Stand-To: Procedure prior to first light to enhance unit security, a daily compendium of news, information, and context for Army leaders.

"We've got to look beyond Iraq and Afghanistan. We need to be informed by it, but we need to look beyond where we are today so we know where we're going in the future to meet that end state … And we've got to set an aim point and drive to that aim point, and not move it. And we have to do this rapidly to meet the needs of commanders worldwide today and in the future. We may not get it all right but we cannot afford to get it all wrong. The time to look forward is now."

- Brig. Gen. Anthony G. Crutchfield, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker commanding general, at the annual Association of the U.S. Army's Aviation Symposium in Maryland, Jan. 14

Aviation Branch chief: 'The time to look forward is now'

"ALC 2015 emphasizes integrated training. What a great concept. If we can integrate long-haul between the different (centers of excellence) without having to go to a different location to do a joint exercise, it is going to benefit our Army, save us money and give us command and control training that we really need."

- Lt. Col. Craig Unrath, Fort Rucker deputy director of simulation, speaks about the Army Learning Concept 2015 demonstration, which is designed to provide a look into future training capabilities and how these would be implemented by the Army's training institutions, at the annual Army Aviation Association of America convention at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

Army Learning Concept 2015 brings Aviation, ground forces together early

• Information Papers with "2011 Army Posture Statement"
• 2010 Strategic Communication Resource Guide (AKO log in required)
• 2011 US Army Social Media Handbook
• US Army Social Media (AKO log-in required)
• Early Bird News Site
• Stories of Valor
• Army Public Affairs Portal (AKO log in required)

• Community Covenant
• Bloggers Roundtable
• Iraqi army prepares for Operation Lion's Leap (The US Army)

2010-2013: 60th Anniversary of the Korean War

April:

Sexual Assault Prevention Awareness Month:
- Army's SHARP Program

Month of the Military Child: Operation Military Kids website

Celebrate Diversity Month:
- Asian Pacific Americans in the US Army
- African Americans in the US Army
- Hispanic Americans in the US Army
- Women in the US Army

• 2011 US Army Social Media Handbook
• Army Social Media: A command information sharing platform
• Facebook: Follow the Army
• Twitter: Army updates
• YouTube: Army videos
• Flickr: Army images
• ArmyLive: Army blogs
• Army Media Player
• Free "Army Social Media Handbook" iPhone App

Websites of interest:

150th Anniversary of the Civil War

Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay

• Gen. Dempsey asks for 3 challenges/3 opportunities; sent to former students. How many others will see it?
• A motley consensus on the Afghanistan line item
• Connecting military kids to deployed parents
• First Lady Obama, Dr. Biden launch joining forces to support military families

External Links Disclaimer

Army Aviation Aim Point

What is it?

The Army Aviation Aim Point is the term used to describe the Army Aviation Enterprise's focus for modernization in the years beyond 2020.

What has the Army done?

The lifespan of the Army's current fleet of combat rotary wing aircraft will end in the 2030 timeframe. No future incremental investment will adequately extend their lifecycles. The Army Aviation branch, in collaboration with Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC) and the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), is assessing the future operating environment to develop a Doctrine, Training, Material, Leader and Education, Personnel and Facilities (DOTMLPF) solution to fill that future capability gap.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?

TRADOC is considered the Army's architect and it "thinks for the Army" to meet the demands of a nation while simultaneously anticipating solutions to tomorrow's challenges. Similarly, the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence (USAACE) "thinks for Army Aviation."

The Aviation Enterprise, made up from senior Army leaders across USAACE, HQDA G3/5/7 Aviation, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command (AMCOM), Program Executive Office Aviation (PEO Aviation), Forces Command (FORSCOM), Special Operations Aviation, National Guard Bureau, U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC), and Army Aviation leaders worldwide, is working collaboratively to address future capability gaps and is exploring future vertical lift technologies to complement existing capabilities.

The Enterprise is focused on validating assumptions to better define future Aviation capabilities needed to meet the challenges of future armed conflict. The extent to which ground maneuver commanders will require Aviation capabilities such as lift, attack or reconnaissance is unknown. What is known is that Army Aviation must have leaders, force structure and platforms that allow for operational adaptability in supporting maneuver forces that will execute full-spectrum operations against hybrid threats for two principle responsibilities - combined arms maneuver and wide area security.

Why is this important to the Army?

Today, Army Aviation is the most sought- after combat enabler and the demand is not expected to decrease. However, the Aviation branch cannot remain focused on current conflicts. To remain relevant in the future security environment, Army Aviation is acting now to ensure the Army's future maneuver commanders have the aviation capabilities needed to achieve overwhelming combat power and defeat the enemy's will to fight while also incorporating a range of civil and military capabilities to achieve strategic goals and objectives.

Resources:

U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence

U.S. Army Training & Doctrine Command

Aviation Branch chief: 'The time to look forward is now'