of risky bines practices. Unit leaders field data with will see the anonymous reports and may use element that data modelto adfinite dress safety concerns or prevent high-risk activities. The tarling to better underget date for SAP-A fielding is late FY18. stand wear modes on AED engineer Nolan Carpenter explains shaft components. His Enduring Concerns: Ground and Off work Duty helps determine an algorithm. Due to the inherent hazards of flight operations, Aviation how much damage can leaders focusneed on aviation risk management. However, accrue naturally before shafts to be replaced; earlier-than-needed we cannot ignore the riskswould our Soldiers assumeburden on the the ground, component replacements unnecessarily supparticularly during vehicle operations. Both on and off ply system. Off duty, Nolan and coworkers Gabe Cody andduty, Joel vehicle remain thethey No.compete 1 accidental of Soldiers Gaddismishaps own a racecar that with killer on weekends. Army-wide, and Aviation units operate rolling stock Lastly, if you’re ever in Hawaii, pleasemore look up AED’s Al than most ground units. Drivers training is the absolute Medeiros. He is one of our twenty liaison engineers who highest payoff focusthearea for leaders, withon-site emphasis on both are based around world to provide engineering private vehicle and motorcycle training and on-duty vehicle support for combat aviation brigades and aircraft sustainment operations. activities. Al’s support has been critical in maintaining the readiness of Army aircraft supporting the Pacific Pathways Conclusion mission. During fiscal year 2017, Al answered over 250 maintenance Our safety record in FY 17 reflects superb workrepairs, of our engineering calls for the non-standard leaders Soldiers risk management, but we must further therebyand saving U.S.inArmy Pacific over $3.8 million dollars tackle human errors as the causal career factor also in mishaps. and 470 readiness days. His leading distinguished includes Here are a few areas I’ d highlight for increased leader 40 years of service in the Army Reserve, including combat attention to enhance readiness and further reduce losses. tours in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. During planning, critical thinking application of the Within the space constraints here,inI the regret that I cannot inmission approval and risk management process – to include troduce you to additional members of the AED workforce – the selectiontalented and involvement ofteam. Mission Briefing theyrigorous are an amazingly engineering When things Officers, and the meticulous crew selection and placement of are going well, we know that you shouldn’t have to think too experience the battlefield – will other pay large dividends.arise, For often aboutonAED. However, when circumstances flight operations, incorporating lessons from recent be assured that there are about 700 reallylearned smart airworthiness mishaps and close-calls into crew coordination training, and aviation engineers at AED working very hard to keep your along with rehearsing flight procedures during DVE, are two corner of the Army Aviation community very high payoff focus areas. Not least, an increased emphasis on driver is the very best strategy our leaders can take “Abovetraining the Best!” to mitigate risks during ground operations. “Readiness Through Safety!”
ARMY AVIATION Magazine
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March 31, 2018
From the Field u
First Army: A Reserve Component Readiness Enabler By LTC Marcus C. Hay and COL Christopher C. Vine
D
id you know that nearly 60% of Army Aviation is in the National Guard and Reserve? Most do not, but many do know Army Aviation is a multi-component force with Active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve pieces; few really appreciate the scope of this reality. First Army, specifically the 120th MultiFunction Training Brigade subordinate to Division West at Fort Hood, Texas is at the heart of integration and shared training between the components. First Army’s mission is to serve as Forces Command’s (FORSCOM) designated coordinating authority for Army Total Force Policy and partner with ARNG/USAR leadership and units to advise, assist, and train Reserve Component (RC) formations to achieve Army directed readiness requirements during both pre- and post-mobilization through multi-component integrated collective training.
First Army’s Role
Currently, First Army leverages its sole aviation training battalion, 2-291 Aviation Training Support Battalion, the “Guardians,” to its greatest effect by prioritizing towards deploying units ARMY AVIATION Magazine
under a Global Force Management Allocation Plan (GFMAP) requirement. A brief examination of the Reserve Component’s Readiness model may help to understand First Army’s Role in Reserve Component Aviation Readiness. The Reserve Component’s readiness/ deployment model is built on a five year cycle. The first four years are planning and preparing years with the fifth year being an available year. Reserve component units in the “available year” are considered for sourcing (deployments) for existing requirements. Once those Aviation units are identified and notified of sourcing 2-291st Training Support Battalion begins synchronizing with identified units in order to help enable their readiness in deployment preparation. 2-291st Aviation Training Support Battalion is a not a traditional Aviation battalion. It is smaller in numbers, more senior in experience, and represents most aviation areas of emphasis by aircraft, including unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The current table of distribution and allowances (TDA) has a total of 95 Soldiers. A team from the Guardians begins coordination with a mobilizing formation approximately a year prior to post mobilization training, 32
Soldiers from B/2-238 (IL and SC-ARNG) conduct air assault and degraded visual environment training at Ft. Bliss, TX in preparation for deployment in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel (OFS)
or the final pre-deployment training event. In that year, the deploying unit’s focus is on building readiness through training, manning, and equipping itself for the deployment. Deploying units range from a two aircraft detachment with only a couple aircrews to a multi component brigade formation with more than 1,500 Soldiers and over 80 aircraft. During that period of time, the deploying leadership and representatives meet together several times to coordinate training strategies, track their growth in readiness, and plan the unit’s post-mobilization training requirements. The deploying unit’s final pre-deployment training event is their mobilization training at Ft. Hood. The entire unit assembles at North Fort Hood training area to conduct collective training and a culminating training exercise (CTE) intended to stress all echelons from the aircrew to the highest level headquarters. March 31, 2018
ARMY AVIATION Magazine
Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB)(NGSC), in their current deployment. In their role as the senior headquarters, they actively encouraged shared predeployment multi-component training events that deepened their partnership. From July to September 2017, they conducted shared aerial gunnery and a separate virtual exercise hosted by 3ID. On a personal level, COL Mark
Johnson, commander of 3rd CAB, serves as a strong advocate of multicomponent integration. He travelled to Ft. Bliss, TX and Ft. Hood to conduct a ‘patch’ ceremony where over 400 Soldiers from TF 1-151 transitioned their unit patch to 3 ID’s patch. This event was a significant symbolic message that they were all one team moving towards deployment together
U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY CPT BRANDEN PANIAGUA, OC/T 2-291 AV
In the five year reserve component readiness model, First Army is not the only unit that facilitates Total Army readiness. Healthy multi-component partnerships directly impact the mobilized unit’s readiness. Factors such as training schedules, geographic proximity, and deployment timelines all impact the extent of partnership. The multi-component relationships frequently begin with Army Total Force Partnership (ATFP) or from shared deployment requirements. A recent example of a Regular Army aviation brigade that served as a partner in both conditions – a total force partner and a deployed partner – is 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB). Under the total force partnership program, 3rd CAB partnered with 29th CAB (NGMD) and participated with 60 guest observer controller/trainers (OC/Ts) during the 29th CAB’s final CTE at Ft. Hood just prior to 29th CAB’s deployment to Operation Spartan Shield (OSS). Additionally, although not formally partnered under ATFP, 3rd CAB was tasked as the higher headquarters for 1-151st Attack
U.S. ARMY 120TH BDE GRAPHIC
U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY SFC JULIAN ADAMS, 2-291ST AV
Strong Multi-Component Partnerships
LTC Chris Robishaw integrates special operations considerations as the ground tactical commander during an air assault for 449th Combat Aviation Brigade in preparation for Operation Spartan Shield (OSS) and Operation Inherit Resolve (OIR) 33
March 31, 2018
U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY MAJ WES CANNON, 2-291ST AV
Aviators from 449th CAB, 1-244th AHB, 7-17th HARS, 1-126th GSAB, and 248th ASB conducting a Rehearsal of Concept for final air assault with partnered OC/Ts from 82nd CAB and First Army observing.
a month later. Frequent 3rd CAB participation during Post-Mobilization training provided TF 1-151 with the opportunity to have realistic training and conduct the same command integration that they would expect down range. It is noteworthy that the partnering effort is not all from the Active Component to the Reserve Component. In the case of OSS and Operation Freedom Sentinel (OFS), Reserve Component Formations command Regular Army units as subordinate elements of their task forces. As an example, 449th CAB partnered with 7-17th Heavy Attack Reconnaissance Squadron (HARS) during pre-deployment training as a subordinate battalion task force prior to their shared deployment.
The Return of an Aviation Training Support Brigade
U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY LTC MARCUS HAY, 2-291ST AV
The 166th Aviation Training Support Brigade deactivated in 2015. The Army re-evaluated this decision as part of the Holistic Aviation Task Force, and reversed the decision in order to regain the lost capacity for increasing multicomponent readiness. The reactivation of the 166th and 1-291st will enhance the aviation engagement capability for First Army and improve the capacity for mobilizing units through the Mobilization Force Generation Installation at Ft. Hood. 166th AVN BDE will base at Ft. Hood and will have three subordinate battalions, 1-291st, 2-291st, and
Soldiers from B/1-126 and D/1-126 (CA and RI-ARNG) conduct CH-47 aviation maintenance at Ft. Sill, OK building readiness for OIR. ARMY AVIATION Magazine
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the 302nd Squadron – from the Netherlands. 1-291st and 2-291st Aviation Training Support Battalions will be capable of supporting the mobilization of one battalion per quarter, general support (GSAB), assault helicopter (AHB), ARB, or aviation support (ASB). The 166th AVN BDE will be capable of supporting the mobilization of 1 CAB headquarters semiannually, and its staff will focus on Aviation mobilizations and determining the right mix of live, constructive, and virtual training during post-mobilization operations. The return of a colonel brigade commander is helpful and will provide a peer-to-peer relationship through the mobilization of RC Aviation brigades. Depending on mobilization requirements, 166th AVN BDE will generate enough capacity to shift some efforts towards prepare years 1-4 in the RC readiness model and better assist units in improving their readiness prior to arrival at the mobilization station. First Army is focused on building readiness in our total army. The dedicated aviators in 120th Brigade and the Guardians of 2-291st are working with deploying reserve component aviation units preparing for the challenges they face downrange. When 166th Aviation Training Support Brigade reactivates, First Army Aviation will be better postured to continue enabling readiness. LTC Marcus C. Hay is the commander of 2-291st Aviation Training Support Battalion; and COL Christopher C. Vine is the deputy commander of 120th Multi-Functional Training Brigade both at Fort Hood, TX. March 31, 2018
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March 31, 2018
From the Field u
ALL U.S. ARMY PHOTOS BY THE AUTHOR
Shaping Culture In The Ranks Of Professionals By CPT James M. Bates
A
fter nearly two years of command of Bravo Company, 2-10th Assault Helicopter Battalion in the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, I am rejoining the ranks of aviation staff officers. I would be remiss if I did not share the experience I had in command in hopes that others could uplift their organizations in a similar way.
Finding The Right Opportunity For Change
As a brand new company commander, I found myself with a unique challenge and opportunity. Army units historically have a motto, mascot and unit logo whose identity often drives the culture of the company for better or worse. Multiple deployments, commanders, and name changes over a few short years left the company lacking identity and primed for change. Nearly half of the 43 Soldiers assigned to the company would ETS or PCS over the first year of my command – knowing this, I began my initial observation. I found the company lacked any uniform identity amongst its membership. After discussions with my first sergeant and company standardization pilot, we decided to give the company an opportunity to choose their own name, motto, and logo. After two weeks, this resulted in the creation of two factions within the company – one choosing nothing and naturally was the group who would ARMY AVIATION Magazine
PCS and ETS, while the other had welcomed the idea to become something different but chose a copyrighted logo and name. Capitalizing on this was the perfect opportunity to shape the culture of the company for the future.
