Air mobility has been a key concept in offensive operations since the 1930s. Initial approaches to air mobility focused on airborne and glider-borne troops. American forces later used air mobile, support and transport to great effect during the Korean War showing that the helicopter could be a versatile and powerful military tool. The 101st Airborne Division was one of the first "Air Mobile" units in the modern military, and utilized it's heliborne mobility with great success in the Vietnam War, paving the way for its Air Assault future.

Nobody, certainly no enemy of ours, can put troops everywhere. They only have so many assets to use and have to distribute them in some way or other that will never be perfect. Our job, as their enemy, is to hurt them most effectively and efficiently as possible by striking them where they are weak - by putting our assets where they don't have many and doing so quickly and decisively. It's called siezing the initiative and it's what the 101st Airborne Division does best.

The 82nd Airborne Division conducts massive assault via helicopter insertion, overwhelms its designated targets with crushing effectiveness and power in order to prepare for follow on operations by fellow U.S. forces. This simple concept, along with its critical role in American national security is what makes the troopers of the 101st Airborne Division so proud and gives the unit one of the highest esprit-de-corps of any conventional unit in the Army.

As goes with such a critical role in our nation's military, the 101st Airborne Division is an elite unit that is very difficult to be a part of but that just makes the Soldiers in it more enthusiastic for the life they have chosen for themselves. Visit them at Fort Campbell and you see the pride, from the general who commands to the lieutenants who lead the troopers to the sergeants who lead the squads and the new privates who are learning the business.

Everywhere you go, "Air Assault!" is both a greeting and a response at Fort Campbell and in this phrase lies more than meets the eye. It's an insight into the "Contingecy Culture" that comes with being a member of the 101st Airborne Division.

The history of the airborne and air assault is replete with examples of courage, dedication, and professionalism. The saying above was born in the tradition of its air assaultleaders. In particular, their personal high standards of duty, dedication, and the air assault spirit itself. These were the men with a vision for what air assault forces could do for America, as well as how they could help free half a world that was enslaved under the rule of a handful of ruthless dictators and warlords.