May - Another successful Convention,  Hardware Updates,

In Praise of Army Aviation During Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)

 By MG John M. Curran

        Last month's annual AAAA convention in Fort Worth, Texas, was a resounding success. 

        On behalf of the Aviation Branch, our compliments and gratitude goes to LTG Ellis D. Parker (Ret.), our association president, Executive Director Bill Harris, and the entire Army Aviation Association of America team for the long hours, hard work and the attention to detail that went into executing a great convention. I would also like to thank all of the industry partners and military organizations that participated with exhibits, presentations and various support. We couldn't have had a better convention to mark and highlight the twentieth anniversary of the Aviation Branch. Great job and thanks to all.

        I also extend a special thanks to the participation by Army Vice Chief of Staff GEN Jack Keane; GEN Kevin P. Byrnes, commanding general of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command; GEN Paul J. Kern, commanding general of U.S. Army Materiel Command; LTGs John S. Caldwell and Richard A. Cody; and all of the active-duty and retired general officers. We appreciate each of them sharing their unique perspectives, knowledge and insights with us during this year's gathering. 

        We would like to express a hearty thank you and a warm farewell to LTG Parker, who after two great years as our president passes the AAAA leadership to MG Ronald K. Andreson (Ret.). MG Andreson has outstanding qualifications, most recently serving as AAAA's senior vice president, and will no doubt do a great job leading us over the next several years. Congratulations to MG Andreson.

Hardware Updates

        Now to this month's special focus on hardware updates. I invite your attention to the following articles in this issue: the Aviation Combat Developments Hardware update by COL Ellis W. Golson and MAJ Barry Higgs; the PM-Longbow update by COL Ralph G. Pallotta; the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior update by LTC Jeffrey A. Crabb; the Comanche update by LTC L. Neil Thurgood;  an Aviation Applied Technology Directorate update by COL William M. Gavora; the Cargo Helicopter update by COL William T. Crosby and Ray Sellers; and the UH-60M Black Hawk update by LTC Keith Robinson and Harry S. Hamilton. You should find each article insightful with information on the latest developments. 

Army Aviation in Operation Iraqi Freedom

        Just over two months ago a coalition force under the command of the U.S. Central Command initiated Operation Iraqi Freedom to end the regime of the dictator Saddam Hussein. Due in large part to the embedding of nearly 600 members of media, the American people — along with millions of others around the earth — watched, listened and read updates made possible by near-instantaneous coverage. 

        For the first time in history an entire world was able to witness a war unfolding in real time. What is equally astonishing is that the public was kept well informed and knowledgeable about the military operations, the methods of employment, the types of weapons used and the dangers confronting the troops, thanks to the number of military analysts who helped to explain every aspect of the conflict.

        It would be safe to say that the world was able to witness first-hand the professionalism of our well trained and equipped armed forces. We can be very proud of how our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen conducted themselves — facing the challenges of the terrain, the weather, the enemy and the unknown. Our forces conducted a very difficult task with bravery, honor and dignity, while maintaining their humanity and concern for the Iraqi people. 

        As an American and a soldier with many friends and colleagues engaged in the war, I too followed the news with great interest, watching and tracking how our forces were doing. As chief of the Army's Aviation Branch, I was especially focused on how our aviation soldiers and units were fairing in the conflict. I wanted to know if the training we provide — to our leaders, staff officers, NCOs, pilots, crew chiefs, maintainers, airspace controllers and other soldiers - was adequate or was what they needed. I also had similar interest regarding the aircraft and their weapons, navigations, communications and other systems. Did our troops have the right equipment, tools and field gear to accomplish their missions? 

        As the ground war progressed and reports began to come in, we started to learn just how well our aviation units were doing.  I was very pleased to learn that our pilots and aircraft were doing a great job and meeting the expectations of the ground commanders. Our folks were doing what they were trained to do and we were achieving success.

Review of Aviation's Performance

        Let's review some of the doctrine and facts concerning employment of attack aircraft to better understand what is expected from Army aviation.

Attack aircraft are incredibly versatile. While their primary mission is the destruction of enemy armor or mechanized forces, they also conduct reconnaissance and security operations.  [See insert on the missions of attack aircraft]

        Attack helicopter battalions allow ground commanders to dominate the battlefield, combining mobility, speed, range, versatility and lethality in flight environments not suitable to fixed-wing aircraft. 

        A night deep attack is the most difficult and high-risk mission attack helicopter battalions perform.

        AH-64A Apaches fired the first shots in the 1991 Gulf War, destroying Iraqi radar sites to open the air phase. They were also devastatingly effective when used against Iraqi armor out in the desert.

        The superb performance of the Apache in Afghanistan was well documented. Vernon Loeb's April 28, 2002, Washington Post article "Built for the Cold War, Flown in a Hot One in Operation Anaconda, Apache Helicopter Shrugs Off Balkans Debacle and Al Qaeda Bullets," detailed the performance of the aircrews and aircraft. "[T]he gunships helped [U.S. forces] regain the initiative by destroying positions and laying down counterfire at much closer ranges than any fixed-wing aircraft could fly," Loeb wrote.

        He also quoted a senior Army official, who said: "They got in tight enough to shoot and they took a few hits, but of the three Apaches that were battle-damaged in Anaconda, they've all been repaired and they never left country."

        We have great confidence that once operations in Iraq have been fully analyzed and the lessons learned are assimilated, the Apache's reputation as a lethal and rugged weapon will only be enhanced. 

