Apache Aircraft Commander
Hilma Klingaman
Captain Wales conducted months of training to prepare himself for the assessment whilst based at Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk. He was put through a gruelling 6-hour flying assessment which took him all over the UK, flying from Wattisham up the eastern side of England to Newcastle, then across to RAF Spadeadam, then Carlisle, then down the western side of England through Manchester and Liverpool to Birmingham and then back to Wattisham.
During the course of this assessment he was required to plan and deliver a comprehensive set of patrol orders, navigate throughout, fly in controlled airspace and conduct a simulated low-level attack onto RAF Spadeadam. At the same time he was required to deal with diversions and simulated aircraft emergencies. In the process he was comprehensively tested in his ability to perform as an aircraft commander across a wide range of tactical and procedural scenarios.
This qualification is the culmination of his training, which has seen him over the last 3 years complete the conversion to type course, which teaches students to fly the aircraft, and the conversion to role course, during which he was awarded the prize for the best co-pilot gunner.
"My goal was to command an Apache battalion, so the privilege of commanding a combat aviation brigade in the 82nd Abn. Div. and then taking them to Afghanistan was the greatest job I've had in the Army," said Musiol.
"When I was a cadet at West Point, I was unsure which branch to choose and exploring my options," said Musiol. "I thought aviation would be something different. My father told me, 'if you don't do it now, you may regret it down the road."
After completing his undergraduate studies at West Point and branched Aviation, Musiol departed for Fort Rucker, Alabama, to undergo aviation training on the apache airframe, where he met his wife, the former Leigh Ann Seigle.
"She was part of 18th Aviation Brigade as a platoon leader in a Chinook company that is now part of the 82nd CAB [as Bravo Company "Flippers", 3rd Battalion, 82nd CAB]," said Musiol. "I was assigned to 1st Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment as a platoon leader. We spent 4.5 years there flying our assigned aircraft."
"Col. Bob Seigle, Leigh Ann's father commanded the 82nd Aviation Battalion from 1983-1985, said Musiol. "He took the unit to Grenada with the 82nd Airborne Division and then commanded the 18th AB during Panama and Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm."
"I learned a lot from listening and asking him questions," said Musiol. "We shared ideas and things he learned from his multiple deployments. One of the main things I took from him was the importance of aviation and the combat power it provides."
"Once I change command with Col. Erik Gilbert, I go right to division headquarters as the Chief of Staff for rear detachment," said Musiol. "The division will have forces in Iraq, but there will be around 17,000 Paratroopers here at Bragg."
"I think Fort Bragg, and in particular, the 82nd Abn. Div. is unique," said Musiol. "It always has to be prepared to provide a strategic hedge for combatant commanders with a responsive and agile force."
"Those rules applied to me as well, continued Musiol. " I took it upon myself to fly at least once a week. It not only adds credibility to the brigade commander to be out there flying, but it also gives me an opportunities to stay connected with our maintainers and aviators."
"Someone told me a long time ago that you go for as long as you can for as long as you can," said Musiol. "Once you feel you are not contributing, then you probably need to call it a day. As long as I am needed in the 82nd ABN DIV to assist, I will keep going."
Musiol relinquished the brigade colors to Col. Erik Gilbert, during a change of command ceremony on Fort Bragg, N.C., June 16, 2015. Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. William Yeargan also relinquished his responsibility in a ceremony of the brigade to Command Sgt. Maj. William Elliott.
WHEELER ARMY AIR FIELD, Hawaii -- The Soldiers of 2-6th Cavalry Squadron, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, received their AH-64D Apache Longbow Attack Helicopters this week from National Guard units across the country.
The airframes are being transferred from the National Guard to the active duty Army as part of the Aviation Restructure Initiative in an effort to cut costs in Army Aviation and to fill the mission capability gap left by the retirement of the OH-58D Kiowa Reconnaissance Helicopter.
"The apaches will primarily be used as a reconnaissance platform," said Maj. Ian H. Benson, Operations Officer, 2-6th Cavalry Squadron. "However, with the inherent firepower of the aircraft, apaches will serve as a combat multiplier to any supported ground force commander."
"The Apache provides greater lethality and accuracy with the increased firepower that it provides," said Maj. Jacob Johnston, Executive Officer, 2-6 Cavalry Squadron. "Additionally, the sensor package on the AH-64D provides greatly enhance optically clarity and subsequently better situational awareness for the aircrews and the ground force commander."
