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National Guard Rifle Team Clinches Dogs of War Trophy

Saturday, August 17th, 2024

CAMP PERRY, Ohio – The All National Guard six-person marksman team won the National Trophy, also known as the Dogs of War Trophy, at the National Matches in August. It was only the third time the National Guard has won this prestigious award, with previous wins in 1986 and 1977.

The National Trophy, a revered symbol of excellence in marksmanship, represents more than individual prowess; it embodies the collective discipline, skill and dedication of a team working in harmony.

“The greatest thing about it is that we are all from different states and at some point in time, every state has been part of the all-Guard rifle team,” said Sgt. 1st Class Amanda Elsenboss of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, a shooter and coach on the team. “Those Soldiers and Airmen are taking back to their units the knowledge that they’ve gained from these national matches, and they’re sharing that wealth of knowledge with those Soldiers and Airmen back at their bases.”

The atmosphere at Camp Perry, steeped in history and tradition, was charged with patriotism and honor, reflecting the connection between military service and the art of marksmanship.

Maj. Kirk Freeman, a shooter and coach from the South Carolina National Guard, emphasized the impact and difficulty of the achievement.

“This is demonstrating the lethality that we are gaining here, being able to engage a target at 600 yards,” Freeman said. “We were able to make the correct wind call to get a hit 119 out of 120 times with six different shooters, shooting off a sling, not off a bi-pod, not off a bag, this was off elbows and a sling.”

Individual achievements and another team award further highlighted the team’s success.

During the award ceremony, Freeman presented Sgt. Jonathan Wood of the Louisiana National Guard with the U.S. Army Distinguished Rifleman Badge. Elsenboss was awarded the Women’s Rifle Trophy. The team also won the Hilton Trophy given to the highest scoring reserve component team in the National Trophy Rifle Team Match, adding to the National Guard’s legacy in the competition.

“To win this is really a big achievement,” said Master Sgt. Michael Hester, an Arkansas National Guard gunsmith and machinist for the team. “The shooters did exactly what they were supposed to do and the coaches were absolutely on point this year. It’s almost a 40-year try for this match, and this year we secured it.”

As the team members return to their respective units, they carry not just the trophy but the pride of having contributed to a tradition that spans generations. Their achievement at Camp Perry is a reminder of the National Guard’s enduring role in both national defense and the preservation of America’s marksmanship heritage.

By Shawn Monk, 171st Air Refueling Wing

Interested in Becoming Editor of “Special Warfare” Magazine?

Friday, August 16th, 2024

Applications are currently being accepted for one of the Army’s newest broadening opportunity programs – The Major General Edwin “Forrest” Harding Fellowship.

The Harding Fellowship is a competitive 36-month program consisting of a one-year accelerated master’s degree program at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas for active component captains, non-commissioned officers in the grade of E-8, and warrant officers in the grade of CW4. Upon completion, Fellows will then serve as editors-in-chief for the branch journals at their respective center of excellence for a two-year term.

The Harding Fellowship produces leaders who strengthen the Army profession with their deep expertise in branch matters and superior communications skills. Given the two-year editor term, the Harding Fellowship alternates eligible branches by year.

In FY25, Special Forces, Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs branch personnel may apply for utilization as editor-in-chief of “Special Warfare” at Fort Liberty, NC.

They are now accepting applications for the second group of fellows. Army University recently published an article regarding the application window for the fellowship — Harding Fellowship application window now open | Article | The United States Army

Harding Fellowship application window now open

Meet requirements in chapter 2-2 of the Broadening Opportunities Catalog available at www.hrc.army.mil/content/BOP.

US Army’s First TITAN Ground Station Prototype Delivered at JBLM

Thursday, August 15th, 2024

JOINT BASE LEWIS MCCHORD, Wash. — The Army’s need for a next generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system that rapidly processes sensor data from space, high altitude, aerial and terrestrial layers to provide real-time intelligence support for targeting and situational awareness is the impetus behind Project Manager Intelligence Systems and Analytics’ delivery of the Army’s first Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node, or TITAN, ground station prototype to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. This milestone marks a significant advancement in the Army’s capabilities to support multi-domain operations.