Be An Agent For Change
As a leader, you have the absolute responsibility of setting the tone in your organization. This is not a singular action, especially if you are seeking to change an established culture. Every single interaction you have with your Soldiers is an opportunity to affect their lives and subsequently impact the organization for the better. It is astonishing to consider the impact a single positive or negative interaction can have on a Soldier. Take for example a young Non-commissioned officer (NCO) who approaches you with an issue regarding one of her Soldiers. She reports that one Soldier struggling with his finances needs a loan from Army Emergency Relief (AER) with a commander’s referral to fix his car. What she doesn’t tell you is that the Soldier was planning to drive to assist his mother with the cleaning out of his grandfather’s home, but will not be able to without his car repaired. Think about the impact to both the NCO and the Soldier if you sharply told the NCO to go away – you didn’t have time to ‘deal’ with another problem. Alternatively, consider how fortu36
Wolfpack aircraft in formation with an Israeli Black Hawk during POTUS support mission.
nate the Soldier would feel if you took the time to listen and assist with their problem – even if you had to schedule a time to sit down later. Not only will the Soldier gain increased trust in his commander, but will undoubtedly be that much more willing to follow you in the future. You can also be assured that this Soldier will tell his peers how you handled his important issue. I cannot express strongly enough how important it is to show your subordinates that you truly care for their lives, both on and off duty. Leaders might not always have time to stop and assist their Soldiers with every problem, but how you treat them will have long lasting impacts to the organization. You must be the representative of the culture and climate that you want to achieve in your company. It must be a daily effort – and you must consider each interaction that you have with each of your Soldiers, both individually and in group settings. If you want your organization to have a positive work environment, you must first be a beacon of positivity yourself. Your example will be followed, for better or for worse. Once you’ve begun to establish a culture in your organization, you’ll quickly see that it is a long term process that March 31, 2018
fort that led to one of the greatest accomplishments of my Army career. We truly changed the identity of the company, and created a culture where everyone felt included, worked hard, and made a positive and lasting impact to many Soldiers and their family’s lives.
Be Yourself
Members of the Wolfpack pause for a Kodak moment before deploying in support of Atlantic Resolve 2.0.
won’t happen in a single week, after a single announcement. Some organizations will be more resistant than others towards change. This is where you as the leader can act as the change agent, literally representing the very culture and climate that you are working so hard to achieve.
A Culture For The Future
Changing the name and identity of a company that had already suffered through multiple identity changes in just a few years was not going to be easy. I saw no other option to change the culture and wanted any change made to last more than one year. I had to tread carefully as a lasting change needed to be right the first time. After contacting the Army Historical Foundation to ensure I wasn’t completely violating tradition, I began conducting some research. I found an old newsletter online which revealed that my company had once referred to itself as the “Wolfpack,” many, many years prior. It was then just a nickname while deployed, but I believed I had found our new identity. I worked quite a few late nights pondering and creating a logo incorporating our new identity. This included coming up with a motto we could use, “Fear the Pack” and even found a fantastic quote from Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Law of the Jungle.’ “For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.” I know the company at first didn’t understand the meaning behind my new slogan I quoted at every meeting, but I persisted. I truly meant that each individual Soldier was important to the company, and that the company in turn gained collective strength from our diverse group of individuals hailing from all over the United States and even some foreign ARMY AVIATION Magazine
territories. Over time, our company adopted this ‘pack-culture’ and effectively became an Army family. This logo and motto found its way into every briefing slide, t-shirts, hats, stickers, and even a company coin. I had to remind Soldiers not to tag businesses as I had found stickers on a restaurant in the local town outside of our base! This proliferation of the Wolfpack culture, led by the very members of the company, was absolutely amazing to witness. I don’t think it was sheer luck that we were able to grow and develop a culture together. It was a collective efApply Today! VT-AAA.COM Flight Training Call 830.584.7058 GI Bill
The best advice I received from my battalion commander I pass on to you now – be yourself. I challenge you to see that you can set the tone in your organization. Your example is what your Soldiers will follow. Your company will take on the personality of its commander. If you complain, they will complain. If you are a beacon of positive energy, I guarantee you will see a difference in the people around you. Everyone volunteered to be here serving our country – treat them as the valued human beings they are and you will shape the culture of your organization with amazing results. CPT James M. Bates served as the commander of Company B, 2nd Bn., 10th Cbt. Avn. Bde., at Fort Drum, NY when he wrote this article. He is currently stationed with Aviation and Fires Evaluation Directorate, U.S. Army Evaluation Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
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March 31, 2018
AAAA Presents the 2017 Functional Awards
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The Air Traffic Control Manager of the Year
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY U.S. ARMY, FORT RUCKER, AL
uring the annual Aviation Senior Leaders Forum hosted by the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence (USAACE), the Army Aviation Association of America recognized the 2017 National Functional Awards winners at a dinner in the Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, Alabama. AAAA’s President, BG (Ret.) Stephen D. Mundt, and MG William K. Gayler, Aviation Branch chief and USAACE commanding general, were joined by CW5 Joseph B. Roland, chief warrant officer of the branch; CSM Gregory M. Chambers, branch command sergeant major; and industry partners, association members and many of the branch’s senior commanders, chief warrant officers and non-commissioned officers to honor this year’s individual and unit winners. The Raytheon Company sponsors all of the Air Traffic Control awards; COL (Ret.) Mike Riley, Army and Special Operations Aviation Lead, represented the company.
The Air Traffic Control Manager of the Year is CW3 Pablo A. Berrios with 3rd Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (l-r) MG Gayler, BG (Ret.) Mundt, CW3 Berrios, and COL (Ret.) Riley.
The Air Traffic Control Unit of the Year
The Air Traffic Controller of the Year
The Air Traffic Controller of the Year is SSG Alvin L. Long with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment, Task Force Rough Riders, 29th Combat Aviation Brigade, Bashur, Iraq. (l-r) MG Gayler, BG (Ret.) Mundt, SSG Long, and COL (Ret.) Riley.
The Air Traffic Control Unit of the Year is 4th Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment, Camp Humphreys, Korea. LTC Ryan I. Moore, the commander, CW3 Quentin E. Young, and MSG Alonzo Fielder, accepted the award on behalf of the unit Soldiers. (l-r) LTC Moore, MSG Fielder, and CW3 Young.
The Air Traffic Maintenance Technician of the Year
The Air Traffic Control Facility of the Year
The Air Traffic Control Facility of the Year is Phoenix Aerodrome Flight Information Service Tower, Kabul, Afghanistan, managed by Company F, 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment. CW2 Sean A. Calinawan and SSG Shawn P. Carriere accepted the award on behalf of the facility mem-
The Air Traffic Maintenance Technician of the Year is Mr. Steven M. Haag, assigned to Air Traffic Services Command, Ft. Rucker, Alabama. Air Traffic Maintenance Technician of the Year
bers. l-r) CW2 Calinawan, SSG Carriere, and COL (Ret.) Riley. ARMY AVIATION Magazine
(l-r) MG Gayler, BG (Ret.) Mundt, Mr. Haag, and COL (Ret.) Riley.
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March 31, 2018
The Army Aviation Medicine Award
The Army Aviation Medicine Award is sponsored by the Gentex Corporation and was presented to COL Steven J. Gaydos, School of Army Aviation Medicine, Ft. Rucker, Alabama. (l-r) COL
The Aviation Trainer of the Year
Gaydos and Mr. Mark Jones from Gentex.
The Army Aviation DUSTOFF Flight Medic of the Year
The Army Aviation DUSTOFF Flight Medic of the Year award, sponsored by Air Methods Corporation, was presented to SGT Loran M. Lott, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley,
The Aviation Trainer of the Year is sponsored by L3 Communications Integrated Systems and was presented to CW3 David J. Kruse, Special Mission Wing, Special Operations Aviation Group, Kabul, Afghanistan. (l-r) MG
Gayler, BG (Ret.) Mundt, CW3 Kruse, and COL (Ret.) Jim Stephenson, L3 Technologies.
Thanks to the Aviation Center Chapter team led by president, COL (Ret.) Robert C. Doerer, for another great event.
Kansas. (l-r) SGT Lott and CDR (USN Ret.) Bob Brodin, Air Methods Corp.
The Army Aviation Air/Sea Rescue Award
The Army Aviation Air/Sea Rescue award is sponsored by UTC Aerospace Systems and is presented to the crew that has performed a rescue using a personnel hoist. This year’s winner is DUSTOFF 22 – CPT Catherine R. Brown, pilot in command; CW2 Travis A. Dusenberry, pilot; SGT Nicholas K. August, crew chief; SPC Kevin R. Brock, flight medic; and SGT Misti E. Minor, crewmember; assigned to Company C, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, Task Force Tigershark, Forward Operating Base Fenty, Afghanistan. (l-r) MG Gayler, BG (Ret.) Mundt, CW2 Dusenberry, SGT August, SPC Brock, and Mr. Jay Singh, UTC Aerospace Systems.
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March 31, 2018
Historical Perspective u By Mark Albertson
U.S. ARMY FILE PHOTO
The First Director of Air Training
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he U.S. Army Field Artillery was one of the most effective American arms in World War II; due, in part, to the efforts of William Wallace Ford, the first Director of Air Training. Ford is one of the most pivotal personalities in the entire history of Army Aviation. Ford was in at the beginning; an artilleryman who learned to fly years before the Air Observation Post Concept was ever organized. The year was 1933, and Ford was attached to the 82nd Field Artillery (Horse), Fort Bliss, Texas. He was a battalion reconnaissance officer whose duties included not only ground reconnaissance but the aerial variety as well. He would go up as an observer in an Air Corps observation plane noting the fall of artillery rounds and sending corrections via radio using Morse Code; which Ford noted, “. . . every artillery officer had to learn (like horseshoeing).” Ford decided to learn to fly, taking lessons from an airport operator at Biggs Field, near Fort Bliss. The flying course amounted to ten hours towards a solo pilot’s license and cost
ARMY AVIATION AVIATION Magazine ARMY Magazine
Air Observation Post during the Louisiana Maneuvers, August-September 1941.
$80, a lot of money during the depths of the Great Depression, as noted by Ford. He was one of seven taking the course; a group to which he referred as a “motley crew;” which besides himself, featured a Chinaman, and a professional wrestler. But three years later, Ford bought his own plane, a Rearwin Sportster for $1,975. He would sell this plane in 1938 and three years later buy another, a four-place Rearwin Cloudster. Air Observation Post Concept Ford became one of the Young Turks within the Ground Forces championing the use of light planes within the Field Artillery. In the April 1941 issue of The Field Artillery Journal, Ford used his First Amendment Right to journalism towards making the case for the Air Observation Post Concept: 40 40
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Mitigating Vulnerability Ford even took on the expected argument concerning the vulnerability of the flivver plane – “. . . Objection will be heard that such aircraft will be quite vulnerable to hostile aviation. “Well, what aircraft isn’t? Only the best of the fighters themselves. Does anyone think, for example, that our present service type observation ship, the O-47, would bear a charmed life in an atmosphere infested with enemy pursuit? Of what use are one or two flexible machine guns, firing to the rear, against eight fixed forward guns of the modern fighter? Our little flivver plane will have no armament at all; its protection will consist in: 1. General superiority of the air secured by our pursuit aviation. Let no one say we may not have this. We may not win the war, but we should try. We should try, likewise, to gain air superiority. No modern war has been won without it. Of course not even a definite air superiority on our part will render us immune from enemy air attack. But such superiority, or merely equality, should make it possible for us to employ observation without prohibitive losses, especially when protective measures are adopted. 2. Observing from low altitudes over our own territory. Low-flying airplanes, particularly if painted camouflage, are hard to see from above. If enemy fighters cruise at low altitudes our ground weapons should be able to make it hot for them. 3. Maneuverability. Upon the approach of hostile aircraft our pilot will put the little ship into a series of tight turns, barely off the ground; high-speed enemy planes, much less maneuverable, will have difficulty in bringing their guns to bear. 4. Short flights. Our plane will take off, make an adjustment, and land again in very short time; enemy craft will have to be Johnny-on-the-spot to get it.” “Having the plane, pilot and observer constantly assigned to the battalion they serve has great and obvious advantages. Close teamwork is achieved through this permanent relationship. The plane accompanies the battalion by short hops. It is ready at the moment it is needed. Moreover, each battalion has this invaluable aid; no longer does the battalion commander hope in vain for the brief use of a plane said to be on some distant airdrome ‘on call,’” ARMY AVIATION Magazine
First Director of Air Training On the heels of Ford’s literary effort was the use of flivver planes for liaison purposes for the 1941 maneuvers in Louisiana. And while greater acceptance of the Air OP seemed to be gaining momentum, Ford observed that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor accelerated the pace. And on January 2, 1942, Lieutenant Colonel William Wallace Ford Colonel Ford was chosen as Director of Air Training, in essence, setting the pace for future directors and later branch chiefs of Army Aviation. And by June 6, 1942, Army Aviation was born. Having organized the Air Observation Post Concept and hence, Army Aviation, Lieutenant Colonel Ford became Colonel Ford and was assigned to Camp Bowie, Texas, to command the 223rd Field Artillery Group. Promoted to brigadier general, Ford became the artillery commander of the 87th Infantry Division. And in November 1944, the 87th deployed to France.