The squadron received 24 airframes and will increase its operational abilities by adding eight RQ-7B Shadow v2 unmanned aerial vehicles to compliment the reconnaissance and combat abilities of the Apache.
"The Apache is capable of deploying with a single nose mounted 30 mm M230E1 Chain Gun, AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles, and Hydra 70 general-purpose unguided 70 mm rockets," said Johnston. "These weapon systems combined with the Target Acquisition Data System and the Fire Control Radar make the Apache an extremely adept fighter."
"We train to crew, team, platoon, and troop levels of gunnery proficiency," said Johnston. "We project we will be fully mission capable by summer 2017. However, we expect we will be able to support live fire exercises with supported ground units as early as October 2016."
The ability to train on Oahu with infantry Soldier on the ground in live-fire exercises helps to ensure that our Soldiers and the pilots above are capable of working hand in hand in the event of a contingency mission in the Pacific.
"We are able to train with the 30mm chain-gun and 70mm rockets here on the island," said Johnston. "This capability will ensure we're ready to fight with a trained and prepared force throughout the Pacific as needed."
U.S Army Capt. Christopher Thornton, left, a deputy mission crew commander, 138th Military Intelligence Company, provides Capt. Michelle Roberts, deputy intelligence officer from the 118th Infantry Battalion, South Carolina National Guard, hands-on training at his operator work station aboard the E-8C Joint STARS aircraft during exercise Operation Carolina Thunder, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., Nov. 15, 2014. During the exercise, Airmen and Soldiers from the 116th Air Control Wing and the 138th Military Intelligence Company provided targeting data and intelligence to F-16 Fighting Falcons, AH-64D Apache Attack Helicopters and ground forces using the one-of-a-kind battle management command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of the E-8C Joint STARS. The exercise was a multi-state, multi-component, collective training exercise conducted during the South Carolina drill weekend. It involved more than 650 participants from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee National Guard units. (Portion of photo blurred for security purposes) (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Regina Young/released)
U.S. Air Force Capt. Rob Ferguson, a combat systems officer with the 116th Air Control Wing, Georgia Air National Guard, monitors and adjusts his screen at his operator work station aboard the E-8C Joint STARS aircraft during exercise Operation Carolina Thunder, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., Nov. 15, 2014. During the exercise, Airmen and Soldiers from the 116th Air Control Wing and the 138th Military Intelligence Company provided targeting data and intelligence to F-16 Fighting Falcons, AH-64D Apache Attack Helicopters and ground forces using the one-of-a-kind battle management command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of the E-8C Joint STARS. The exercise was a multi-state, multi-component, collective training exercise conducted during the South Carolina drill weekend. It involved more than 650 participants from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee National Guard units. (Portion of photo blurred for security purposes) (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Regina Young/released)
Lt. Col. Tom de la Rue, his commander officer, said in a statement that Harry's qualification a "tremendous achievement," and said that Prince William's younger brother had passed the tests with "flying colors." (No pun intended.)
The prince will continue with normal duties as an Apache Pilot based at Wattisham Airfeld. He'll remain a member of the 3 Regiment Army Air Corps, which is a part of 16 Air Assault Brigade's Attack Helicopter Force.
"He was required to plan and deliver patrol orders, navigate throughout, fly in a controlled airspace and conduct a simulated attack on RAF Spadeadam, in addition to managing a number of diversions and simulated aircraft emergencies."
Prince Harry traveled to Afghanistan as an Apache Pilot from September 2012 to January 2013, where he worked with the Joint Aviation Group. JAG provides helicopter support to the International Security and Assistance Force and Afghan forces.
Arizona's National Guard commander has launched a social-media counterattack against a U.S. Army decision to take over the state's Apache helicopter squadron, calling the decision "completely indefensible."
Arizona stands to lose four remaining Apaches based in the 1st-285th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion at Silverbell Army Heliport in Marana, just north of Tucson. The unit, which was once six times larger, has just over 400 soldiers.
"The loss of these (battalions) will drastically impact the capabilities of these training centers, which is not just a matter of readiness for these states, but for the Total Army," he wrote. "Not to mention the impact on these communities where hundreds of jobs will be lost."
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