“Delivering the first TITAN prototype to JBLM is a pivotal step in enhancing our warfighters’ capabilities,” said Col. Chris Anderson, PM IS&A. “TITAN provides game-changing technologies that revolutionize how we collect, process, and disseminate intelligence across the battlefield, giving us a decisive edge.”

The system which leverages cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies is a ground station that will significantly reduce the sensor-to-shooter timeline, enabling faster and more accurate decision-making in complex operational environments. This delivery is part of a broader effort to equip the Army with advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities that support the rapid and effective execution of multi-domain operations.

Product Director Intelligence Systems, Rich Licata said, “We are proud of the successful delivery of the first TITAN prototype. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with our partners in the development efforts to refine and expand these capabilities, ensuring our forces remain at the forefront of technological innovation.”

The prototype delivered to JBLM is one of ten being developed. These prototypes will undergo rigorous testing and evaluation to ensure they meet the operational needs and will be used to refine the system through Soldier feedback obtained from a disciplined user-centered design process including extensive unit use of the prototypes.

“We are thrilled to move into the next phase of delivering these revolutionary capabilities to the Army,” added Anderson. “The feedback from our Soldiers will be invaluable in refining and enhancing the TITAN system to meet the demands of modern warfare.”

By Larry Glidewell

Army Cyber Protection Brigade-Led Exercise Brings Multiple Service Elements, Components Together

Monday, August 12th, 2024

CAMP DAWSON, W.Va. ­­– As the late July heat continues to scorch, cyber Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and civilians assembled in the foothills of a remote training base in West Virgina to hone their skills to build an effective defensive cyber force.

Every year, the Army Cyber Protection Brigade (CPB) plans, prepares, and executes Exercise Grungy Zion (EGZ) to simulate a joint task force employing defensive cyber operations across multiple echelons. From July 22 to August 3, 2024, the CPB deployed teams to Camp Dawson, W.Va., Orlando, Fla., and Fort Eisenhower, Ga. to participate in this exercise.

For the CPB task force staff and the brigade’s subordinate battalions, this was an opportunity to validate how information is received, managed and communicated to the Cyber Protection Teams (CPTs) that were operationally engaged in the training scenario.

“Exercise Grungy Zion is the Cyber Protection Brigade’s annual certification exercise,” said Col. Christopher Stauder, CPB commander. “Historically, this exercise has been focused on certifying mission elements, cyber protection teams, and battalion-size task forces. This year the CPB took a giant step forward in certifying the brigade headquarters as a maneuver element and by incorporating multiple partners into this exercise.”

This year’s exercise was the first time the Army’s sister service cyber elements participated in EGZ, working alongside their Army counterparts. Some of the partners included elements from Marine Corps Forces Cyber, Navy mission elements, Multi Domain Task Force mission elements, Army Reserve and National Guard CPTs, and signal professionals from the 60th Signal Battalion (OCO).

“Working joint with the Army during EGZ has been exceptional,” said U.S. Marine Corps Cpt. Michael Goff of 652 CPT, U.S. Marine Corps Cyberspace Operations Battalion. “This is the first time my team had an Army crew integrated with us. It has been a huge success, because they are proficient in all the tools, allowing us to achieve success much faster than normal.”

EGZ also demonstrated how the advancement of technology forces cyber elements to continuously transform how they train and fight to become a more competent force. This includes protection of mission-essential information as well as networks supporting infrastructure, logistics, and communication between joint and multinational allies and partners.

“It feels nice to be hands-on developing and learning new skills,” said Spc. Andrew Stout, 155 CPT, 1st Cyber Battalion, CPB. “Cyber is important, because it provides a broad range of assets and technical support to help the Army complete its mission all over the world.”

In the past, the exercise has taken place on Fort Eisenhower and Camp Dawson; each year new remote locations participate in the training. This is the fourth year the CPB has hosted EGZ and due to its success, plans to continue the exercise for many years to come.

