USAACE honors top instructors

The U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence honored its top academic instructors, instructor pilots and noncommissioned officer flight instructors in a ceremony at Fort Novosel, Ala., Dec. 11, 2023.

Each quarter instructors from across USAACE and Fort Novosel, including the 1st Aviation Brigade, 110th Aviation Brigade, 128th Aviation Brigade (Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.), Warrant Officer Career College, Department of Aviation Medicine, Noncommissioned Officer Academy-Fort Novosel, Noncommissioned Officer Academy-Fort Eustis, and U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center are nominated by their supervisors to compete for Instructor of the Quarter.

They are evaluated on quality of instruction, quality of materials developed and used, and quality of their presentation. The Instructors of the Year are determined from the quarterly winners.

The FY 2023 USAACE Instructors of the Year are:

• Officer Academic Instructor: Capt. Marissa Caid-Loos, 110th Aviation Brigade

• Officer Flight Instructor: Chief Warrant Officer 4 Joshua D. Parker, 110th Aviation Brigade

• Warrant Officer Academic Instructor: Chief Warrant Office 3 Jean-Paul Cole,128th Aviation Brigade

• Academic NCO Instructor: Staff Sgt. Travis R. Stover, 128th Aviation Brigade

• NCO Flight Instructor: Sgt. 1st Class Christopher A. Jung, 110th Aviation Brigade

• Civilian Academic Instructor: Clark K. Herring, U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center

• Civilian Instructor Pilot: Casey D. Nixon, 110th Aviation Brigade

Maj. Gen. Michael C. McCurry, USAACE and Fort Novosel commander, welcomed attendees.

“Thanks for joining us today for the presentation of the Instructors of the Year where we recognize the talented men and women who are imparting the sacred trust to our new soldiers and creating the Army aviation force of the future,” McCurry said.

McCurry described the current world situation as “complex and volatile."

“If last few years are any indicator, I can assure you those future crises will require a rapid and overwhelming response. They will require the ability to process a highly dynamic battlespace quickly and adapt continuously. Young leaders will be required to operate geographically dispersed from their higher-level (leadership) and operate with high degree of independence, armed with mission intent and a professional competence that starts right here at the Aviation Center of Excellence,” he said.

Army Aviation’s sole purpose is to support the Soldier on the ground, he explained.

“Students are tasked with achieving excellence because to be ‘Above the Best’ they first have to be the best. Iron sharpens iron. Excellence begets excellence,” he said.

“The immense hard work, preparation and dedication exemplified by our instructors is the motivation for our young soldiers,” McCurry said.

Using a sports analogy from the Hollywood film Hoosiers as an example, McCurry emphasized setting and enforcing high standards, ensuring people can ‘be all they can be’. USAACE instructors define high standards and drive Soldiers to achieve them.

“You want the best above the best,” he said.

McCurry said another takeaway is to “teach people, not topics,” which requires a variety of approaches.

“Actively watch for the light to come on. It’s an art and a science,” he said.

McCurry said at one point in the movie, the coach intentionally gets himself ejected to force his assistant coach to step up. Though the team was coming along, the coach knew there was still sharpening to be done.

Army aviators must be committed to lifelong learning, and people must become comfortable with uncertainty, he added.

McCurry said when he is flying an aircraft, he can still hear the voice of his primary instructor in his head: "Torque… trim…."

“The impact our instructors have is profound,” said McCurry.

He emphasized dedication to a life of purpose, and becoming better each day.

Potential future threats to national security span all domains, requiring Soldiers and leaders to be confident, competent and agile, he explained.

“Congratulations to each of our instructors. You are shining examples of what maintaining the sacred trust looks like, and I personally thank you, congratulate you, and say job well done,” he said.

The winners received a Certificate of Achievement and gifts from sponsoring organizations.

The winners of the USAACE Academic Instructor of the Year categories are slated to compete in the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command level Academic Instructor of the Year competition.

Immediately following the ceremony, Stover reenlisted in the Army indefinitely after 16 years of service to the nation, with McCurry administering the Oath of Enlistment.

A variety of factors played into the reenlistment decision, including family support.

Stover said he enjoys teaching the CH-47 repairer course and feels that the diverse group of students he instructs provides an opportunity for self-growth and continuous learning.

“I love teaching students the basic fundamentals of being an aviation maintainer,” Stover said, “just teaching them what I know.”