REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. - The Army has closed an important chapter in Army aviation.
Joined by colleagues, Army aviators and friends, the product office for Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter cased its colors during a ceremony May 7.
Casing of the colors is a traditional flag ceremony that symbolizes the movement of a unit. In this occasion, the casing ceremony marked a mission change for the Army.
"It really is a sign of the times -- a reference to our Army senior leaders having to make some really tough decisions on how the Army is going to move forward and meet the armed scout mission," said Brig. Gen. Bob Marion, program executive officer for aviation.
Citing the Aviation Restructure Initiative, Marion talked about how continued budgetary reductions and the possibility of long-term sequestration drove the Army to re-evaluate its strategy for Army aviation.
The ARI keeps Army aviation affordable, and enables cost avoidance of more than $12 billion on the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, the Cockpit and Sensor Upgrade Program, the TH-67 training helicopter service life extension program, and other legacy platform obsolescence offsets.
Under the ARI, the Army is meeting the Armed Aerial Scout capability with existing equipment and technology, leveraging the capabilities of manned-unmanned teaming, vice pursuing a new replacement aircraft for the Kiowa warrior, and replacing the Army's aging fleet of training aircraft with the UH-72 Light Utility Helicopter.
"This occasion is bittersweet," said Col. James Kennedy, project manager for Armed Scout Helicopters. Kennedy spoke of then Lt. Col. James Mills' leadership as the ARH product manager, stating that Mills built the team with "organizational discipline, integrity, communication and responsiveness, all of these are required discipline skills to do this mission."
The ARH product office has since been executing its new mission, which is the divestment of the Kiowa Warrior aircraft. "This office was charged with establishing a method to divest the aircraft that the Soldiers, units, Pentagon and Congress would understand. It's no small feat," Kennedy said. "All of them were very interested in how they were going to do this, and we are very proud of the team."
Mills thanked the team and the PEO Aviation leadership for their enduring support, especially through the recent tough periods. He also remarked on the professionalism, dedication and excellence of the Kiowa Warrior team that, despite having a significantly smaller portion of the Army aviation budget, maintained the highest operational tempo and highest readiness rates in the Army during the war. "Our PM was always looking for innovative ways to improve. Cost was always a consideration and we always learned to do more with less," Mills said.
He lauded his team for their ability to execute the mission change from acquisition to the divestment of the Kiowa Warrior. "As we started the divestment of the aircraft, the team never missed a beat."
Mills was promoted to the rank of colonel immediately after the casing ceremony.
A video was shown depicting the chronological history of the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter product office. In April 2004, the ARH product office was activated and contract award was given on August 2005. In July 2006, the ARH-70A conducted its first flight, and in November 2007, the program underwent a Limited User Test.
At the same period of the ARH-Bell termination on October 2008, the Iraqi Armed 407 case was signed and conducted its first flight in November 2009. In November 2010 the IA-407 Critical Design Review and subsequent flight test was conducted. In May 2011, the Armed Aerial Scout Analysis of Alternatives was completed. The following month, then Lt. Col. Mills assumed responsibility as the product manager for the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter product office.
In August 2012, the Army completed its first delivery of IA-407 aircraft to the Iraqi government. Final delivery was completed in November 2013.
The AAS voluntary flight demonstrations was completed in November 2012. In 2014, ARI was implemented. To date, the Army continues to divest its scout legacy aircraft, an effort that is led by the ARH product management team within the Armed Scout Helicopters project office.
Quoting Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Mills closed by stating, "We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction."
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