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The AMCOM Flight is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command. Contents are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government or the Department of the Army.
It’s hard to believe we are already halfway through the fiscal year. In the last few months, we provided support the joint warfighter and our foreign partners without fail. Recently, the Army announced major changes to its modernization efforts. The Army’s decisions don’t significantly change our mission here at AMCOM but require the sustainment of some of our enduring weapon systems longer. No matter what, we will continue to provide the greatest support to the aviation and missile enterprise.
As we look forward to spring, I ask that you take time to look for opportunities to grow and improve our organization. As a learning organization, it is imperative that we look at our systems and processes, find efficiencies and learn from our mistakes. We must also continue to invest in each other, as our people are our most important resource.
During the last few months, AMCOM had the opportunity to celebrate both Black History Month and Women’s History Month. It is with extreme pride that we not only celebrate the great achievements of these groups but get to see a new history being made every day within our workforce. I encourage everyone to continue attending our monthly observances to celebrate our diversity, to learn about each other, and to experience and support our AMCOM team.
As we look towards the upcoming quarter, there are a few things I would like us to keep in mind: April is the month of the Military child and May is mental health awareness month. The Army has recently embraced holistic fitness, which expands beyond working out to include several facets of well-being, such as mental health. I ask that you all take care of yourselves and those around you. If you need support, we have resources to assist you through all of life’s challenges, big and (seemingly) small.
Our team is incredibly strong because of our workforce. You all make a difference every day to the Soldiers and their families who rely on our performance to keep them safe and postured for success. No matter your role within AMCOM or how long you’ve been on this team, I am grateful for your service, I am proud to work with you, and I look forward to our continued success.
Be all You Can Be!
Maj. Gen. Tom O'Connor AMCOM Commanding General
July is upon us and that brings up different things for different people. For some, it’s the middle of summer — you’re taking some time off, spending weekends on the water, endlessly mowing the lawn, or enjoying the A/C while binge-watching a new series. For others, it’s a time of reflection. You start to realize that the year is halfway over —it’s time to recommit to those resolutions you set back in January. Maybe it was a personal goal to live a healthier lifestyle or a professional goal to enroll and complete some training classes. I say there is room for both ways of thinking. Take your leave, enjoy your summer and make the memories; but when you come back, come back with a refreshed and renewed outlook on your resolutions. If you didn’t make any in January, it’s not too late to finish 2023 by advancing the ball down the field and making a difference in yourself and/or your career. July also reminds us that our founding fathers had a goal of independence and establishing a new nation and we celebrate their success each year on July 4th. Additionally, this month we celebrate 26 years as a command. AMCOM was officially activated on July 17, 1997, as Aviation and Troop Support Command merged with Missile Command. That merger was part of the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission’s report. Our Army leaders first saw the benefits of combining missile and aviation assets during the war in Vietnam and those benefits are even more relevant today. However, it is the people in this command who truly make the difference. Whether you have been part of Team AMCOM for 26 years or 26 hours, what you do matters and you are an integral part of the AMCOM team. Thank you for what you do each and every day. Your efforts help make a difference for those warfighters in the field.
Maj. Gen. Tom O’Connor Jr., AMCOM Commanding General
This month we celebrate the Army Birthday. For 248 years, the United States Army has remained dedicated to fighting and winning the Nation’s wars. We are grateful for all those who have served, whether in the active component, National Guard, or Reserve, you answered the call to defend and support America against both foreign and domestic challenges. Our Department of the Army civilians and contractors are also vital parts of the Army team who wake up each day ready to support our warfighters by any means necessary. Together we all celebrate the birth of something bigger than ourselves — our all-volunteer force. On June 14, we commemorate all who have answered the call to service since the Army’s founding in 1775.
This month we also celebrate Juneteenth, which dates back to June 19, 1865, when more than 250,000 enslaved people in the state of Texas, were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation. AMCOM is hosting the Team Redstone Juneteenth observance on June 21st at 10 a.m. in the Bob Jones Auditorium. Don’t forget to let your voice be heard by taking the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. Launched in May, the annual survey is your opportunity to share your perceptions in many critical areas including your work experience, your organization, and your leaders. The survey will close on June 30th, so please use your link to share your thoughts.
Finally, this is a reminder that while we had a very cold winter and a very chilly spring, the summer temps have arrived in Alabama, and with them comes an increase in outdoor activities. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Army’s 101 Critical Days of Summer Safety campaign reminds us to focus on safety when participating in all types of summer activities. Be sure to hydrate before, during and after extended periods of time outdoors, apply sunscreen regularly and wear a life jacket when out on the water. Summer is the Army’s deadliest time of year for mishaps, so playing it safe is critical to having a good time.