U.S. FIELD ARTILLERY FILE PHOTO
“During the Third Army maneuvers in the early part of 1940 this writer was a battery commander in the light artillery of the ‘streamlined’ division. During successive division, corps and army exercises he participated in a number of field problems. Not once, during this period of four months, did he find a decent OP! Not once, did he have a map or map substitute from which fire could have been computed! Not once, was an actual air observer available to adjust the fire of his battalion!” Ford not only highlights a problem, but offers a solution for same: “The plane for our field artillery battalion should go with that battalion at all times. The flivver plane, with its light wing loading and its 75 hp engine, cruises at about 80 mph and lands at about 45 mph. It does not require a prepared field but can land in almost any cow pasture or similar place. Hundreds of landings and takeoffs have been made on highways. Even plowed fields are practicable provided the furrows are not deep.”
Off to the Front The 87th was bound for the Metz area, replacing the Fifth Division. The stubborn Germans had been holding out in four forts. Ford had been champing at the bit to get into the air. So, Brigadier General Ford commandeered a plane and observer and took off for the front. Just three minutes after lifting off, Ford and his observer closed one of the German-occupied strong points. The observer called in the coordinates. This was quickly followed by an explosion which threw up dirt and debris in close proximity to the target. The observer called in a correction. Ford winged closer to the target for the follow up round. “They’re shooting at us!” cried the observer. Ford threw the Cub into a diving turn, then snaked a ravine separating two of the German occupied forts. Clear of enemy fire, Ford circled round for another pass. When he was ready, the observer radioed the command to fire. When the shell impacted, the observer followed up with the corrections. Ford, then, dove for safety. This cycle was repeated several times before returning to base. And in two days, all the forts were in American hands. Following the war, Ford’s single star was revoked and he reverted to his previous rank of colonel. He remained in the Army, and after a number of postings, Ford was again promoted to brigadier general. He continued his Army career until August 31, 1954, when after 37 years of service, he retired. The Army Aviation of Williams, Howze, Hutton, Kinnard, Tolson, etc., was built upon that foundation laid by Ford. Indeed, Ford set the pace. He charted the course to what Army Aviation is today – a branch within the United States Army.
Mark Albertson is the award winning historian for Army Aviation Publications, Inc. 41
March 31, 2018
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2018 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit Scholarship Focus By COL Michelle F. Yarborough, U.S. Army Retired
W
e are rapidly approaching the 2018 AAAA Mission Solutions Summit in Nashville, April 25-27, and we are asking you to give generously to the AAAA Scholarship Foundation (AAAASFI).
The primary focus of the AAAASFI during this year’s Summit is the Families of the Fallen scholarship. This scholarship was established in 2014 and is reserved for family members of Army Aviation Soldiers who died while serving honorably in our great Army. Currently the Families of the Fallen Scholarship fund awards $1,000 each year. Our goal for this Summit is to raise $20,000 allowing us to increase that annual award to $2,000 or two $1000 awards. We anticipate that you recognize the sacrifices our military families make, so we request that you give generously to help those families of Army Aviation Soldiers who have given their all for us. You may specify your “Families of the Fallen” contribution to the memory of an individual. We will also gratefully accept your contribution towards any of our other sponsored scholarships or for the general fund. A company may also choose to sponsor a self-sustaining scholarship under their own name. They are given a five-year period to reach the $30,000 self-sustaining threshold which includes a match from AAAASFI of up to $10,000 or $15,000 depending on the company’s gross revenue. Another sponsored scholarship of in-
ARMY AVIATION Magazine
Mr. Peter Martin, CEO of Ameripack, Inc., stands with AAAA Scholarship Foundation Fundraising Committee Chair, COL (Ret.) Shelley Yarborough, in front of the customized humidors his company donated to raise funds for the Foundation during the 2017 AAAA Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit in Nashville, TN, Apr 26-28.
terest at our Summit gathering of generations of Army aircrews is our Heritage Matching Fund Scholarship. These scholarships are endowed by grants from sponsoring unit and/or veteran associations. They also receive a match of up to $10,000, subject to General Fund availability, and the sponsoring association has a ten-year period to reach the $30,000 self-sustaining threshold. While all donations to a Heritage Fund are accepted, only the first $10,000 received directly from the sponsoring association will be matched. All industry & individual donors who provide at least a $1,000 check to the AAAA Scholarship Foundation before 31 Mar have the opportunity to be recognized at a check presentation ceremony during the Scholarship & Museum Foundation Luncheon on Thursday, April 26, at 1130hrs. Those wishing to donate and take part in the luncheon should contact Sue Stokes at the national office – 203-268-2450,
[email protected]. Our Fund Rais-
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ing Committee is ready to assist you or provide any information you may need and also to engage with the appropriate corporate giving office contact. As a reminder, the SFI is a 501c3 charity, (tax ID number 06-0799487) and part of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) # 10516. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided over $7,000,000 to more than 4,000 outstanding enlisted, officer, and civilian family member applicants. These merit-based scholarships are awarded in a blind process wherein all personal identification is removed. Please support our “Families of the Fallen” Scholarship. Your contribution will directly benefit families who survive our Army Aviation Soldiers lost in the line of duty. COL (Ret.) Michelle F. Yarborough chairs the Army Aviation Association of America Scholarship Foundation Fundraising Committee.
March 31, 2018
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Remembering our Fallen Heroes ...
Catherine Zimmerman, 2017 Recipient of the Families of the Fallen Scholarship
Supporting their Families
Families of the Fallen Scholarship THE PURPOSE: To help the families of our fallen heroes cover college expenses. THE GOAL: To increase the Families of the Fallen Scholarship from a $1,000 award to a $4,000 award.
DONATE TODAY! quad-a.org
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March 31, 2018
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AAAA Chapter Affairs
By LTC (Ret.) Jan Drabczuk
I greatly appreciate the support from COL Dave Hall, the Grizzly Chapter President for co- authoring and sharing this information with our membership..
CHAPTER COURTESY PHOTO
The Grizzly Chapter
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ew Growing Chapter - The Grizzly AAAA Chapter has one mission – Support the Army Aviation Soldiers and Families of the California Army National Guard regardless of where they may be located. Just 3 months old, and co-located with both aviation brigades of the California Army National Guard in Fresno, the Chapter is off to a great start.
Members of Grizzly AAAA and the Soldiers they support have been very busy over the past three months. First and foremost, they have been supporting one of the most devastating fires in California history; including those in both Santa Rosa and Santa Barbara which made national headlines. This support continued when aviators of the California Army National Guard were involved in the mudslide rescue efforts which devastated Santa Barbara. The California Army National Guard’s interagency partnership with CALFIRE and the U.S. Fire Service is arguably the best within the nation and California. In addition to firefighting, members of the 1106th Theater Aviation Sustainment ARMY AVIATION Magazine
Maintenance Group (TASMG) recently redeployed from the Middle East and some of its current members are deployed with B/1-126. Naturally, Grizzly AAAA has partnered with numerous community members to send care packages to its teammates deployed overseas. This community partnership is vital to the California Soldiers and Grizzly AAAA is helping to build more bridges between the community and units for future support. Inaugural Aviation Ball In recognition of the hard work of all of the Soldiers, the Chapter helped to sponsor the Inaugural Aviation Ball on the 6th of January where Soldiers from 44
BG (Ret.) Dan Nelan and LTC (Ret.) Jan Drabczuk, left, induct CW5 Bruce Pulgencio into the Bronze Honorable Order of Saint Michael during the inaugural Aviation Ball on Jan. 6,
the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, 1-140th Aviation Regiment, 3-140th Security and Support Battalion, 640th Aviation Support Battalion and the 1106th TASMG joined in a night of fellowship with Soldiers and their spouses. It was an opportunity for the new 40th CAB commander, COL Mark VanDyke and new 1106th TASMG commander, COL Bill Breeze, to meet with Aviation leaders old and new. The chapter recognized numerous senior aviators in the California Army National Guard with the Order of Saint Michael for their career long contributions to Army Aviation and bid farewell to a legend in California – CW5 Christopher Good – who is retiring with more than 40 years of military service. Soldier Recognition The Chapter has already initiated its Soldier and NCO of the Month and Quarter programs, having recognized a total of 6 Soldiers in its short span. Additionally, it has partnered with local sports teams to recognize 3 of its Soldiers as “Heroes of the Game.” The chapter intends to continue expanding its recruitment efforts and partnership with local sponsors in order to initiate a Scholarship fund in the near future. March 31, 2018
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AAAA Chapter News
More Planned Events The Chapter has aggressive plans for the future but its primary purpose is to provide fun opportunities for its members to network on a quarterly basis. Its next event is purely a social event scheduled during the evening in April after Interagency Wildland Firefighting Training. The Chapter will be working with National to help promote other chapter events as it continues its major focus for its first year - build membership and support its members. I had the great opportunity to attend the chapter’s first Aviation Ball and one of their follow- on chapter meetings. You can feel the momentum of this new chapter. If you are interested in learning more about the California Army National Guard or Grizzly AAAA you can like them @grizzlyaaaa on Facebook or contact them at
[email protected]. As your VP for Chapter Affairs, my job is to help chapters be successful and to promote what chapters are doing in our Association. Feel free to contact me if you need help for your chapter, Executive Board support, or to obtain clarification of National procedures.
Chapter President, COL (Ret.) Hawk Ruth, makes a point while introducing BG John Brennan.
LTC (Ret.) Jan S. Drabczuk AAAA VP for Chapter Affairs
[email protected]
The Chapter will be hosting a chapter golf tournament on April 24th at Gaylord Springs Golf Links, 18 Springhouse Lane, Nashville, TN 37214. Online registration for sponsorship opportunities and golfers is available at www.2018aaaagolftournament.ezregister.com.
CHAPTER COURTESY PHOTOS
ADC(O) Speaks at Air Assault Chapter Meeting
The chapter conducted a general membership meeting on 26 January 2018 at the Sportsman’s Lodge, Fort Campbell, KY. 111 members attended to hear BG John Brennan, Deputy Commanding General (Operations), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) speak on Army Aviation from a ground perspective. The chapter gained 20 new or renewing memberships as a result of the meeting.
