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Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George, escorted by Maj. Gen. Clair A. Gill, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Novosel commanding general, meets with Army Aviation students and their instructor pilot during a site visit to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Ala., Dec. 16, 2024.
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Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George speaks with Aviation Captain's Career Course students at a simulations training complex during a site visit to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Ala., Dec. 16, 2024.
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Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George speaks with battalion and brigade commanders during a luncheon as part of a site visit to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Ala., Dec. 16, 2024.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Kelly Morris)VIEW ORIGINAL
FORT NOVOSEL, Ala. — Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George visited the home of Army Aviation to have a look at ongoing training and meet with Aviation leaders and subject matter experts to discuss key Aviation topics at Fort Novosel, Dec. 16-17, 2024.
The U.S. Aviation Center of Excellence is the sole producer of the Army’s aviators, maintainers, air traffic controllers and unmanned aircraft systems operators.
The visit included a luncheon with brigade and battalion commanders, a tour of facilities, and Q&A sessions with students in the Basic Officer Leadership Course/Warrant Officer Basic Course and Aviation Captain’s Career Course.
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Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George joins Army Aviation personnel for a group photo at Lowe Army Heliport, during a site visit to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Ala., Dec. 16, 2024. (U.S. Army photo by Kelly Morris)
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Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George observes the technology at a simulations training complex and interacts with leaders and subject matter experts during a site visit to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Ala., Dec. 16, 2024. (U.S. Army photo by Kelly Morris)
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Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George observes ongoing Army Aviation training as part of a site visit to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Ala., Dec. 16, 2024.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Kelly Morris)VIEW ORIGINAL
During his time with students, he said he was excited to see them get out and join their units soon and expects changes in Army formations over the next few years driven by rapidly evolving technology and how it being applied on the modern battlefield.
He noted that one of those pieces of evolving technology, drones, has highlighted the growing importance of airspace management, particularly below 3,000 feet.
"Airspace management is a tough one, so we're trying to figure out how we would do that," George said.
The Army is also focused on fixing its network and adopting new technologies.
"We're moving towards operating with tablets, phones and software-defined radios," George said.
That means prioritizing modular, open systems architecture in future purchases, allowing for rapid adaptation, integration and interoperability.
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Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George presents coins to
personnel who have made outstanding contributions across 110th Aviation Brigade during a stop at Lowe Army Heliport as part of a site visit to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Ala., Dec. 16, 2024.
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An Aviation Captain's Career Course student participates in a Q&A session with Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George during a site visit to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Ala., Dec. 16, 2024.
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Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George speaks with Army Aviation students at a simulations training complex during a site visit to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Ala., Dec. 16, 2024.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Kelly Morris)VIEW ORIGINAL
"We can't afford to wait 10 years to start building something that we know by the time it shows up the technology it is based on will have changed," he said.
While emphasizing the need to focus on emerging technologies like unmanned systems, George noted that the Army is continuing to develop the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft “because I want someone with skin in the game" flying aircraft carrying Soldiers, he said.
The discussion shifted to the transformation of leader requirements in the Army. George mentioned that the Army is re-examining Army Regulation 350-1, Army Training and Leader Development, to ensure leaders are not confined to their desks. He advised future company commanders to focus on building lethality and cohesive teams.
"Cohesive teams are all about taking care of people, being good teammates, and doing things that are aligned with our Army values," he said.
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Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George is greeted by Maj. Gen. Clair A. Gill, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Novosel commanding general, as he arrives at the AVCOE headquarters for a white board session with Army Aviation subject matter experts during a site visit to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Ala., Dec. 17, 2024.
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Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George is briefed by Maj. Gen. Clair A. Gill, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Novosel commanding general, at the opening of a scheduled meeting with Army Aviation subject matter experts during a site visit to Fort Novosel, Ala., Dec. 17, 2024.
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Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George observes Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training during a site visit to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Ala., Dec. 16, 2024.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Kelly Morris)VIEW ORIGINAL
Maj. Gen. Clair A. Gill, Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Novosel commander, explained the focus of the visit didn’t stop with the ongoing training mission, but also included transforming the Aviation branch for the future.
“It was great to host our Army Chief of Staff at the Home of Army Aviation. I was really proud to show him how we train our future three-dimensional warfighters to fly and fight as part of the combined arms team. We also took the opportunity during his visit to convene the Aviation General Officer Steering Committee with Gen. George, where we took to the whiteboard to think through how we transform Army Aviation to remain decisive for the future,” Gill said.
The visit also included a stop at the flightline at Lowe Army Heliport. There, George recognized instructor pilots, crew chiefs, air traffic controllers and academic instructors from across the brigade with coins for their outstanding contributions to the mission.
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Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George presents coins to personnel for their outstanding efforts at a simulations training complex during a site visit to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Ala., Dec. 16, 2024.
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Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George observes Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training during a site visit to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Ala., Dec. 16, 2024.
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Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George speaks to leaders and subject matter experts during a Unmanned Aircraft Systems discussion as part of a site visit to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Ala., Dec. 16, 2024.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Kelly Morris)VIEW ORIGINAL
“For many of Soldiers and officers, it was their first time meeting a four-star general,” said Col. Keith Hill, 110th Aviation Brigade commander.
George observed two flight school students learning how to pre-flight a Black Hawk helicopter, a pre-training pilot’s brief and a post-training after action review between students and instructors. He was also briefed on how the brigade is modifying the curriculum of the Instructor Pilot Course to meet the needs of the operational force, Hill explained.
The visit to Fort Novosel also included discussion with leaders and subject matter experts on the future of unmanned aircraft systems.
Throughout the visit, George took time to recognize individuals for their contributions to the mission.
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