“EGZ is successful because it stresses our units to see what operational load we can handle,” said 1st Lt. Luke Meyer, 155 CPT, 1st Cyber Battalion, CPB. “It measures how we respond in real time, our processes, and hunting capability to react to any cyber threat that might pop up.”

By Lloyd Bedford

Marketing and Engagement Brigade Offers Home to Elite Athletes

Sunday, August 11th, 2024

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Elite parachutists, marksmen, cross fitters, gamers, fishermen and musicians can serve full time in one special Army command.

The U.S. Army Recruiting Command’s Marketing and Engagement Brigade is the home of the the Army’s Golden Knights, Marksmanship Unit, Musical Outreach Team, Warrior Fitness Team, eSports Team and an Outdoors Team.

History, mission

The brigade was founded in 1997 as a support group under U.S. Army Recruiting Command. It was restructured and re-aligned under other units until it once again officially became the Marketing and Engagement Brigade under Recruiting Command in 2018. This includes the U.S. Army Mission Support Battalion, based in Fort Knox, with the brigade headquarters, the Army Marksmanship Unit on Fort Benning, Georgia, and the Army Parachute Team on Fort Liberty, North Carolina.

The Marketing and Engagement Brigade influences people to join the Army by enhancing and conducting recruiting operations through direct engagements and demonstrating elite Army skills and exhibits to achieve the Army’s recruiting mission, said Capt. Mimi Mejia, U.S. Army Recruiting Command marketing and engagement brigade outreach company commander.

The overall program puts out all calls once or twice a year per team with a list of what they’re looking for, the requirements and expectations, she said.

“The key to being on any of the teams is these teams represent the Army on the world stage,” she said. “They need to represent the Army in everything they do. They are Soldiers first. We take our profession seriously as Soldiers, and our next priority is serving in the fields we compete in.”

“No unit in the Army shoots more, drives more miles or jumps more than the Army Marketing and Engagement Brigade,” she said. “We employ the latest technology to produce exhibits that travel to towns and events across each state to share the Army experience. Our Soldiers log more than 75,000 miles each year to help connect people with the Army.”

She said each athlete easily puts in 70-hour weeks to be experts in their respective fields.

Army Marksmanship Unit

In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorized the formation of the Army Marksmanship Unit, almost exclusively to win shooting competitions that would raise the standards of marksmanship throughout the Army, said Mejia.

From 1962 to 1978, the unit earned the United States six Olympic Gold Medals and 59 individual and team championships in international competitions. The unit provides marksmanship training to thousands of Soldiers and became the leader in small-arms research and development.

From 2009 to 2012, the AMU maintained a constant presence in Afghanistan by deploying multiple marksmanship training teams in support of the Afghan National Army NATO training mission.

The unit is composed of five competitive shooting sections, each with world-class training facilities and competition grounds. These teams include service rifle, action shooting, international rifle, service pistol and shotgun. The shotgun and international rifle teams have represented the U.S. during every summer Olympics since 1960 and have earned 24 Olympic medals since that time.

The unit builds and customizes small arms and ammunition through the Custom Firearms Shop. The Army’s finest gunsmiths, machinists, range technicians and ammunition loaders staff the shop, said Mejia.

“They are the backbone, or ‘pit crew’ of the marksmanship teams,” she said. “The custom firearm shop’s research and development efforts have led to enhanced accuracy and reliability of the Army’s competitive weapon systems and ammunition and have intensified the combat effectiveness of the entire Army.”

M21 and M24 sniper systems, special purpose rifles and squad designed marksman rifles were developed and tested in the shop, she said. 

Follow the Army Marksmanship Unit on Facebook and Instagram.

Golden Knights

These exhibits and demonstrations are important so the public can better understand the Army mission and interact with Soldiers, said Lt. Col. Alan Wilson, Army Parachute Team battalion commander.