BG Todd Royar, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT) DCG (Support), fields a question during his comments.
Vietnam Helicopter Pilot and Crewmember Monument Dedication Ceremony Wednesday, April 18, 2018 4:00 p.m.
Arlington National Cemetery Section 35
(Adjacent to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) Alternate location in case of rain: Women in Military Service for America Memorial Memorial Ave & Schley Dr., Arlington, VA The Vietnam Helicopter Pilot and Crewmember Monument is the fulfillment of efforts commenced in the spring of 2014 by the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA) to place a suitable national memorial honoring the sacrifice of all military helicopter crews who perished in the Vietnam War; appropriately remembered as “the Helicopter War.’’ The monument complements a living tree donated to ANC to honor rotary-wing casualties, and is the only monument known to exist that honors all helicopter casualties from all branches lost in the Vietnam War.
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March 31, 2018
AAAA Order of St. Michael and Our Lady of Loreto Inductees
the Bronze Honorable Order for planning and management of over $500M in Army Aviation maintenance and as the driving force behind the UH-60 Recap program meeting the Army requirement for 8 years.
Corpus Christi Chapter Chapter president and Corpus Christi Army Depot commander, COL Allan H. Lanceta, inducted 5 chapter members into the Honorable Order of St. Michael during a chapter Christmas Party on December 8, 2017 at Mansion Royal in Corpus Christi, TX. Inducted were:
Tennessee Valley Chapter
ALL PHOTOS – CHAPTER PHOTO BY MANUEL GUZMAN
LTC (Ret.) Robert E. Straiton, chief of the CCAD Strategic Initiatives Office, into the Bronze Honorable Order for his efforts to help set the condition for CCAD’s future to provide depot level maintenance to Army Aviation.
Ms. Tammy H. Tuttle, chief of CCAD Special Programs Division into the Silver Honorable Order for more than 39 years of dedicated service to Army Aviation in positions of increasing responsibility;
LTC Victor D. Lopez, USMC Retired, CCAD Director of Infrastructure and Risk Management, into the Bronze Honorable Order for his leadership in supporting the infrastructure of the Depot thereby ensuring CCAD stands ready to execute its mission to enable Army Aviation readiness;
ARMY AVIATION Magazine
Mr. Ronald J. Brychta, assigned to the Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) Maintenance Engineering Directorate into the Bronze Honorable Order for delivering valued engineering solutions to CCAD artisans and fostering the success of multiple CH-47 drive system maintenance programs; and
BG Thomas Todd III, Program Executive Officer Aviation and Chapter president, Mr. Gary Nenninger, induct COL Matthew Hannah, former project manager for Aviation Systems, into the Silver Honorable Order of St. Michael on Jan. 19, 2018 at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Redstone Arsenal, AL. Hannah was recognized on the occasion of his retirement for his significant impacts on Army Aviation over the course of his career.
Mr. Jamie W. Felgenhauer, CCAD Aircraft Program Management Division chief, into
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March 31, 2018
CHAPTER PHOTO BY DANIEL CUMMINGHAM
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March 31, 2018
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AAAA Membership
By CW5 (Ret.) Dave Cooper
The Membership Corner –
Born To Fly! PERSONAL PHOTO PROVIDED BY WO1 PATRICK SULLIVAN
P
atrick Sullivan grew up in the small southern Ohio town of Sugar Grove. He graduated high school and enrolled at Purdue University’s Aviation program.
On his way to his Bachelors of Science degree he studied hard and got his Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) rating. To supplement his income at the Perdue golf course he gave flight instructions at the local airport. He graduated with more than 700 hours of flight time and CFI/CFII/MEI ratings. Upon graduation he got a job with a small company flying Pilatus aircraft out of Portsmouth, NH. He was able to get his Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate while flying the Northeast corridor’s weather and busy ATC system. Patrick said the job had a lot going for it but he missed the mid-west. Patrick moved to Indianapolis, IN where he got a job with a company flying the Piaggio Avanti [Author’s Note: This is a very cool airplane and worth a Google!]. He was able to fly to Mexico, Canada, the Bahamas, and all around the U.S. Unfortunately the company went bankrupt so Patrick was forced to move on. He settled back in his hometown doing flight instruction at the local county airfield. Like small airports across the nation there are five or six old timers that hang out all day and talk about flying. Fairfield County was no different. These guys were mostly Vietnam veterans that talked about Hueys. Patrick said they spoke with admiration about the warrant officer pilots in Vietnam. The call to serve had always been there. His grandfather was drafted and served in the Army Air Corps in WWII. His uncles and cousins have served too. But there had always been something that pushed service to the rear. Now however, Patrick decided to act so he called the number on the recruiting brochure left in the airport. He wanted to become a warrant officer pilot. The recruiter had never done that paperwork so there was plenty of “discovery learning.” In fact the process took so long the recruiter PCS’d before Patrick was sworn in! After basic training at Ft. Benning, GA it was off to Ft. Rucker for Warrant Officer Candidate School. While there Patrick’s son Leo was born. Unfortunately he was not released from training to attend that event and got to meet his son five weeks later at WOC graduation. One of the highlights of Patrick’s brief military career came
WO1 Patrick Sullivan, wife, Lauren, and son, Leo.
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while in the “bubble” before starting flight school. He was on the Honor Guard detail at Ft. Rucker for three months. According to Patrick, “It was a privilege to honor men and women that did more than I will ever do.” Patrick was first in his flight school class. His mentors advised him to go with what he knew. There was one C-12 slot available and he took it. He said the instructors at the fixed wing course were “superb.” They kept it interesting, challenging and fun. He’s signed into Co. A, 224th Military Intelligence Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield, GA where he’ll fly C-12s. He said, “While I know a little about aviation, I’ve got a lot to learn about the Army. I’m appreciative of the Soldiers and mentors that are helping me.” Patrick’s wife Lauren got him interested in AAAA. She was serving on the Ft. Rucker Spouses Club Advisory Board. She was urged to get her husband involved with AAAA. She was told about “the camaraderie, networking opportunities and the local chapter where there will be people you can talk to and understand you! So she told me to join and I did and I’m grateful!” Patrick said the Army offered stability for his Family and a chance to answer the call to serve. We’re glad to have you on board and we’re glad your wife recruited you into AAAA! CW5 (Ret.) Dave Cooper AAAA Vice President for Membership
Clarification
Dear Members, In my November column I noted a number of members that have been with AAAA for 20, 30, 40, 50 years and longer. I mentioned these were not complete lists but a sampling of those members with longevity. These names were randomly selected. We appreciate each and every member. Dave Cooper March 31, 2018
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New Lifetime Members
Central Florida Chapter COL Brett Clark COLGregory D. Walker, Ret. Iron Mike Chapter MAJ William H. Gratz John Leandro, Ret. Lonestar Chapter PFC Troy McDonald, Ret. Magnolia Chapter CW5 Edwin Morris MAJ Mid-Atlantic Chapter Sidney W. Beddow II Ret. Oregon Trail Chapter CPT Jennifer D. Nixon Tennessee Valley Chapter CW5 Walter E. Riley, Ret.
Attention — Attention — Attention
All KoreAn WAr & VietnAm WAr VeterAns
New AAAA Members
Air Assault Chapter PV2 Matthew Kurtz PV2 Richard L. Melton Arizona Chapter Al Voisine Aviation Center Chapter David Brown Badger Chapter SGT Emily Lynn Cash PFC Ashley M. Chitwood Central Florida Chapter PV2 Liam J. Aish Great Lakes Chapter SFC William S. Rivard Jimmy Doolittle Chapter SPC Thomas H. Aaron V SPC Christopher J. Allen SPC Gregory L. Atherton PFC Harley D. Boyce SGT Jeremy S. Coulter PFC Caleb A. Deppe SFC Kenneth W. Erdel SPC Matthew R. Fortner SPC Michael Herbkermsan SGT Fred D. Hiatt SPC Alexis N. Hunter CW3 Randy J. Jones SSG WIlliam R. McClarrie SPC Jahmiek L. Mitchell SSG James Z. Olver SSG Aaron S. Pettry SGT Bradley R. Rullmann SSG David W. Russell SGT Franklin L. Shreve Jr. SPC Tiffany Stephenson CPT Randy Swingle
speciAl AAAA membership rAtes! Membership Rates Start at $15! Contact:
[email protected] for details.
quad-a.org SGT Stephanie R. Thorn SGT Samson Verderame SGT Eddie L. Wheeler SGT Michael A. Wingard Lindbergh Chapter PV2 William C. Ringering Magnolia Chapter PV2 Patrick M. Mullins Minuteman Chapter CW4 Geoffrey Boehm PFC Scott M. Kahungi Morning Calm Chapter CSM Mark E. Carl 1LT Brad Hornick Mount Rainier Chapter PV2 Noah R. Asbach North Country Chapter CW3 Gregory Van Horn Oregon Trail Chapter SPC Devin M. Ellis PFC Justine B. Hively SPC Caralyn E. Kintz
ARMY AVIATION Magazine
SPC Skylar S. Leasy Phantom Corps Chapter SFC Jonathan M. Fisher Pikes Peak Chapter PV2 Jason N. Orozco Prairie Soldier Chapter PV2 Cody T. Sommer SPC Anna T. Stoeger Ragin’ Cajun Chapter SPC Alexander Blevins ShowMe Chapter PV2 Kaleb M. Jesse Sinai Chapter SGT Zachary Stoudt Thunderbird Chapter Tommy Harrison Utah Chapter PV2 Trent R. Benham Wright Brothers Chapter PV2 Justin V. Burrows PV2 Isaac J. Daniel 1LT Michael E. Janes
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UPCOMING EVENTS APRIL 2018
25-27 AAAA Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit, Nashville, TN JUNE 2018
8-11 AUVSI’s XPONENTIAL 2017 Dallas, TX 9-11 AHS International’s 73rd Annual Forum and Technology Display, Fort Worth, TX
March 31, 2018
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Warriors To The
Workforce NASHVILLE
Transitioning from military to civilian life? Resume reviewers on site to advise job seekers!
