Day I
Posted: Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Monday morning kicked off the 2011 Army Aviation Association of America professional forum and exposition in Nashville, Tenn.
The audience, made up of Soldiers, Family members, and industry partners gathered to hear from the Aviation Branch chief Maj Gen Anthony G Crutchfield followed by the FORSCOM Commander Gen James D Thurman.
Gen. James D. Thurman, commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command, and Maj. Gen. Anthony Crutchfield at 2011 AAAA in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Jay Mann)
During Crutchfield's speech, he urged those in attendance to look past this current fight and think about what the future of Army Aviation will look like and how we have to be resilient and adaptive for the future. "What are we doing now to adapt for the future?" he said. Further explaining his reason for picking the theme for this year's exposition "Full Spectrum Aviation: Resilient and Adaptive for the Future Security Environment, Crutchfield emphasized the need to not get stuck on Iraq and Afghanistan. After a decade of combat we know our Aviation Soldiers are tired, if you don't know that talk to them, talk to their Families. But I'm not worried about their commitment today, I'm worried tomorrow."
He went on to explain that while the future battlefield is unknown, it is known that it will include missions like security, peacekeeping, counter insurgency and possible full-scale war. To prepare for the full spectrum of missions, Army Aviation must now train, adapt and equip the future force to be able to do that.
Mrs. Crutchfield talks about the spouse's program during opening ceremonies at 2011 AAAA convention. (Photo by Kelly Pate)
Crutchfield also thanked the Families for attending the event this year and for the dedication to supporting their Soldier and their branch. His wife Kim Crutchfield spoke to the audience about her efforts at this year's exposition and how it was very important to her that we not forget the spouses commitment and contribution to the branch.
"We wanted to tie in the theme of resiliency," she said "I believe we are so much better for each other if we take care of ourselves." To help spouses learn better skills to deal with military life a wellness cafe will open today with four different areas. There is one with tools for coping for a stressful life, one for cooking and eating healthy, one that will focus on exercise and keeping an active body and the most popular, highlighting life with massage. Kim added, We hope these will give you tools to help manage your stressful lives and become more resilient."
