United States Army Aviation

Army Aviation began in the early days of flight, but it grew a lot during the Vietnam War. Before this, the Army mostly used planes for scouting. In Vietnam, the Army realized they needed a better way to move soldiers through thick jungles. This led to the wide use of helicopters. Helicopters changed how the Army fought. They could fly soldiers to high mountains or deep forests very quickly. They were also used to bring in food, water, and medicine to troops who were stuck. If a soldier was hurt, medical helicopters were there to fly them to safety. This made a huge difference for the people on the ground. Pilots in these units flew every day, often under heavy enemy fire. They proved that helicopters were the most useful tool for a modern army. After Vietnam, the Army kept building its aviation branch. Today, it has many types of helicopters for many different jobs. From moving supplies to protecting ground troops with guns, Army Aviation is essential to how the military works now. It remains a key part of every mission the United States Army takes on around the world.