'Proudly Serving Our Members'                      February 2010

If the first few months are any indication for the rest of the year, 2010 should be an exciting and fast paced year.

Since the last issue, the AAAA Awards Board convened to select the National Awards which will be presented at the AAAA Annual Convention in April and Bill Harris and I were privileged to attend the Aviation Leaders Conference at Fort Rucker. One of the many highlights was that for the first time deployed CAB Commanders were able to participate in the conference via video teleconferencing.

However, the highpoint of this past month was the overwhelming response to a message that went out to all members on February 2, 2010.

“Since the inception of combat after 9/11, the AAAA National Executive Board has had a policy of waiving dues for deployed members. Until 2009 we had been waiving entire Divisions and Brigades. As the deployments have evolved to smaller sized units and Task Forces it became almost impossible to keep up.

As a result the AAAA Board voted to modify the program to an INDIVIDUAL basis. Specifically, if you are deployed or are about to deploy, simply send an email to the AAAA National Office, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 800 722-ARMY ext 120 and we will give you a one year extension on your existing membership for free.

Please help us spread the word. The last thing you need to worry about is getting a bill from us while deployed.”

Like most things in life and certainly true in news reporting, we hear the negative and seldom hear the positive. It was very gratifying to AAAA leadership to receive so many emails in response to the message. In just the first 48 hours, over 500 deploying/ deployed personnel contacted the AAAA National Office requesting the dues renewal waiver. I would like to highlight a couple of comments we received on the first day.

MAJ Stephen Gilbertson writes:
    “Dear AAAA,
This note is to inform you that I am currently deployed to FOB Salerno Afghanistan. Thanks so much for the free membership and the continued support to our Soldiers. The magazine is circulated around the TOC every month when it arrives. Thanks Again.”

1SG Steven W. Wyllie writes:
    “Dear Sir or Ma’am,
I am currently stationed at Ft. Eustis and not getting ready to deploy, as a matter a fact, I will be starting my terminal leave for retirement as a 1SG in May 2010.
However, I felt compelled to tell you that you have certainly earned my respect from the below offer and e-mail. Our boys and girls sacrifice so much each day while deployed and it is the little things like this that are really appreciated and often over looked, so I just wanted to say thank you on behalf of those that don’t get the chance.”

MG (Retired) Hank Small, Hornet 6 (RVN), writes:
“Not deploying, but on behalf of those that are, my hat is off to the AAAA. To my knowledge, no other organization is doing something similar. Once again, Aviation leads the way!”

I can’t tell you how good this makes us feel to have done something practical to help in some small way.

Let us know what else we can do to better live up to our mission statement, “AAAA: Supporting the U.S. Army Aviation Soldier and Family.”

The door is always open!

BG (Ret.) Rod Wolfe
AAAA President
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