Mackmull, Jack Vincent, LTG

Few Army Aviators have had the variety of important aviation assignments throughout a career as Lieutenant General Jack V. Mackmull. While Chief of the AWO Branch during the early days of the Vietnam War, he managed the greatest expansion in the history of the Branch. Recognizing that Aviation Warrant Officers had no definite career program, he personally wrote the forerunner of today's Aviation Warrant Officer career program.

He had three combat aviation tours in Vietnam, first commanding the 13th CAB in 1964, then one of only three aviation battalions in USARV. On his second tour, he commanded the 164th CAG that included all aviation in the Mekong Delta and effectively integrated Air Cavalry, airmobile, and attack helicopters and aviation logistics in all combat operations.

In 1972, he returned to USARV for a third tour to command the 1st Aviation Brigade that encompassed all Army Aviation in Vietnam. He effectively managed the draw-down of all aviation units and equipment without incident--a retrograde movement of some 15,000 men and more than 1,000 aircraft--without stopping aviation combat operations.

As Deputy Commanding General of AVSCOM, he participated in the source selection of the Black Hawk and Apache, and designed and implemented "Systems Management" which is used today. As the Commanding General of the JFK Special Warfare Center he established the original requirement for Aviation and Tiltrotor Support of Special Operations Forces, and helped to organize the Delta Force and Special Operations Aviation.

As Assistant Division Commander, and later as Commanding General of the 101st Air Assault Division, Lieutenant General Mackmull designed and implemented the Combat Aviation Management System, several FM's on "Air Assault Operations" and preselected aviation battle drills. While at Fort Campbell, he organized Task Force 160, a major innovation.

In 1982, Lieutenant General Mackmull chaired the Tactical Employment Committee at the Army Aviation Review. This committee's actions led to the establishment of the Army Aviation Branch and recognition of the requirement for helicopter air-to-air combat. He completed his career as Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps.

This highly decorated and respected Combat Infantryman, Special Forces Officer, and Master Parachutist has been called "Mr. Aviation" by the Chief of Staff and FORSCOM and TRADOC Commanders and considered his greatest award to be Master Army Aviator.
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On 25 October 1983, U.S. Forces were ordered to Grenada to rescue Americans. Over 100 Army women participated. Grenada was the first American armed conflict where women were allowed to fly helicopters. Women also served as MP, intelligence officers, mechanics and logistics specialists, and one even served as the crew chief on a Blackhawk medical evacuation helicopter.

Four women military police officers were in Grenada just after the U.S. Invasion, but were promptly sent back to their base at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, when the 82d Airborne Division Commander became aware of the their presence. They were returned a day-and-a-half later by the Commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps, LTG Jack Mackmull, an avid supporter of women troops. The first combat support unit with women soldiers arrived five days after the 25 October assault.

Experience in Grenada led to study in all of the services concerning risks that new roles posed for women. In 1988, the Secretary of Defense issued the Standard Risk Rule that required evaluation of the chances of direct exposure to hostile fire or capture when deciding when an assignment should be open to women.