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| Photo by Michelle Owens |
| Seven instructors were recognized for outstanding contributions to teaching aviation Soldiers Nov. 13 at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum. |
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USAACE recognizes Instructors of the Year
By Michelle Owens,
Army Flier Staff Writer
Seven instructors were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence during the 2008 Instructor of the Year ceremony at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum Nov. 13.
Families, leaders and peers cheered on Capt. Travis Taylor, CW4 Jeffrey Ylitalo, CW3 David Kober, Staff Sgt. Kenneth LaFrance, Staff Sgt. John Jordan, Steven Mulcahy and Charles Perry as they accepted their awards.
“We are especially thankful for the dedication and commitments of today’s honorees and all those who they represent,” Maj. Stephen Alsleben, 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment chaplain, said during the invocation. “Thank you for all these instructors who strive daily to make their subject matter interesting and relevant to the students who pass through Fort Rucker on their way to other assignments and challenging deployments.”
Maj. Gen. James O. Barclay III, USAACE and Fort Rucker commanding general, said it’s great to recognize some of Fort Rucker’s outstanding instructors.
“Everyone knows what we’re about at Fort Rucker — we’re about teaching,” he said. “Teaching is woven into the very fabric of what we do here every day. A day when we can recognize the individuals who keep this institution at the (highest) level, is a good day.”
Soldier, civilian and contractor instructors don’t have easy jobs, Barclay said.
“One of the hardest things to do in the Army is to stand up in front of those (with whom) you serve,” he said. “Teaching can be a thankless profession, but (instructors) never know how profound an impact they’ve made on their students. If you don’t think it takes every one of (the Army values) to be a military instructor, get behind the podium and wear their shoes to understand what they go through and what they do to get their jobs accomplished.”
The instructors were nominated by their supervisors and were evaluated on the quality of instruction, materials used and developed, and the quality of their presentation.
Taylor received the Officer Academic Instructor of the Year award. He teaches air assault helicopter and stability operations for the Aviation Captains Career Course, A Company, 1st Bn., 145th Avn. Regt.
“I like teaching students valuable skills (that) they can use the rest of their lives, along with giving my students the full confidence they can walk out of here and know if they don’t know the answer, they know how to find it themselves,” Taylor said.
Ylitalo received the Warrant Officer Academic Instructor of the Year award. He teaches communication skills, Army battle command system, aviation mission planning system, military decision-making process and aviation operations for the Warrant Officer Advanced Course, 1st Bn., 145th Avn. Regt.
“I enjoy sharing experiences and imparting knowledge to future generations of aviation warfighters. I enjoy developing future leaders,” Ylitalo said.
Kober received the Officer Instructor-Pilot of the Year award. He teaches basic combat skills for the UH-60 Black Hawk Flight School XXI course for 1st Battalion, 212th Aviation Regiment.
“I enjoy learning and providing others the opportunity to excel,” Kober said. “From being a motor sergeant and training enlisted Soldiers, training foreign military while in the Special Forces, and now teaching at the home of Army Aviation.”
LaFrance received the Noncommissioned Officer Flight Instructor of the Year award. He teaches internal and external loading operations, inflight duties and fratricide prevention for the flight engineer instructor course, B Company, 1st Battalion, 223rd Aviation Regiment.
“I enjoy instructing because I get to pass on my knowledge and experience from real-world missions,” LaFrance said.
Jordan received the NCO Academic Instructor of the Year award. He teaches gravitational forces, aviation protective equipment, toxicology, stress and fatigue, and domestic support operations for initial entry rotary wing, flight medic and flight surgeon courses.
“I like taking something that is boring or intimidating and presenting it so that the light bulb turns on,” Jordan said.
Mulcahy received the Civilian Instructor-Pilot of the Year award. He is a UH-60 instruments, systems and aerodynamics instructor-pilot with E Company, 1st Bn., 212th Avn. Regt.
“I enjoy the opportunity to impart the knowledge I have gained through my many years of aviation experience with the young aviators coming through flight training,” Mulcahy said.
Perry received the Civilian Academic Instructor of the Year award. He teaches weather, navigational aids, emergencies, federal aviation regulations and other air traffic control subjects for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment.
“In non-radar instrument flight rules separation, there is a moment of epiphany that each student encounters. It’s in that moment I know I have accomplished my mission,” Perry said. “The student begins to piece together the multi-dimensional puzzle of airspace management. It’s a high-five moment.”
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