 Reports from the Field

        During OIF, I received several e-mails forwarded to me from BG Edward J. Sinclair, assistant division commander with the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq. In one e-mail, which was sent on the 20th anniversary of the Aviation Branch (April 12), he recounted the division's participation in an attack with members of the 101st Aviation Brigade against elements of the Medina and Hammurabi divisions of the Iraqi Republican Guard. 

        From his comments, you can read how effective our pilots and aircraft performed.

        Sinclair wrote:  "Just wanted to share a great day in the 101st with you all. We took over the bottom 1/4 of Baghdad with 2nd and 3rd brigades. 2-17 Cav., with their Kiowa Warriors, are key to the fight in the city streets, while the AH-64 battalions provide standoff engagements and secure the outer ring. Our 1st Bde. is still securing An Najef, Al Hilah and Karbala. We had a company of Longbows that ran into some bad guys SE [southeast] of Baghdad, still hiding out. They were remnants of the Hammurabi Division. 

        "The AH-64D company was able to kill nine T-72s [tanks], six ZPU-23 [air defense guns], seven S-60 air-defense guns, 12 D-30 artillery pieces, an Iraqi UH-1 [helicopter], a COLT airplane that was on the ground, and numerous fuel and cargo trucks. There was similar success across the division with engagements. Today alone our BDA [battle damage assessment] for 101 Atk. Bde. totals were more than a brigade-size element of the Republican Guard. And while some aircraft did take enemy fire — including a few hits — all of our aircraft returned to our Tactical Assembly Area. It was truly an exciting day for all of us, and obviously we were all pretty excited tonight." 

        Aviation units of the 101st were responsible for the destruction of approximately two Iraqi divisions' worth of equipment, greatly eliminating the threat to coalition forces and to Iraqi citizens. These attrition efforts against Saddam's forces significantly contributed to the momentum of the ground campaign to move on Baghdad and complete the liberation of Iraq.

        BG Sinclair also wrote in a later e-mail how well other units and aircraft were doing.

        "Sir, I know a lot is being written about the role of the infantry at An Najef, Karbala, Al Hilah and now in Baghdad. And deservedly so — they have done a fabulous job. But a lot of the visibility of what 101st Atk. and 159th Avn. brigades have done is not being highlighted enough, so I just wanted to make sure you were aware of their contributions.

        "101st Atk. Bde. has flown over 5,000 hours and 159th has flown over 8,000 hours since we crossed the berm on 19 March. Besides the attack missions, both brigades executed the two longest air assaults/moves in history — one of over 380 kms and one of over 500 kms. They also conducted brigade air assaults with the 1st Bde. into An Najef, 2nd Bde. into Karbala and 3rd Bde. into the outskirts of Al Hilah. Additionally, as we moved into Baghdad, they moved both 2nd and 3rd brigades (a total of over 3,000 soldiers in one day) into their respective sectors in Baghdad. Just this week they air assaulted the 2nd BCT [brigade combat team] from Baghdad into the airfield at Mosul — truly a monumental task covering over 500 kms. 

        "Their role in resupply has been crucial. With 1,000-km LOCs [lines of communication] … from Kuwait to Mosul, we have been at times totally reliant on the 159th for resupply," wrote Sinclair. "Especially critical was their role in the emergency resupply missions of MLRS and 155mm artillery ammunition, 24 hours a day, as 3rd ID outran their ground trains and became black on ammo. The Chinooks and Black Hawks have truly been the lifeline for our resupply efforts over such great distances. … There have been some severe challenges with the dust and the shamals, but overall the FMC [full mission capable] rates have remained very good, especially when you consider the number of hours flown and the mission profiles."

 More Stories of Courage and Accomplishment

        Journalist Steve Liewer of Stars and Stripes European edition was embedded with the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry, in Iraq and wrote extensively on missions flown by 2-6 and 6-6 Cavalry and the 11th Aviation Brigade. You'll find many factual accounts of the bravery on our aviation soldiers, to include the riveting story of 29-year-old 1LT Jason King (with 6-6 Cav) and how he was shot in the throat while flying on a mission March 23. 

        You can read more of King's story in "Pilots recall night battle behind enemy lines," posted on April 17.  Another compelling story is "6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry, back in battle for Baghdad," written on April 4.  I encourage you to read all of Steve's stories posted on the S&S website at www.estripes.com. 

 Preparing for the Nation's Next Call

        Now that operations in Iraq have shifted gears and the lessons learned and after-action reviews are being conducted, we will see how well Army aviation executed its assigned missions. 

        Currently and in the months to come, a host of agencies will work closely with U.S. Central Command, including such Army activities as the Center for Army Lessons Learned, TRADOC, AMCOM, PEO Aviation and the Army Safety Center, to capture the facts, tactics, techniques and procedures used by our forces.  We in the aviation community will study our performance — in difficult, demanding and fluid conditions — scrutinize and evaluate both the good and the bad, and work to make the changes and modifications to our aviation forces to be ready to contribute to future coalition, joint and combined operations.

        Our Army must fight and win wars across a full spectrum of operations. Army aviation — comprised of attack, recon, lift, maintenance, flight ops and air traffic services — will continue to provide our soldiers on the ground with an indispensable capability, now and well into the future.

        To all of the soldiers who participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, know that we share in your pride of a job well done.  America is proud of what you have sacrificed and accomplished in liberating the Iraqi people and ending the brutal regime that threatened the peace and freedom of the world.

        Continue to think safety and risk management, be safe and watch out for others. Above the Best!

 "Above the Best!"

 MG John M. Curran is the commander of the U.S. Army Aviation Center and chief of the aviation branch.