United States Army Aviation Organizational Changes

The primary goal of this study is to determine the factors which led to organizational changes in U.S. Army Aviation helicopters. The study of the changes in force structure in Army Aviation is historically important. While Army Aviation should develop their organizational structure based on future requirements, the past often provides insights for a vision for the future. The methodology consists of a comparison of the Army Aviation organizational structures over a period of time from 1950 to 2010 highlighting the changes in the organization of helicopters. In order to be as broad and thorough in the analysis as possible, case study analysis consists of 10-year increments from 1950 to 2010. Conflict episodes, doctrine, technology, budget constraints, and existential threats are common variables that most people would consider led to Army Aviation organizational changes. The analysis of this monograph explains that conflict episodes are the major factor that led to those changes. Conflict episodes most often force changes in formal/informal doctrine as well as technology. Unlike the other variables, the Cold War is a singular event in U.S. history that influenced Army Aviation organizations and the U.S. Military from 1960 to 2000.