“Due to the nature of the Army’s mission abroad, many of our nation’s citizens have limited contact and exposure to Soldiers and their families,” he said. “The Golden Knights serve to connect America’s people to their Army by showcasing modern sport parachute exhibitions that pay homage to the Army’s daring and historic airborne operations.”

Since 1959, the Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, represents the Army through cutting edge aerial parachute demonstrations and competitions nationally and internationally. The team consists of more than 100 active-duty Soldiers and Defense Department civilians.

Wilson said their enhanced aerial demonstrations highlight the pinpoint precision of their ram air accuracy canopies, synchronized freefall and canopy formations, gravity-defying wing suiting and high-performance landings.

Their modified Viking Twin Otter planes serve as the backbone of the team and provide the perfect paradrop platforms to deliver their jumpers on target anywhere in the country in plus or minus 30 seconds, he said.

“As we enter our 65th year of aviation and parachuting excellence, I extend our sincere thanks and appreciation for the trust you’ve placed in us to fulfill our mission of representing the Army and our nation pride and distinction,” he said. “The team has a long tradition of professionalism, teamwork, safety, and camaraderie that will pave the way for future generations. We’re excited and grateful to share that tradition of service with everyone at the more than 100 events we perform each year.”

Follow the Golden Knights on Facebook and Instagram.

Musicians

The current Musical Outreach Team form the band, “As You Were.” They perform contemporary pop and rock music at high schools and events across the nation to build awareness of the Army and the career opportunities available.

“Just being out there and sharing our message and being able to play for all these people is the best part of the job,” said lead singer Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Gatlin during one of her many concerts on the road.

The band plays three-day concerts such as the iHeart Country Music Festival. The band has released three albums with original music. Performing at events gives band members the opportunity to share original music and Army messages on stage.

“They’re the only band in the Army that writes and produces their own music in the rock and pop genres,” Mejia said. “They travel all over the United States performing different shows. They drive, set up and tear down their own equipment. They’re their roadies. We don’t have an operations center. They’re very self-sufficient.”

Gatlin has been a team leader, squad leader and talent manager for the band. Sgt. 1st Class John Dowler serves as the audio technician and operations noncomissioned officer for the band. Dowler has been an instrumentalist, team leader and operations NCO for the band.

Staff Sgt. Abiud Flores-Rodriguez is the bassist for As You Were. He’s been a musician and operations NCO. Staff Sgt. Kenneth Goss is the drummer for the band. He’s been a team leader, squad leader, senior musician and senior support NCO.

Follow the Army Music Outreach Team and As You Were on Facebook and Instagram.

Warrior Fitness Team

The Warrior Fitness Team consists of nationally and internationally ranked CrossFit and strongman athletes.

“They are really high performing,” Mejia said. “One of our athletes just got third in the world. Our male and female athletes are highly ranked at the national and international level. They’re incredible athletes.”

U.S. Military Academy graduate 1st Lt. Vince Wilkinson competes as a strongman athlete. He said the discipline, resiliency and fitness it takes to become an elite athlete translates over into any career path in the Army. He also said the team enjoys sharing their fitness journey with their fans on social media.

The enlisted and officers on the team also mentor each other professionally so they can progress in their Army career fields, he said.

Having the athletes sharing fitness tips with their fans at the expos is a great way to bridge that gap between the American public and the Army, Mejia said.

Follow the Warrior Fitness Team on Facebook and Instagram.

eSports Team

Active-duty and Reserve Soldiers compete in eSports competitions across the nation.

“Soldiers have expressed a strong desire to represent the Army in competitive gaming,” Mejia said. “They’ve shown Army leaders how gaming can help us connect to young people. This helps make our Soldiers more relatable.”

Sgt. Eduardo Gonzaga, who goes by the gamer name “EJ,” put in about 6,500 hours or about 150 days into the game Apex Legends to get ready for his competition matches. He said he loves to compete for the Army and meet other gamers and fans who follow his streams.

“We talk nonstop, and I hang out with them. We follow the same streamers,” he said. “I still talk to most of them to this day.”

