Lieutenant General Harry W.O. Kinnard, a seasoned authority in airborne operations before he became involved with Army Aviation, was rated an Army Aviator in 1962 and applied his experience to the testing of airmobility concepts. Under his command and leadership, the 11th Air Assault Division was formed in 1963, and established the superiority of airmobility in maneuvers against the 82nd Airborne Division. Subsequently, he formed the Army's first Airmobile division, the 1st Cavalry Division [Airmobile], primarily from assets of his test division.

From this organization, which provided the Army's first large scale airmobility capabilities, came the aviation techniques, tactics, and SOP's which have been adopted throughout the U.S. Army. He deployed this newly-formed division to Vietnam where it was immediately committed to combat and continued to confirm its intrinsic value on a daily basis.

Employing highly innovative techniques and ideas which emphasized the use of rocket artillery, rappelling from helicopters, night vision equipment, and the refuel-rearm point system, the division demonstrated the value of the combined arms-helicopter team in several significant and victorious campaigns. Later, as Commander of the U.S. Army Combat Developments Command, LTG Kinnard extended airmobility doctrine and contributed materially to the refinement of air assault operations before retiring in 1969.