Aviation Branch: Out on the Screen Line of the Way Ahead By BG E.J. Sinclair

        Army Aviation Soldiers continue to distinguish themselves in the Global War on Terrorism with Reset and Transformation during this extremely challenging and historic time. There are several critical developments that will affect the future of the Aviation Branch that are requiring extensive effort, initiative and the dedication of the team here at Fort Rucker and across the branch. Our current main effort is the 2005 Aviation Functional Area Assessment. Other key developments affecting us are the transition of unmanned aerial vehicle systems (UAVS) proponency to Fort Rucker, Ala., and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld forwarding the Pentagon’s recommendations to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) commission on May 13. Each of these events are monumental and are drawing out the best efforts of the installation’s leaders, staffs and directorates.

Aviation Functional Area Assessment

        Functional area assessments (FAA) have historically served as intensive management forums, allowing senior Army leaders to identify and resolve issues that affect the execution of Department of the Army short-range plans and programs. FAAs also provide a teaching mechanism and forum for the horizontal and vertical exchange of information between the DA and major Army command participants, focusing primarily on the Army’s ability to maintain readiness, force capability, and force modernization in the program objective memorandum years. Thanks to a tremendous effort led by the Futures Integration and Synchronization Team and each of the directorates, and the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) System Managers, the 2005 Aviation FAA has been very effective in each of these areas.

        Beginning in late March with a series of in-progress reviews, each of the participants focused on the branch’s ability to maintain readiness and force capability while executing our modular force redesign and modernization efforts. Maintaining this balance requires an unparalleled depth of understanding of complex Army processes. This effort would be difficult enough during the normal two-year FAA cycle. Imagine the challenge with not only the Aviation branch, but also the entire Army transforming during this process and simultaneously fighting the GWOT.

        The Aviation branch team has changed our fundamental organizational structure, training, maintenance, doctrine, developed and funded an extensive modernization plan, supported combat operations around the world, and has continued to embrace the proponency for UAVS. All of these changes have prepared us well for the FAA process, allowing the team to focus on the details.

        As a result of this extensive bottom-up review across the entire doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel and facilities (DOTML-PF) spectrum, the Aviation branch has identified its strengths and weaknesses and laid out the way ahead. Furthermore, we’ve been able to bring these issues and recommendations to the attention of the senior Army leadership so they can help us reach our goals.

        I would like to thank all of those who participated in this exhaustive review. I would particularly like to recognize the efforts and expertise of Mark Danielson of the Directorate of Combat Developments. His involvement is clearly evident in the final product.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems Proponency

        The Aviation Warfighting Center and the U.S. Army Intelligence Center are currently working together to transfer proponency of UAV systems from Fort Huachuca, Ariz., to Fort Rucker. Phase One of this two-phase process, the Transition and Formal Transfer phase, is well underway and will include the signing of a memorandum of agreement. Phase Two begins April 6, 2006.

        The Army’s UAVS Proponency at Fort Rucker will tie into more than eleven additional UAVS activity centers, including some of these commands: the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; the Depth and Simultaneous Attack Battle Lab at Fort Sill, Okla.; UAV Training and Simulation Center at Fort Huachuca; the Aviation Applied Technology Directorate at Fort Eustis, Va.; and the Program Manager for UAVS at Redstone Arsenal.

        Fort Rucker will also be the site for UAV doctrine, training, standardization, and safety; as well as the TRADOC System Manager for UAV, the Air Maneuver Battle Lab, the Army Combat Readiness Center; and the Directorate of Evaluations and Standards. Collocation of the functions will further optimize UAVS development.

        Additional, Fort Rucker will link with the national UAV Joint Center of Excellence (JCoE) at Indian Springs, Nevada. The JCoE will coordinate the development of common strategies; interoperability, standardization and architecture issues; as well as tactics, techniques and procedures.

Base Realignment and Closure

        Under the proposed BRAC recommendations, Fort Rucker will be the new home of the U.S. Army Aviation Logistics School (USAALS) currently located at Fort Eustis, Va.; while re-aligning the U.S. Army Aviation Technical Test Center, based at Cairns Army Airfield, to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala. Extensive synchronization efforts have begun to ensure a smooth transition once the recommendations are approved. President George W. Bush must still approve and present the final recommendations to Congress by November 7. Then Fort Rucker officials will have two years to initiate the process and six years to complete it.

        The proposed realignment would bring Aviation operators and maintainers together. Though this merger has been discussed and debated for decades, finally all aviation training throughout the Army will be consolidated at Fort Rucker.

        The net gain for Fort Rucker will be 449 Soldiers, 26 civilian positions, and about 5,500 students annually. The relocation of USAALS to Alabama will also bring $397.5 million in new construction to build three hangars, a headquarters complex, barracks and classrooms at Guthrie Field on Fort Rucker.

        Special appreciation goes to the Friends of Fort Rucker, the local mayors and the great people of the Wiregrass for their support of our Soldiers and their families. Their tireless efforts are paying great dividends to Army Aviation now and in the future.

Summary

        Army Aviation continues to distinguish itself in the Global War on Terrorism as we transform to make Army Aviation even more effective. We are proud of all Soldiers and units for the great sacrifices they have made. Job well done!

        We still have a lot of challenges ahead in the GWOT, with Army transformation, in the Reset/Preset processes, and the repositioning of units. But I have confidence we will successfully meet those challenges as Army Aviation has always done.

ABOVE  THE BEST!!! 

BG E. J. Sinclair is the commander of the U.S. Army Aviation Warfighting Center and chief of the aviation branch.