REGISTER TODAY! warriorstotheworkforcebna.net
Hiring Event Thurs., 4/26 – 1100 -1700 Fri., 4/27 – 1130 -1530 Presented in association with H HH
operaTion sTand doWn Tenneessee H SERVING VETERANS H
American Freedom Foundation Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit
quad-a.org/18Summit #18SUMMIT
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March 31, 2018
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AAAA Awards
LTC Robert E. Straiton, Ret. MAJ Michael J. Urso MAJ Troy Feltis Kurt Steller Jr. CW4 Colin M. Lucas CW3 Garrett L. Darvell CPT James J. Stevenson Steven J. Dermer MAJ Kevin P. Britt CW4 Wade A. Davis III David J. Keshel
Order of St. Michael Recipients Bronze CW4 Joseph B. Fay III LTC Dean B. Roberts CW5 Michael L. Spanier 1SG Ronald C. Keys CW4 Trent Munson CW4 Brenda A. Thompson SGM John Maroney LTC Andrew Brown CPT Christian Ballester SFC Stephen Rogers MSG Mohammad N. Qureshi CW4 William J. Brown CW4 Derrick S. Brown MAJ Edward K. Greber CW3 Christopher P. Crawfod CW4 Kevin N. Francisco CW4 Tobie L. Tatum SFC Jeremy LeBlanc CW4 Eric J. Johnston CW3 Michael T. Maides MAJ Joshua Dawson Stephen F. Koach
SFC Kenneth B. Massheimer COL Rick Zampelli MAJ Brett L. Monette LTC Hunter M. Marshall SFC David Rodriguez-Acevedo CPT Patrick S. McGee CW3 Angel Alicea CW3 Todd W. Cahill SFC Nathan J. Kildoo CPT Jerome C. McDaniel CPT Nate Cave CPT Jared Maxwell SFC John R. James CPT Robert L. Doak CW4 David Duran CW2 Aron L. Haselbauer MSG Westley J. Kilpatrick CW3 Ryan D. O’Neal SFC Daryl R. Kelley CW3 Steven D. Badgley MAJ Cameron G. Gallagher MSG Steven K. Hebblethwaite Charles Kirkpatrick Ronald J. Brychta Jamie W. Felgenhauer Victor D. Lopez
Upcoming Special Focus 75 Years of Army Aviation 1942-2017
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April/May 2017
April/May 2018 AAAA Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit – Multi-Domain Battle Army Aviation Leadership Annual Updates AAAA Chapter Directory
Contact: Bob Lachowski –
[email protected] or Erika Burgess –
[email protected] 203. 268.2450
armyaviationmagazine.com
ARMY AVIATION Magazine
SPC Caleb J. Fisher January 2018 Oregon Trail Chapter SPC Skylar S. Leasy February 2018 Oregon Trail Chapter SPC CaralynE. Kintz March 2018 Oregon Traiil Chapter SPC Devin M. Ellis April 2018 Oregon Trail Chapter SPC Robert D. Bosserman May 2018 Oregon Trail Chapter
Honorable Order of Knight Recipients CPT Stephen F. Smith David W. Atkins Mark E. Moe
SPC Dustin B. Jacobs June 2018 Oregon Trail Chapter PFC Justine B. Hively December 2017 Oregon Trail Chapter SPC Jake A. Johnson September 2017 Oregon Trail Chapter
Our Lady of Loreto Recipients Marion Davis Diane Brown Shari Smith Kendra Braun
Soldier of the Month CW4 Steven D. Fara January 2018 Arizona Chapter MSG Jose Cadengo February 2018 Artizona Chapter PFC Abraham Vigil December 2017 Grizzly Chapter CPL Humberto Zamudiovargas January 2018 Grizzly Chapter
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PV2 Ryan M. Bond November 2017 Oregon Trail Chapter PFC William T. Kidder August 2017 Oregon Trail Chapter SPC Alexander Blevins January 2018 Ragin’ Cajun Chapter
Soldier of the Quarter Specialist Michael L. Usher Februaru 2018 Southern California Chapter NCO of the Month SGT Daniel Tellez January 2018 Grizzly Chapter
NCO of the Quarter SGT Daniel Mast 1st Quarter 2018 Grizzly Chapter
March 31, 2018
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AAAA Family Forum
ALL U.S. ARMY PHOTOS BY SUSAN ROBINSON, 29TH CAB, FAMILY READINESS SUPPORT ASSISTANT
It is always my pleasure to be able to showcase family activities from units especially during their deployments. Thank you to CPT Stevens for sharing his thoughts with us when the 29th CAB from Maryland deployed to Kuwait and Iraq and returned this past January. Judy…
Welcome Home 29th Combat Aviation Brigade! By CPT Marshall J. Stevens
I
t is often said that when a soldier deploys, the family also deploys. The struggle, sacrifice, and dangers our soldiers face while deployed is evident.
The families that are left at home, for sometimes up to a year, also endure struggle and sacrifice. However, the difficulties these families face are not as commonly recognized. The responsibilities of caring for a household, minus one family member, coupled with the added stress of concern for their deployed family member can be overwhelming. Gone are the days of the grainy webcam with no audio. Today many families are able to video chat or even text message with
ARMY AVIATION Magazine
their deployed family member on a regular basis. Though as technology has improved, the emergence of the 24 hour news cycle highlighting contingency operations can also be a frightening side. Throughout 2017, the families of the 29th CAB endured these struggles. Recognizing the susceptibility of our families, the Mid-Atlantic AAAA Chapter with President COL (Ret.) John Gallagher delivered welcomed support.
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Primarily for our 29th CAB families and with assistance from the community, this AAAA chapter hosted 2 no-cost events, a Kid’s Fishing Tournament and a Firehouse Tour and Safety Day. Families were provided with all fishing supplies along with instruction for children from age 5-15. And for the day, the children, to their immense delight, racked in numerous fish along the Chesapeake Bay at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. On another occasion, the Baltimore County Fire Department welcomed our families and detailed the daily operations of a firefighter and firehouse. This proved to be very enlightening for all to learn about the intricacies of this public service. It was also very exciting to see how thrilled the children were with the power of the hoses and trucks when they were allowed to spray water
March 31, 2018
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Security for you …
A future for them
AAAA Scholarship Foundation’s Charitable Gift Annuity Program Left facing page - Glenn Monrad, AAAA Mid Atlantic Chapter member instructs young children from the 29th CAB in the art of fishing (how to hold your pole, bait and cast it, reel it in with your fish, remove it, and above all do all of this safely) while on “A Kids Fishing Tournament” in May 2017 on the Chesapeake Bay at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Right facing page - Children from the 29th CAB stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland enjoy their “A Kids Fishing Tournament” experience held in May 2017. The event was sponsored by the MidAtlantic AAAA Chapter (President John Gallagher) while the unit was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq. The Soldiers returned from their deployment in January 2018. Above - Family members from the 29th CAB stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland enjoy an afternoon at the Baltimore Maryland Fire Department in September 2017 during the unit’s deployment to Kuwait and Iraq. The firefighters there gave an informative as well as hands on experience to the attendees. You can just feel the excitement as one member gets to hold the hose that firemen use when they fight real fires.
into the air just like a fireman does. These experiences allowed our CAB families to get together with dozens of their fellow families and enjoy a day of recreation, fun, and education as well. The smiles on the faces of the children as well as the adults made evident the success of these events. A big thank you goes to the MidAtlantic AAAA Chapter and our community sponsors. And thank you to the soldiers of the 29th CAB and their families. Job well done!
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You get a fixed financial return locked in for life while benefitting the AAAA Scholarship Foundation. QUICK FACTS & BENEFITS
• Guaranteed financial return for life • A portion of your gift qualifies for immediate charitable tax deduction • Flexible funding options with a $10,000 minimum requirement (either cash or securities) • Benefits AAAA Scholarship Foundation
Judy Konitzer is the family forum editor for ARMY AVIATION; questions and suggestions can be directed to her at judy@ quad-a.org. CPT Marshall J. Stevens serves as the rear detachment officer in charge for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 29th CAB located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Edgewood, Maryland.
Army Aviation Scholarship Foundation Annuity Program Contact Sue Stokes
[email protected], (203) 268-2450
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Thank You to Our Scholarship Fund Donors AAAA recognizes the generosity of the following individuals, chapters and organizations that have donated to the Scholarship Foundation throughout the calendar year. The list includes donations received for all scholarships, as well as the General Fund which provides funding to enable the chapter, corporate, heritage and individual matching fund programs as well as national grants and loans. Donors marked with an * are partially or totally donating to the newly established Families of the Fallen Scholarship. Every penny donated to the Scholarship Foundation goes directly to a
grant or loan as a result of the Army Aviation Association of America subsidizing ALL administrative costs! COL (Ret.) Sidney Achee AAAA Air Assault Chapter Airbus Group Robert Aguilar AAAA Aloha Chapter AmazonSmile Ameripack, Inc. David Ashcraft Applied Technologies Group, Inc. AAAA Arizona Chapter Army Aviation Association of America AAAA Aviation Center Chapter Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union Army Aviation Heritage Foundation & Museum Army Otter Caribou Association, Inc. Aspen Consulting Group D.R. & W.T. Atchley BAE Jessica Bailey Katheryn Bailey Thomas Bailey Michael R. Ball LTC (Ret.) James R. Barkley, Sr. Elisabetha Baugh George Belin Bell Helicopter Brig. Gen. Harry Bendorf, USAF Ret. Joseph L. & Helen A Bergantz Thomas L. & Carolyn V. Berta LTC (Ret.) Frank S. & Elaine H. Besson John Bianchi Roy C. Bierwirth Black Diamond Syngery LLC The Boeing Company Linda S. Bolton COL (Ret.) Lou Bonham Booz | Allen | Hamilton Harold O. Bourne COL James B. & Michelle Brashear Elizabeth Ann Breslin David P. & Katrina R. Bristol Schuyler H. Bronner Dana Calvert Campbell & Janice Cantelou Charles A. & Anne L. Carter William Carter Michael P. & Carrie A. Cavalier Constance L. Cedras Chase AAAA Central Florida Chapter Raymond Chicoski AAAA Colonial Virginia Chapter Combined Federal Campaign
AAAA Corpus Christi Chapter COL Courtney P. & Shelly S. Cote Jimmie Crouch James H. Curren Palm Beach Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution Defense Enterprise Solutions, LLC AAAA Delaware Valley Chapter Digiflight, Inc. Jay Dirnberger Monica S. Douglas Harmon Dow David J. Dusseau Elite Aluminum Corp James O. (Joe) Emerson AAAA Empire Chapter Sean Fitzgerald Frank C. Floro William Forster AAAA Flying Tigers Chapter Jerry, Carolina & Family Fonke David N. & Kathryn C. Gereski Leslie H. Gilbert Alyssa Giles Joseph J. Giordano Greater Giving Jon Graft AAAA Griffin Chapter Andy Griffith HCC Life Insurance Company Jeff & Andrea Hager Thomas Harrison Christine R. Hatcher BG (Ret.) James M. & Joyce L. Hesson William Hipple Mr. & Mrs. John Honaker Tom T. & Laura E. Huff LTC (Ret.) Terrance J. & Wanda Hummel AAAA Idaho Snake River Chapter J.A.C.S. AAAA Iron Mike Chapter AAAA Jack H. Dibrell Alamo Chapter AAAA Luther Jones Forum Speakers AAAA Lindbergh Chapter Arlo D. Janssen Trust Gary D. & Marijane Manley Jerauld William A. & Andrea J. Johns Johnson & Johnson Thomas M. Johnson Jimmy Johnston COL Larry M. & Linda F. Jonas Anthony R. & Nancy L. Jones John W. & Tina R. Jones Nikki Kastanakis David W. & Donna J. Keating
MG (Ret.) Richard D. Kenyon Dale & Elizabeth Kesten AAAA Keystone Chapter William & Anne Klim Virginia Koch Scott Kubica Edward Lewis Landry & Kimberly Jamison Barbara D. Langford Jeffrey L. Langhout COL (Ret.) Moses Lewis LiteFighter Systems, LLC Arno Linder Jami A. Linn Douglas Lynch Jody Lynch Samuel O. & Kerry M. Maxcy COL (Ret.) Lewis J. & Betty L. McConnell LTC (Ret.) Thomas J. McNamara AAAA Mid-Atlantic Chapter Millennium Systems Services, LLC AAAA Minuteman Chapter CW4 Jason B. Moore Dennis Morris Merle Mulvaney Don Munsch Munsch & Co. Aeromechanics NAMMO, Inc. Reginald R. Nelson Network for Good Northrop Grumman AAAA North Star Chapter AAAA North Texas Chapter AAAA Old Tucson Chapter Ostovich Enterprises, Inc. Virgil L.Packett II Derek J. & Kathleen Paquette Al & Mary Ann Parmentier Patriot Taxiway Industries PayPal Charitable Giving Fund Lawrence P. Peduzzi Peduzzi Associates, Ltd. Neal C. III & Karen E. Petree AAAA Phantom Corps Chapter Phantom Products, Inc. Marilyn Phillips Piasecki Foundation Christine Ann Plummer AAAA Potomac Knights Chapter Nicole Powell-Dunford Shawn B. Powell Daria Putzier MG (Ret.) Kenneth & Lynn Quinlan Diana Radspinner Marc Rassler Kirk M. & Jane E. Ringbloom
Johnnie Reed Marilyn Rickmeyer Jaros Rickmeyer Amy Rider Soni Rider AAAA Rio Grande Chapter Bryan Roberson Robertson Fuel Systems Rockwell Collins Reba Rogers Kristen Russo Theresa M Russo Latny L Salt Dr. C. Richard Schott Science and Engineering Services, LLC CSM (Ret.) William J. & Darlene J. Selling Eric Serotta Nancy L. Shaffer-End Kenneth Shields Sigmatech, Inc. Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Sikorsky Community Giving Campaign Susan Sinclair Douglas Slick Martin Small Nicholas Smart AAAA Southern California Chapter Evelyn A. Soucek Leo Soucek, Jr. CPT (Ret.) Barry J. Speare Gary Spooner Square Karl V. Stahlecker & Tracey A. Lake Tracy Stapleton 1LT Masaki Sudo System Studies & Simulation, Inc. AAAA Tarheel Chapter AAAA Tennessee Valley Chapter Tinker Federal Credit Union COL (Ret.) Harry & Diana Townsend Turbomeca USA Inc. Orlie Underwood Vanguard Charitable Venturi, Inc. VietnamHelicopterPilotsAssociation Victory Solutions, Inc. AAAA Volunteer Chapter COL David & Nancy Warnick AAAAWashington Potomac Chapter AAAA Wright Bros. Chapter COL (Ret.) Michelle Yarborough AAAA Yellow Hammer Chapter