He said the conventions are a great way to show the public another side of the Army.

“We’re more than just infantry,” he said. “This is my life; I love eSports.”

Follow the Army eSports Team on Facebook and Instagram.

Outdoors Team

The Outdoors Team currently has two fishing anglers, Master Sgt. Josh Watkins and Master Sgt. John Branch.

Watkins serves as a competitive angler on the National Professional Fishing League for the U.S. Army Outdoors Team at Fort Knox. He grew up in Illinois and joined the Army in 2005 as a military police officer. He’s served multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Watkins, a third generation Army Soldier, received his invitation to compete in the National Professional Fishing League circuit, an invite reserved for a select few anglers each year, in 2022.

“It’s an unbelievable honor,” he said. “We get to do what we love for a living.” Hodge stated. “By creating the Outdoors Team, the Army is giving us the opportunity to engage with our target audience through a shared passion.”

He said the Army helped him achieve this feat.

“People think we just go out on a boat, throw a line out and wait for a fish,” Watkins said. “But there is so much more that goes into it. We are battling the elements, heat, cold, rain, waves and wind for hours on end,” Watkins said.

“Maintaining our physical training to Army standards has certainly prepared us for that.” “It even gives us an edge,” Hodge joked. “We are well prepared.”

Hodge tied for ninth place at the National Professional Fishing League Tournament, or NPFL, in Pickwick Lake, Tennessee, July 7-12, 2024.

Branch, who’s been fishing for 37 years, said he relied on skill, dedication and a little luck to capture the team’s first top 10 national finish out of 122 anglers on the lake.

The NFPL provides a stage for anglers to demonstrate their skills in front of a national audience.

“The NFPL is the Army Outdoor Team’s primary tournament circuit that we participate in,” Branch said. “They have six events throughout the year all across the country.”

The NFPL finish is a steppingstone for the Army Outdoor team, which represents the Army motto of “Be All You Can Be.”

“The freedom … it’s just you outdoors with the fish,” Branch said. “It’s something that I was born with. I was extremely young when my father got me into it. I couldn’t imagine life without it. Fishing is a part of who I am.”

“My number one fishing secret is that you have to understand a fish,” Branch said. “Any time you can get them to bite, it’s luck. Whatever lure they’re biting that day is my favorite.”

He said the Outdoors Team is small but mighty.

“We’re the only team reaching out to that demographic and in my opinion the most important aspect of our team is simply the awareness that you are not a Soldier 24/7,” Branch said. “You have time to chase your hobbies, chase your dreams and your passions. Watkins and I are both prime examples of this. We both fished competitively in our off time prior to this team.”

Mejia said the Outdoor Team currently has two fishing anglers on the team but they’re looking to expand their reach, to include hunters, archers, a rodeo team, bull riding and other outdoor sports.

“They have a folder dedicated to rodeo with more than 2,000 athletes applying, Soldiers from across all these different professions, just think about the talent that lies in the Army,” Mejia said.

Follow the Outdoors Team on Facebook and Instagram.

Mejia said any Soldiers who are considering trying out for any of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command’s Marketing and Engagement Brigade’s teams should keep an eye out for the all calls and apply.

For more information, visit the Marketing and Engagement Brigade’s official website.

By Shannon Collins, ARNEWS

US, Colombian Armies Enhance Interoperability During Airborne Infiltration Exercise HYDRA III 2024

Friday, August 9th, 2024

FUERTE MILITAR DE TOLEMAIDA, Colombia — Nestled in the heart of Colombia’s Andes mountain range, approximately 75 miles south of Bogota, roughly 300 soldiers from the U.S. and Colombian armies forged partnerships during the bilateral airborne infiltration exercise, Hydra III 2024, held from July 28 to August 1, 2024, in Fuerte Militar de Tolemaida, Colombia.

A U.S. Army South-led exercise, HYDRA 24, formerly known as Dynamic Force Employment, is an agreed-to-action between the partner nations and the third iteration of its kind.

