Keeping Up With Army Aviation Branch Leaders
President's Cockpit / By MG Jeff Schloesser, Ret.
My career sometimes took me away from Army Aviation units, which I
always felt was the life blood of our branch, and so the pictures and
contact information helped me plug back into our branch and to seek out
old friends and renew communications with them. Later, as I got more
senior, I used the Blue Book as a definitive tool to ensure I was aware
of who was where, how units and TDA outfits were changing, and again,
who was in charge. Growing up in the active Army, I was shocked about
how big our enterprise was, for the Blue Book was the only place I found
to learn about the National Guard and Army Reserve outfits – many of
whom I would later visit and some that I would be honored to lead on
future battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan. In all honesty, it was the
Blue Book I was certain to read cover to cover, and to keep by my desk
year around. It was my “go-to” reference to Army Aviation: a “who’s who”
snapshot in time.
So, I am truly excited about introducing this year’s 2019 Army
Aviation Blue Book issue. By the time you are reading this, many of the
routine summer moves and job changes have been complete, and we have new
leaders at every level, from Chief of Staff to battalion, all of them
listed in this issue. The new Chief of Staff of the Army, General Jim
McConville, is one of our own, and the first branched Army Aviator to
serve in this capacity. We wish him and his spouse Maria a superb tour
leading our Army! Read More