For more information about the Foundation or to make a contribution, go online to www.quad-a.org; Contributions can also be mailed to: AAAA Scholarship Foundation, Inc., 593 Main Street, Monroe, CT 06468-2806. ARMY AVIATION Magazine
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AAAA Legislative Report
By LTC Kevin Cochie, Retired AAAA Representative to the Military Coalition (TMC)
[email protected] FY18 Full Year Defense Budget Finally, five months after FY18 kicked off on 1 October 2017, we are happy to report the broken record has skipped to positive news. In true Congressional fashion, on 8 February the deadline for Continuing Resolution (CR) passed causing a 5-hour government shut down, but early on the 9th, Congress passed a bipartisan budget agreement that included a $165B boost for the Pentagon over the next two years. The final budget must still pass at the end of March, but this means that FY18 funding will be appropriated in late March and the deal approved $80B more than allowed under current Budget Control Act (BCA) caps. The agreement is a two-year deal that allows FY19 funding to surpass BCA caps by $85B. Now we are six months out from the end of FY18 and history should tell us that we will face another CR again at the end of September. But, in theory, we should get an FY19 budget on time this year and not have a CR. FY19 Budget Release Enough about FY18, ironically, the deal came one week before the release of the FY19 Budget. We explained the process last month; how the budget is built the year before and staffed for a year through the Pentagon. Now, the Pentagon’s request moves to Capitol Hill for adjustments by the four defense committees. Each chamber will produce a version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the Defense Appropriations bill that then becomes one version of each by the end of September. The annual process starts by the budget moving from Office of Management & Budget (OMB) and the White House over to Capitol Hill; so, if you are industry, you’ve been spending the last few months seeing the professional staff members (PSMs) of the defense oversight committees advocating for your corporate interests. Now, the opportunity to see staff
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quickly closes as they shift their attention on making their adjustments and writing new policy for inclusion into the legislation. Spring is very busy for the entire enterprise. While industry canvasses the budget for funding lines that apply to their products, the Army is meeting with staff to defend the funding requested. Some of the most important action officers are the Department of the Army Systems Coordinators (DASCs); mainly comprised of Majors that are acquisition officers assigned in the Pentagon serving as the link between the aviation program offices, and the Army G3 aviation, G8 aviation, and legislative affairs. Their role is critical to ensuring the non-acquisition officers are armed with all the answers to the questions that congressional staff will present during the defense of the budget. When is this most successful and when does it get complicated? Our enterprise wins when the message from the Army is aligned with the message that the congressional staff receive from industry. When it’s not, the process can go sideways, and the staff have to decipher what the truth is. This is why it is important for industry and the Army to communicate effectively; nested messaging equates to success. However, we do not live in a perfect world and the Army cannot buy all that industry wants to sell. That doesn’t mean everyone cannot work together for the greater good of Army Aviation. Advice from the Professional Staff As we discussed, PSMs serve on the defense committees and generally work in a non-partisan manner to provide oversight of DoD programs and provide advice and counsel to the Members of Congress that serve on defense committees. PSMs draft legislation that enacts policy and make recommendations for funding authorizations and appropriations. PSMs are engaged by the Army, industry, the press, and Member
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offices; all who have mutual and individual interests. PSMs have to see through the fog to ensure our enterprise receives the resources they need while at the same time ensuring our industrial base remains healthy and viable. While speaking with these staffers, we’ve gleaned some key advice to the enterprise as a whole. 1. The readiness challenges that the Army currently faces will not be fixed in 1-2 years. The FY18 and FY19 budget deal is a good start, but it will take many more years of sustained predictable funding to reverse the damages from the past decade. Going forward, both the Army and industry need to ensure they properly execute the funding that is authorized and appropriated. 2. Industry and the Army need to show the linkage between current and future readiness – as we all know, modernization is future readiness. The Army recently announced it is reorganizing in order to be more responsive to the Warfighter. They identified six modernization priorities going forward. Clearly demonstrating a link to these modernization priorities and the overall National Defense Strategy is essential. 3. Remember, PSMs have been working these programs for years and have extensive experience and institutional knowledge on the programs. That said, when preparing presentations and briefings, be concise, clear, and upfront about what the request is. Radical transparency is essential. 4. Defense committee staff talk to each other more than some people realize. Consistency of message to all four committees is critical. If industry and the Army are telling different stories to different PSMs, they risk negative outcomes. Army Aviation by the Numbers for FY19 Next month we will talk more about this process, influence through legislation, direct report language, and hearing questions.
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Industry News
Announcements Related to Army Aviation Matters
SOUTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY SSG WENDY KUHN
U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY CPT BRIAN HARRIS, 16TH CAB
BELL GRAPHIC
Editor’s note: Companies can send their Army Aviation related news releases and information to
[email protected]. Bell Helicopter Rebrands to “Bell” Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company announced on February 22 it has rebranded to be known as simply “Bell.” The new brand strategy and modernized logo are rooted in the company’s focus on innovation and customer experience. Bell will roll out the rebrand over the next year. The most notable update, aside from its brand name change, is a new logo. Bell wanted to highlight the tenacious pursuit of flight with its depiction of a dragonfly, while grounding the logo with a shield to illustrate the company’s stellar reputation in reliability and quality. “The dragonfly can take off and land wherever it wants, fly quickly and efficiently in any direction, and hover at will. It represents the mastery of flight, something Bell strives to achieve,” said president and CEO Mitch Snyder. “This rebrand is not just about a new logo,” said Snyder. “We chose to do this because we see ourselves at the forefront of technology. We believe this refresh embodies the idea that we can make the vertical dimension more accessible.” Army Consolidates Apache AH-64E Upgrade Testing The Army Program Executive Office, Aviation, announced on Jan. 9 it is realigning FollowOn Test and Evaluation (FOT&E) of technology insertions in the AH-64E Apache helicopter to increase efficiency and effectiveness. The test is now planned to occur in the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2019. FOTE II was previously scheduled for the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2018. The FOT&E event will test capability improvements in the AH-64E Apache to include Version 6, which is focused on increased lethality, improved situational awareness, and improved navigation. Leonardo Helicopters Withdraws Lawsuit Leonardo Helicopters announced on Feb.12 it has withdrawn its latest lawsuit against the U.S. Army over the service’s decision to buy Lakota helicopters from Airbus without holding a competition. AgustaWestland, a Leonardo subsidiary, filed a lawsuit two years ago in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims over a standard sources-sought notice that the Army issued, seeking those capable of building a lot of 16 LUH-72A Lakota helicopters for its training fleet. AgustaWestland contended the decision unfairly restricted competition. The court ruled in favor of AgustaWestland, and the Army was barred from buying the 16 Lakotas. But the U.S. Court of Appeals overturned the lower court’s decision in January 2018. As reported in the February ARMYAVIATION issue, prior to the appellate court’s decision, the Army decided to take first steps toward buying more Lakota helicopters by issuing another sourcessought notice to industry on Jan. 4 for 35 Lakotas using funding from a different fiscal year. Days prior to the appellate court’s ruling,
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Leonardo filed a lawsuit again in the federal court on Jan. 22, this time over the Army’s new plan to buy more helicopters. “In light of the Appellate Court ruling, Leonardo Helicopters has decided to discontinue any further legal action regarding the solesource award of trainer helicopters to the U.S. Army,” the company said in its Feb. 12 statement. Contracts – (From various sources. An “*” by a company name indicates a small business contract) DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, TX, was awarded a $39,130,408 modification to domestic and foreign military sales (Sweden and Tunisia) contract W58RGZ-13-C-0040 for aviation field maintenance services; work will be performed in Tunisia, Sweden, Egypt, Kuwait, Germany and Iraq, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2018. Leidos, Reston, VA and General Dynamics One Source, Fairfax, VA, will share in a $200,000,000 hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for non-commercial technical services to assist in coordination, integration, and synchronization of geospatial information requirements and standards across the Army; develop geospatial enterprise enabled systems to the Army, the Department of Defense (DoD) and non-DoD entities; and provide direct geospatial support to the warfighter; work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 11, 2023. Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, FL, was awarded a $25,207,324 modification to foreign military sales (Egypt) contract W52P1J-17-D-0043 for Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (MTADS/PNVS) system kits and spares for the Apache attack helicopter; work will be performed in Orlando with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2020. Longbow LLC, Orlando, FL, was awarded an $8,846,716 modification to contract W31P4Q-16-C-0035 for laser and longbow Hellfire engineering services; work will be performed in Orlando, Ocala, FL, and Anniston, AL, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 12, 2019.
Advertisers Index AAR................................................................................ 27 Airbus Helicopters............................................................. 1 ALKAN............................................................................ 26 An Old Friend.................................................................. 30 Boeing, Insitu North America.............................................. 9 David Clark Company...................................................... 11 GE Aviation..................................................................... 64 General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc........................ 5 Marvin Test Solutions, Inc................................................. 17 Northrop Grumman Corporation....................................... 15 Phantom Products, Inc.................................................... 31 Science and Engineering Services, SES, Inc...................... 2 SKEDCO, Inc.................................................................. 13 Strata-G Solutions Inc........................................................ 7 VT Aviation Academy of America...................................... 37
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People On The Move Awards
10th Aviation Regiment, 10th CAB and Top Combat Service Support Battalion award for the 227th Aviation Support Battalion, 10th CAB.
2017 LTG Ellis D. Parker Awards
The winners of the annual LTG Ellis D. Parker Awards were recognized during an awards dinner at the Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, Alabama on January 31, 2018. The award is a multi-component Department of the Army level award that recognizes excellence at the aviation battalion level. There are four categories of award with the winner of each category competing for the title of Top Aviation Battalion of the Year. The awards were presented by Army Aviation Branch Chief, MG William K. Gayler. Chief Warrant Officer of the Branch, CW5 Joseph Roland; and Branch Command Sergeant Major, CSM Gregory Chambers were also on hand to congratulate the winners.
ALL U.S. ARMY PHOTOS BY KELLY MORRIS, USAACE PAO
The 2017 Top Table of Distribution and Allowances Aviation Battalion of the Year award was presented to Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion, USASOAC, Fort Campbell, KY. Accepting the award was USASOAC deputy commander and command chief warrant officer, COL Michael Morgan and CW5 Mark Meyer, respectively.