Participating units included the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division; the Colombian Army Battalion of Counter Narcotics; the 7th Special Forces Group, the 1st Security Forces Assistance Brigade and support personnel from the ARSOUTH command.

“It is no secret that around the globe it is growing more important with each passing month and year that while we are experts in some aspects we have so much to learn from our partners around the world,” said U.S. Army Maj. Adam Amor, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment operations officers and lead officer in charge of the 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers participating in HYDRA 24.

“The reality is in today’s battlefield partner force integration is the standard, it isn’t just a one-off opportunity and it is not just something we only do for training exercises but everywhere that we go around the globe we are going to be shoulder to shoulder with another partner nation,” said Amor.

The exercise aimed to enhance the technical, procedural and interoperability between Colombian and U.S. paratroopers. This demonstrates the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly and strategically employ forces in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.

For many of the paratroopers, it was their first time integrating and interacting with a partner force.

“I was very impressed that everybody was able to expand and work out the language barriers to make the operations a success, in addition to some of our ad hoc translators who stepped up to help integrate with our partners,” said Amor.

“We also learned that we have different methods of executing higher operations and battle tracking across the area, but our paratroopers could easily integrate with their partners even despite the language,” said Amor.

Amor stressed the importance of learning to synchronize planning efforts to facilitate battlefield operations anywhere in the world.

With a focus on pre-deployment operations, HYDRA 24 allowed U.S. Army Soldiers to enhance their agility in a new training domain alongside partner forces. This collaboration further improved interoperability and prepared them for success in competition, crisis and conflict.

“The Colombian Counter Narcotics Battalion 1 has a specific mission and we also have a specific mission set with a global focus,” said Amor. “Because of this we were able to share lessons with airborne operations and learn how they execute operations that may be more localized using different types of aircraft and different types of jungle movements.”

Amor added that he was impressed with the initiative of the Colombian Army’s company commanders and appreciated their hospitality and capabilities, which facilitated the exercise.

“The Colombian Army is currently working on becoming interoperable with other armies worldwide. This exercise represents a significant step forward in that process,” said Colombian Army Lt. Col. Bayardo Pena, senior observer and operations officer in charge for the Colombian Army.

“The U.S. Army has been supporting us for many years. The fact that we are conducting this exercise is going to strengthen and increase our partnership for the future,” said Pena.

Pena stressed the importance of both armies being able to conduct the planning process, execution of the maneuver, understand each other’s doctrine, and execute an exercise.

“The U.S. Army has a world standard in terms of doctrine and it is going to help us standardize our processes too,” said Pena. “I am proud of our soldiers and how they conduct themselves with other armies like the U.S.”

The U.S.-Colombia partnership remains one of the most vibrant and mutually productive relationships in the Southern Hemisphere. SOUTHCOM and U.S. Army South bilateral exercises aim to demonstrate the United State’s commitment to the region and its citizens.

The exercise culminated in a distinguished visitor day, foreign airborne wing exchange ceremony and remarks from the U.S. Army South Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Phil Ryan.

“Today’s event goes beyond just tactical and operational interoperability, although that is crucial, what truly matters is the human connections formed between all of you,” said Ryan during the foreign wing exchange ceremony. “These bonds are key to safeguarding our shared values of democracy and human rights, and to preserving our way of life in the Western Hemisphere.”

Prior to the exercise, the two armies synchronized tactics, techniques and procedures, medical and communication rehearsals to ensure seamless integration throughout the combined training exercise and the multinational airborne assault.

“Our goal is to enhance our interoperability so we can operate seamlessly together as one multinational force whenever needed,” said Ryan. “Embrace this shared experience and remember that, despite our different backgrounds and languages, we are united by your common identity as paratroopers – Defense and Fraternity!”

By MAJ Nadine Wiley De Moura

Fort Liberty’s Airborne Innovation Lab

Thursday, August 8th, 2024

We’ve mentioned the Airborne Innovation Lab in the past but here’s another pitch for those on Ft Liberty who haven’t heard of it.