Thank you for who you are and what you do!
For those who are parents, you know the school year is rapidly coming to a close and teachers are trying to squeeze as much into the month of May as possible. It feels much the same here at AMCOM.
This month we host AMCOM 101 Aviation May 3-4, our next quarterly town hall May 30, and you’ll start seeing the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey emails around May 15. All the while we honor our Asian American Pacific-Islander brothers and sisters this month. Finally, we pause to reflect as a nation on May 29 for Memorial Day.
During the month of May, we honor Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent for their military and civilian service. These individuals have historically served in the Army with valor and distinction and continue to be critical members of the Army team. The month of May marks the anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in America on May 7, 1843 as well as the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869 by predominantly Chinese workers.
The Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) opens mid-May. Approximately 20% of all Army employees are civilians and Army civilians are crucial to supporting Army Readiness. What you do matters, and what you think matters. Each year, the Office of Personnel Management seeks the opinion of the federal workforce. The FEVS is a critical tool in measuring work-life balance, employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention. It also helps senior leaders gain valuable insight to identify challenges and areas for improvement. You should receive email notifications for the survey starting around May 15. Please take time to share your thoughts and recommendations. Once again, thank you for what you do to support our warfighters! Summer is in sight! Be all You Can Be! Maj. Gen. Tom O’Connor Jr., AMCOM Commanding General
April marks the annual Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM), a time to highlight our commitment to the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program (SHARP). Additionally, it provides a great opportunity to raise awareness and promote the prevention of sexual assault through special events throughout the month. This year, AMCOM will participate in several SAAPM events in support of the 2023 campaign: "Culture of Trust. There is US in Trust. Build TrUSt Together.”
April also marks the annual Mission Solutions Summit sponsored by the Army Aviation Association of America. This year’s summit carries the theme of the 40th Anniversary of the Army Aviation Branch – Honoring the Past and Transforming for the Future! Coincidentally, the branch will celebrate the anniversary with a dedicated week of events in mid-April.
This is an exciting time for AMCOM with lots happening across the spectrum of modernization and systems sustainment. We are tied in with our teammates from Army Futures Command and the teams from the PEOs as we inform the future of the Army.
Lastly, we will be hosting GEN Hamilton this month for his first of several visits around to the various MSCs. This is a great opportunity to showcase our amazing workforce and the incredible work that you all are doing to make our key initiatives become a reality.
Thank you for who you are and what you do! Be All You Can Be! Army Strong! MG Tom O'Connor, Jr. AMCOM Commanding General
First, I’m so impressed by this team! I have been fortunate to visit with several of our organizations over the last month, both here at Redstone and out with our supported units in the field. I’m so proud to serve this great organization and I look forward to our continued dialogue. What you do truly matters.
March is shaping up to be another busy month. Gen. Ed Daly will relinquish command of AMC to Gen. Charles Hamilton on March 16. AMCOM is representing Team Redstone by hosting the Advance Planning Briefings to Industry in the Bob Jones Auditorium on March 21-23. We are also hosting a Warriors Corner on March 29 at 1:30pm focused on the Digital Twin initiative during the AUSA Global Force Summit. Finally, March is Women’s History Month and our team of women professionals have so much to be proud of.
As we look out to the long term, we are building the Army of 2030 by changing how it organizes, equips, and fights. Current and future Army readiness requires sustainable modernization that develops, implements, and deploys new technologies into both our future weapons systems as well as the enduring fleet. AMCOM is heavily invested in this transformation. We continue to work with our industry partners to improve forecasting and modeling tools that will help maintain healthy supply postures in the future. AMCOM is working academia to lead the next generation of sustainment practices. For instance, we have partnered with the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University on several advanced manufacturing initiatives. We are also working with the U.S. Military Academy on expanding maintenance-free operating periods to support reducing requirements on future field- and sustainment-level maintenance.
The AMCOM team is also heavily involved in shaping the Army’s Organic Industrial Base (OIB) Modernization Implementation Plan (MIP). As we build the Army of 2030, we are investing in our people, reorganizing our forces, developing new equipment, and adopting new concepts on how to fight that allow the Army to maintain superiority over any potential adversary. You will see these initiatives at Letterkenny Army Depot and Corpus Christi Army Depot, where they are working on military construction projects and other initiatives to modernize the depots to support the Army of 2030. Our depots are also embarking on a pilot of the High Velocity Talent Continuum- an unprecedented, grass-roots effort that will pay big dividends. Some of the outcomes of the first year of HVTC will be the standardization of basic, uniform, credentialed, training standards for the technical workforce.
Once again, thank you for what you do! You are the foundation of our success!
Be all you can be! Army Strong!
MG Tom O'Connor, Jr.