The 2017 Top Combat Aviation Battalion of the Year award was presented to 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command, Fort Campbell, KY. Accepting the award was 160th SOAR (A) commander and command chief warrant officer, COL Phillip Ryan and CW5 Michael Hardy. The unit was also named the LTG Ellis D. Parker Top Aviation Battalion of the Year.
Chaplain (COL, Ret.) Alvin M. “Sonny” Moore was appointed Honorary Chaplain of U.S. Army Aviation by MG William K. Gayler, commanding general of the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Aviation Branch Chief at an awards dinner on January 31, 2018 at the Army Aviation Museum, Fort Rucker, AL. Moore was tapped for his more than 34 years in uniform, to include serving as the 101st Aviation Brigade chaplain during Desert Storm and several visits to Iraq and Afghanistan in subsequent years. He retired in 2008 and works as a chaplain with Army Fleet Support at Ft. Rucker in addition to his pastoral responsibilities with the Southern Baptist Convention in the Wiregrass. One of the MANY benefits of being an AAAA member is a FREE subscription to
ARMY AVIATION Magazine! Join us at quad-a.org and stay in touch!
COL Clair Gill and CW5 Charles Jaszczak, commander and command chief warrant officer of 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Drum, NY, accept the Top Combat Support Battalion award for the 2nd Battalion,
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U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY KELLY MORRIS, USAACE PAO
Sonny Moore Appointed Honorary Chaplain
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People On The Move
Flight School Graduates AAAA provides standard aviator wings to all graduates and sterling silver aviator wings to the distiguished graduates of each flight class ... another example of AAAA’s SUPPORT for the U.S. Army Aviation Soldier and Family. AAAA congratulates the following officers graduating from Flight School XXI at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, Fort Rucker, AL. AAAA provides standard aviator wings to all graduates and sterling silver aviator wings to the distinguished graduates of each flight class.
44 Officers, February 1 Commissioned Officers LT Thomas J. Dittus – DG LT Jeremy V. Sipantzi – HG LT Jesse R. Sledge – HG LT Elijah J. Bail + LT Jason G. Cottrell LT Ryan R. Fiore LT Jacob P. Henderson LT Lucas K. Hinkes LT Brett T. Johnson LT Isaac D. Keister LT Kelvin Kook LT Drew B. Myers LT Vincent M. Sherrill LT Wallace E. Smith LT Jeremy P. Tetro LT Andi L. Teufel LT Benjamin J. Wilgenbusch
Warrant Officers WO1 Bryan K. Bass – DG WO1 Matthew K. Bryan – HG CW2 Justin Khan – HG WO1 Simon E. Kristiansen – HG WO1 Michael T. Walmer – HG CW2 Tyler G. Bachelder WO1 Kurt C. Baum WO1 James J. Casadona CW2 Courtney N. Diel CW2 Cameron E. Greek CW2 Daniel L. Gross WO1 Jose Guevara WO1 Kartika P. Kancir WO1 Clayton W. Lawson WO1 Anton H. Lecky WO1 Yuri J. Miller WO1 Nyles H. Nakama WO1 Kyle D. Newsom WO1 Deandre P. Nunn ARMY AVIATION Magazine
FSXXI-1 Feb.
FSXXI-15 Feb. WO1 Thomas E. Porter WO1 Steven N. Reed WO1 Matthew C. Robinson WO1 Shelby G. Taylor CW2 Martin R. Tucker WO1 Christian E. Vierthaler WO1 Anthony A. Wooley
LT Allison V. Lampe CPT Haidar I. Osman LT Sadie A. Rivera LT Logan G. Shulenberger LT Stephan M. Splitstoser LT Jamie D. Swearingen LT Zachary R. Woehr
46 Officers, January 18
Warrant Officers WO1 Thomas A. May – DG WO1 David A. Briones – HG WO1 Obadiah J. Donnell – HG WO1 Alexander B. Hanson – HG WO1 Ronald B. Barnes WO1 Timothy J. Brown WO1 Chadwick W. Byers WO1 Alex Carson
Commissioned Officers LT Devin A. McInnis – DG LT Samuel K. Atkinson – HG LT Justin P. Voegtle – HG LT Brian M. Adams LT Samuel Arreguin LT Brett A. Boissonneault LT Phillip Gallon
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WO1 Zachary R. Dunlap WO1 Dennis C. Johnson WO1 Silas J. Kast WO1 Morgan J. Kavanaugh WO1 Jack W. Lynch WO1 Wesley D. Newton WO1 Cullen J. Schafer CW2 Zachary T. Schrank WO1 Richard A. Singleton CW2 Nolan K. Stark WO1 William A. Valente WO1 Fredric C. Wilder DG = Distinguished Graduate HG = Honor Graduate + = Life Member March 31, 2018
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People On The Move ADVANCED INDIVIDUAL TRAINING (AIT) GRADUATIONS AAAA congratulates the following Army graduates of the indicated Advanced Individual Training (AIT) courses at the 128th Aviation Brigade, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA and the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, Ft. Rucker, AL.
AH-64 Attack Helicopter Repairer (15R)
Class 047-17 PV2 Montez Daquan Scottwhite – DG PV2 Justin Bowser PV2 Dylan M.Carbonel PV2 Travis Jared Flora PV2 Nicholas L. Gustafson PV2 Gidion Karo Karo PV2 Jacob Randall Kuhn PV2 Dexter Benard Mullins SFC Nasori PV2 Kyle Samuel Spiller Class 048-17 PV2 Monika K. Cywinska – DG PFC Kody Grant Bybee PV2 Brian David Heffernan PV2 Maranda Marie Keihl PV2 Dalton Eugene Park PV2 Jake Rhon Peralta PV2 Anthony M.Piganelli PV2 Tyrese O’neil Ralston SPC Kyle Ronn PFC Kanishka Sharma PV2 Damian Michael Walker Class 049-17 PFC Warner S. Fuston -DG SSG Khalid Theeb Alotaibi PV2 Martin Roberto Cruz Jr. PV2 Phillip Edwin Dhondt
PV2 Carter H. Haakenson PVT Ethan A.Hallford PV2 Trent Alan Holder PV2 Connor Lee Jett PV2 Gerhard Prinsloo
PFC Ashton Lindell Dralle PV2 Javier Alejandro Flores SGT Lance Matthew Harvey PV2 Dakota Klicker PV2 Austin Lee Lumbreras PFC Brian Kelton Wilbanks * Class 515-17 PV2 Alexander Kyle Ottinger PFC Damion M. Presnell – DG PV2 Terry Christopher Sears UH-60 Helicopter PV2 Marcus Jonathan Nash PV2 Tyler A.Szabries Repairer (15T) PFC Lucas Eric Nielsen Class 074-17 PV2 Kolten Gabe Odde Class 039-17 PV2 James A. Garrison – DG PV2 Luke William Orazio PV2 Cody A. Sims – DG PV2 Zachary T.Anderson PV2 Christopher A. Baker PV2 Jesus Noel Robles PV2 Zachary Roy Barker PV2 Thami Matthew Cross PV2 Brendan StephensSPC Patrick Wayne Cobb PV2 Michael Alan Cutsinger Weidman PV2 Billy Joe Day, Jr PV2 Joseph Michael Suniga PV2 Anthony Tanner Free PFC Christopher N. Dopp PV2 Kari Edward Kessler PV2 Keewaden S.Vaughan SPC David Ari Frank PV2 Daniel William Ketterer SPC Anthony Roy Williams PV2 Jorge Gabriel Gallegos PFC Brian Kelton Wilbanks * PV2 Austin T.Wollschlager SGT Alex E. Greenwood PV2 Matthew A.Ramirez PV2 Tristen Anthony Guerra Class 078-17 PV2 Michael L. Soland PV2 Christopher M. Hagler PV2 Noah A. Boggs – DG PV2 Shane Brient Taylor PV2 Benjamin Reed Hale PV2 Matthew Alan Arnold Class 040-17 PV2 Dakota M.Brook Class 075-17 PV2 Joel Nicolas – DG SPC Richard Anton Dehne SPCAngeliz I. V. Casillas – DG PV2 Jason William Dysart II PV2 Rance Edward Harmon PV2 Emily Carrol Holmes PV2 Jessy David Lawrence PV2 Tristan Ronald Kodman PV2 Kaleb M. Klawetter PV2 Clifford J. Montero, Jr PV2 Tyler Scott Monett PV2 Marcus Allen Lipham, II PV2 Jared Matthew Phillips PFC Barrios J.Montealegre PV2 Dustin L. McClainstults PFC Donald Robert Randall PV2 Rolando Vasquez PV2 Jakob Lee Meixner PFC Brayden Z. Woolard PV2 Nathen A.Soper SPC Zachary G.Mosciski SPC Brian Wallace Wade PV2 Chase Mitchell Nissen PV2 Tony D. Whaley, Jr Aircraft Powerplant PV2 Lucus K B. Rish Repairer (15B) PV2 Daniel Robert Tusler Class 516-17 Class 011-17 PV2 David Ace Vendetti PV2 Vicente Segura III – DG PV2 Paul Ramirez, Jr – DG PV2 Zakary Stanley Ellis PV2 Anthony Atkins Class 076-17 PV2 Sage Fee Hopkins PV2 James Bishop PV2 Celena J. Lilygren – DG PV2 Amos Alaric Hudson PV2 Nicholas Cracchiolo SPC William Louis Albright PV2 Kyle Stephen Morris PV2 Christopher Davis PV2 Eric Xavier McCarthy PV2 Johan Joshua Nicholas PV2 Steven Fodor PV2 Austin J. Michael Myers PV2 Lukkas Austin R. Pierce PV2 Matthew Bults SPC Joe M. Weatherford, Jr PV2 Zachery D. Richards SPC Michael Gray Class 077-17 PFC Elkin Lloyd PV2 Ezekiel A. Fortner – DG Ch-47 Medium PV2 Gaytan Morales Helicopter Repairer SPC Nathan Wesley Allen PV2 Chase Parten PV2 Logan M. Brown (15U) PFC Theron Scott PFC Daniel Miles Burkhalter Class 038-17 PV2 Nathan Shelton PV2 Luis Garciaflores PV2 Christopher Palmer – DG SPC Nathan Smart PV2 Davin Gilley PV2 Tyler Austin Bingham
PV2 Seth Daniel English PV2 Francisco J.Gonzalez PV2 Jason Randall Quarrles PV2 Matthew Tyler Stookey PV2 Steven G. Wheeler PV2 Garrett Michael Wheiler
Aircraft Powertrain Repairer (15D)
Class 010-17 PV2 Cody Canamore – DG PV2 Dane Adix PV2 Nathan Allen PV2 Miguel Alvarado PV2 Broderick Barker PFC Victor Camarillo Jr PV2 Colin Dvorak PV2 Christopher Harris PV2 Matthew Harrison ARMY AVIATION Magazine
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PV2 Nicholas Hoey PV2 Juan Mezaudave PV2 Jay Trinidad
Aircraft Electrician (15F)
Class 019-17 PV2 Corbin Holdrcroft – DG PVT Duster Craven PV2 Dylan Embleton PV2 Virgil Hickson PV2 David Knowles PV2 Christopher Kop PVT Medina Ortega Class 503-17 PV2 Kyler Williams – DG PV2 Richard Labreck PV2 Quinones Paredes PV2 Vincent Taylor
Aircraft Pneudraulics Repairer (15H)
Class 001-18 PVT Tristen Chesley – DG PVT Morgan Baker PVT Graysen Chituras PV2 Leah Cohen PVT Kade Crippen PV2 Dakota Davis PV2 Jonathon Edwards PFC Beza Getahun PVT Benjamin Herrera PVT Stevens Swanberg SPC David Welden SPC Arthur Whitt Class 501-18 SPC Jarrett Fullerton – DG SGT David Bennett PV2 Benjamin Kelly PVT Anh Mai PVT Omar McAllister PV2 Tyler Moore PV2 Zachary Rivard PVT Jacob Steamans PVT Edgardo Silvas, Jr PVT Matthew Smalley
Aviation Operations Specialist (15P)
Class 18-005P SPC Robert Riddinger – DHG PV1 Dylan Diaz – HG SPC Camile Burgosgarcia SPC Leasia Crum PFC Andrew Miles PV2 Maleek Briggs PV2 Jenna Fernandez PV2 William Fontanez PV1 Landon Barnes PV1 Jamila Basria March 31, 2018
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People On The Move PV1 Joshua Carter PV1 Luciano Hernandez PV1 Cathlin Ormsby PV1 Kalei Perez-Smith Class 18-006P SPC Monica Montoya SPC Elton PenaGuzman PFC Alex Flores PV2 Ethan Andrew PV2 David Boyer PV2 Markita Eldridge PV2 David Jones PV2 Serrah King PV2 Hannah Ostraco PV1 Javontae Harrington PV1 David Landers PV1 Dillyn Stanek Class 18-502P SPC Michael Bunch PV2 Mary Shaw PV2 Michelle Tegardine PV1 Bryan Alamocarrasquill PV1 Matthew Collins PV1 Salvatore Ferrara PV1 Victoria Mendoza Class 18-007P PV2 Aliyah Minniefield–DH PV2 Jacob Stuart – HG SPC Cedric Thomas PFC Joshua Eisenback PFC Angie Mower PFC Alex Quezada PV2 Priscilla Gonzalo PV2 Madison Gress PV2 Devon Redman PV2 Alexandria Sanchez PV2 Keith Stutts II PV1 Ashley Garcia PV1 Tyrell Gary PV1 Felicity Jauregui PV1 Anna Jones PV1 Clayton Murry PV1 Alexis Pegram PV1 Christian Tejada PV1 Ross Thomas Jr Class 18-008P PFC Antwon Phillips – DHG SPC William Coons PFC Montana Hollowell PV2 Demarae Byrd PV2 Zhuo Chen PV2 Dominique Dean PV2 Eileen Smith PV2 Charlize Taylor PV2 Elias Velazquez PVT Jacob Bolling PVT Niles Briley Moffett PVT Anthony Leyva PVT Julio Rosario
PVT Nick Saucedo PVT Cody Stottlemyer
Air Traffic Control Operators (15Q)
Class 17-031Q PFC Delwin Rodney – DHG PFC Harold Banuelos PFC Brandon Frias PFC Devon Peach PFC Delwin Rodney PFC Paul Windsor PV2 Shilo Bailey PV2 Anthony Davis PV2 Antonio Defaria Class 17-032Q SPC Cody Duddrige PFC Ross Ruder PV2 Jahson Jnobaptiste PV2 Christopher Townsel PV2 Theris Wheeler PV1 Travis Bryk PV1 Brandon Davenport PV1 Gage Kilcollins
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS) GRADUATIONS UAS REPAIRER
AAAA congratulates the following Army graduates of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Repairer Course, MOS 15E, at Fort Huachuca, AZ.