Do you have an innovative idea that can make your team, squad, platoon, company, battalion, or brigade more efficient and lethal? We want to work with you!

We are a prototyping facility that any service member, regardless of rank, on Fort Liberty that can design and build out of various materials to help bring your ideas into reality.

We also offer an Intro to Microcontrollers and a Basic & Advanced Additive Manufacturing class with a primary focus on Fusion360.

FLRAA Achieves Milestone B, Enters Next Phase of Development

Tuesday, August 6th, 2024

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. — The Army’s Future Vertical Lift program took a major step forward as the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, or FLRAA, program entered the next major phase of development when the Army announced the approval of the FLRAA Milestone B Acquisition Decision Memorandum on August 2, 2024.

The decision came after the successful FLRAA preliminary design review in April and a meeting of the Army Systems Acquisition Review Council in June. After reviewing FLRAA affordability, technological viability, threat projections and security, engineering, manufacturing, sustainment and cost risks, the ASARC confirmed that all sources of program risk have been adequately addressed for this phase of the program. Milestone B allows the Army to exercise contract options and continues development of the aircraft as it now enters the engineering and manufacturing development phase.

“This an important step for FLRAA and demonstrates the Army’s commitment to our highest aviation modernization priority,” said the Army acquisition executive, the Honorable Douglas R. Bush. “FLRAA will provide assault and MEDEVAC capabilities for the future Army, adding significantly increased speed, range and endurance.”

“This is an exciting day for the Army … and more importantly for our Soldiers. The FLRAA provides truly transformational capability to Army aviators as we uphold the sacred trust with the Soldier on the ground,” said Maj. Gen. Michael C. McCurry, 17th chief of the U.S. Army Aviation Branch. “Future battlefields require expanded maneuver, the ability to sustain and provide command and control across vast distances, and of course, evacuate our wounded. All of these apply to both conventional and special operations forces. With roughly twice the range and twice the speed, FLRAA brings unmatched combat capability to the joint force.”

The Army awarded the FLRAA Weapon System Development contract to Bell Textron on December 5, 2022, and it includes nine options. The Milestone B allows the Army to exercise the first option which includes detailed aircraft design and build of six prototype aircraft. The Army is planning for the first FLRAA flight in 2026 with low-rate initial production scheduled to begin in 2028 and initial fielding activity in 2030. The Army will continue to review and refine the schedule as necessary based on the contract award and the latest program activities.

“PM FLRAA and our Team of Teams across the aviation enterprise are working hard to make sure that we get it right,” said Brig. Gen. David Phillips, Program Executive Officer, Aviation. “We will deliver a next generation combat capability that meets the Army’s goals for affordability, survivability, maintainability, reliability and safety.”

“The FLRAA Milestone B decision is another successful step of a deliberate modernization effort by the Army,” said Brig. Gen. Cain Baker, director for the Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team. “The many stakeholders, including academia and industry, have worked hard to ensure rigorous technology development and demonstration and have informed FLRAA requirements and affordability. FLRAA’s speed, reach and survivability will be key to transforming U.S. Army maneuver.”

“I am very proud of the FLRAA team. We’ve maintained a deliberate balance between sustaining program momentum while maintaining technical and acquisition rigor,” said Col. Jeffrey Poquette, FLRAA project manager. “Using digital engineering as a key part of our ‘go slow to go fast’ approach has helped to accelerate the program by investing in requirements development up front.”

FLRAA will provide transformational capability for ground forces and aircrews with speed, range, and surprise to present multiple dilemmas to the enemy. It will expand the depth of the battlefield, extending reach to conduct air assault missions from relative sanctuary while enabling us to rapidly exploit freedom of maneuver to converge ground forces through decentralized operations at extended distances. FLRAA’s inherent reach and standoff capabilities will ensure mission success through tactical maneuver at operational and strategic distances.

As the Army transforms to meet an uncertain future, FLRAA is one of many modernized capabilities that will help ensure the Army of 2030 and beyond is ready to win when the nation calls.

By PEO Aviation