Shadow UAS Repairer Course
9 Graduates, 17 Jan PFC Travis M. Hales – DHG PFC Joseph C. Finley – HG PV2 Caitlin M. Jenkins PV2 Tyler J. Staley PVT Noah D. Benson PVT Buddy W. Best PVT Chance N. Curell PVT Amos E. Gomez PVT Joseph A. Lengel
u Editor’s Mailbox We encourage you to send your comments and suggestions to
[email protected]. Submissions should be exclusive to ARMY AVIATION – we do not publish open letters or third-party letters. Submissions should be 150 to 175 words, should refer to an article that has appeared in the current or most previous issue, and must include the writer’s name, address, email address, and phone numbers. No attachments, please. We regret that because of the volume of submissions, we cannot acknowledge unpublished letters other than by an automated e-mail reply. Writers of letters selected for publication will be notified within a week. Letters may be edited and shortened for space. Joe Pisano, Editor
November 19, 2017 I’m sure you will not print this criticism since it calls-out one of your sponsors. But I hope that you will still address the issue with due diligence. The “photo” on the cover of the October 2017 issue of Army Aviation magazine features the label: “Image courtesy U.S. Army.” I sincerely doubt that claim since the image includes a V-280 in the background. The V-280 is a contender in the JMR technology demonstration program and has not yet even flown. Furthermore, the attack helicopter in the foreground is a British Army Apache AH Mk1 (WAH-64), not a US Army AH-64D Apache. I hope that the editorial and copy staff of your magazine will be more critical of sponsored content in the future. Sincerely, CW5 Paul M. Steele Exchange Test Pilot UK Rotary Wing Test Squadron Paul: Rockwell Collins Media Relations responds…“After further investigation, we determined that courtesy label was placed because of the two official Army images that were used as part of this photo – the UH-60 and CH-47. Any time we use official pictures from our U.S. armed forces, we include a photo courtesy at their request… We did not have a definitive source, including from within the Army, to highlight the differences between the [Apache] aircraft. Our belief, and intent when creating the graphic, was that it was an Army helicopter. We apologize …” Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
CW4 (Ret.) Joe Pisano, Editor
UAS OPERATOR
AAAA congratulates the following Army graduates of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operator Course, MOS 15W, at Fort Huachuca, AZ. Shadow UAS Operator Course 23 Graduates, 17 Jan PVT James W. Odell – DHG
ARMY AVIATION Magazine
PV2 Tyler E. Morrow – HG SGT Mascorro J. Armenta SGT Jasmine C. Harden SGT Richard B. Levanti SPC Justin L. Edwards SPC Leon A. Fraser SPC Kencha Thao PV2 David M. Bowman PV2 Garrett R. Brice PV2 Collin P. Curley 61
PV2 Jacklyn K. Edwards PV2 Brandon M. Krenzer PV2 Gabriel L. Martin PV2 Melissa Molina PV2 Cameron C. Parker PV2 Peyton J. Richardson PV2 Kaleb F. Stuekerjuergen PVT Isaiah L. Blackmon PVT Hayden K. Brattin PVT William R. Jordan
PVT Alejandra K. Shaw PVT Lincoln T. Taitano DHG – Distinguished Honor Graduate DG – Distinguished Graduate HG – Honor Graduate * = AAAA Member March 31, 2018
Art’s
Attic
By Mark Albertson
Art’s Attic is a look back each month 25 years ago and 50 years ago to see what was going on in ARMY AVIATION Magazine. Art Kesten was our founder and first publisher from 1953 to 1987. He was also the founder of the AAAA in 1957 and served as its Executive Vice President. Each month contributing editor Mark Albertson selects a few key items from each historic issue. The cartoon, right, was done back in 1953 by LT Joe Gayhart, a friend of Art’s and an Army Aviator, showing the chaos of his apartment-office in New York City where it all began.
25 Years Ago
50 Years Ago
Uprated Huey
Valorous Unit Awards
March, 1968
March, 1993
11th Combat Aviation Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade, for operations during 4 November and 20 November 1966, during Operation: ATTLEBORO. USARV General Order No. 4040, dated 10 August 1967. 116th Assault Helicopter Company for action during Operation: KALIHI, 22 and 23 October, 1966. USARV General Order No. 3603, dated 17 July 1967.
The UNC Helicopter UH-1 Huey, powered by a GE Aircraft Engine T700 turboshaft engine, has successfully demonstrated the aircraft’s high-altitude, hot day performance capabilities. Per a recent company press announcement, the helicopter hovered and took off with an aircraft gross weight of 9,450 pounds, at a pressure altitude of 7,250 feet and 64 degrees ambient temperature. Such was an increase of 1,700 pounds over the Army’s present UH-1 aircraft.
Single Frequency
Astronaut Wings
The FAA is currently evaluating a single frequency concept for use in air-ground communications. Concept demands an aircraft to take off, wing its way through the system, then land, all the while communicating during the flight while on a single frequency. Pilots, in lieu of altering frequencies, are handed off from one controller to another; the ground system would shift frequency each time it needed to communicate with a different aircraft. Operational advantage: Continuous communications during transfer of control.
The Army’s newest astronaut, LTC Rich Clifford (right), receives his astronaut wings from former Chief of Army Aviation, MG Carl H. McNair, Jr., (Ret.). Ceremony followed LTC Clifford’s mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, STS-53.
Deepest South
Acquisition in Changing Times
MG Dewitt T. Irby, Jr., references a serious dilemma: Americans’ expectation of shrinking government; yet the Army must maintain its ability to perform its functions . . . in a dangerous world. He accurately writes about the Army increasingly indulging in modern sophisticated electronic systems. The conundrum, as MG Irby writes, “We all know that the half-life of electronic technology is only two to ten years. “Resource constraints dictate that our weapons systems stay in service for 40 years.” MG Irby continues, “The dilemma of service life versus technology half-life is best solved by developing systems that can be improved over the years. “This is the approach we have taken with the Chinook, Kiowa Warrior and Apache.” MG Irby’s analysis is quite simple: War is economics. ARMY AVIATION Magazine
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All fourteen members of the Aviation Detachment for Antarctic Support have just returned to Fort Eustis. The team had deployed four months, ferrying scientists back and forth across the massive ice pack. In command of this summer deployment at 40 degrees below zero was Major Bennie E. Luck. Such detachment teams have been supporting the U.S. Antarctic Research Project sponsored by the National Science Foundation for seven years. Objective is to research and collect data pertaining to past and present geographical and geological changes, and therefore, be able to better predict global patterns. March 31, 2018
Army Aviation
Hall of Fame The Army Aviation Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Army Aviation Association of America, Inc., recognizes those individuals who have made an outstanding c ontribution to Army A viation.
The actual Hall of Fame is located in the Army Aviation Museum, Fort Rucker, Ala.
The deadline for nominations for the 2019 induction is June 1, 2018
Contact the AAAA National Office for details and nomination forms at (203) 268-2450 or visit www.quad-a.org
ARMY AVIATION Magazine
Chief Warrant Officer Five Mary Cara Smalley Army Aviation Hall of Fame 2007 Induction - Atlanta, GA
R
etired CW5 Mary Cara Smalley was a great pioneer for women aviation officers. She enlisted in the Army to become a crew chief and to earn a college degree. In 1976, she became the 13th woman to graduate from flight school and went on to serve as first woman aviator in the 6th Air Cavalry Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas. There she served with aviation visionary COL Robert Molinelli, who later achieved the rank of major general, and flew UH-1 and OH-58 helicopters. Molinelli arranged for Smalley to become the first female pilot rated in the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. Although she completed the AH-1 transition, women were not authorized to be assigned to attack helicopter companies in the late 1970s. She served in a variety of assignments to include as a medical evacuation pilot, a night vision goggle instructor pilot, an Initial Entry Rotary Wing course instructor pilot, and as a training, advising and counseling (TAC) officer with the Warrant Officer Candidate School. In 1985, while serving as a TAC, she earned a masters degree in Aviation Management in her off duty time. She was the first woman aviator promoted to CW4 in 1989 and was selected to serve as the adjutant for the prestigious United States Precision Helicopter Team in 1991. In 1994 the National Club’s Outstanding Women in Aviation Society selected her as the outstanding female Army Aviator of the year. She was the first female regular Army warrant officer and aviator to achieve the rank of CW5 in 1995. A master Army aviator with over 3,000 flight hours, 1,000 hours as an IP, Smalley retired in 1999 after serving her country for 24 years. Smalley has been a truly outstanding warrant officer and an inspiration to all men and women Army aviators.
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