USA’s Institute of Land Warfare has recently released two new Torchbearer publications.The first, "U.S. Army Aviation and Full Spectrum Operations" (Torchbearer National Security Report, December 2010), explores the evolving role and composition of Army aviation in the contemporary security environment.The second paper, "The Army National Guard’s Path to Greater Resilience" (Torchbearer Issue Paper, December 2010), examines the Army National Guard’s efforts to strengthen its soldiers physically and mentally to better adjust to the challenges of modern operations and conflict.The modern battlefield places a premium on the unique capabilities of Army aviation. Precision fires, tactical mobility and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance are just some of the critical combat multipliers provided by Army rotary-wing and unmanned aerial system (UAS) assets.Global contingency operations have necessitated a transformation not just in how aviation is used in combat, but also in the composition of the force and the methods that generate that force.Army aviation has embraced this transformation through a restructuring of the basic aviation combat unit, the total integration of UAS into the force and adoption of an enterprise management approach.Fueling the transformation is a shrewd and effective reinvestment/recapitalization plan coupled with an aggressive technological modernization effort.These efforts have ensured the Army’s continued dominance of the vertical battlefield for the next several decades through incremental upgrades that harness the best of current technology melded with proven platforms and unmatched soldiers.Even as it dominates the current fight, the Army is looking to the future as it studies the joint requirements of rotary-wing and UAS platforms for greater total-force effects.All told, U.S. Army aviation is poised to deliver unmatched capability and versatility on the battlefields of today and tomorrow.Army National GuardThe Army National Guard has been an operational force for the last decade and is confronting the unique post-combat challenges posed to its Soldiers. Individual state guards are implementing programs to enhance the resiliency of their citizen-soldiers who might otherwise be isolated or cut off from support structures.The guard efforts provide soldiers with the mental and physical tools needed to adjust to modern deployment tempo and operations by tying them to support systems of peers, other veterans and professional health specialists.Community programs are also helping guardsmen and their families through local action and services, strengthening the civil bond and providing a safety net for at-risk soldiers.The federal government is adding to these local efforts though job-assistance training and education programs designed to help unemployed guard members compete in the workforce marketplace.The Army National Guard’s strength is its soldiers; the resiliency programs forming around the country reinforce the critical importance of investing in the total health and fitness of soldiers and, in turn, the welfare of communities and the nation.These and other Institute of Land Warfare publications are available online at http://www.ausa.org/ilw, and can also be obtained by calling (800) 336-4570, Ext. 630, or by e-mailing a request to ilwpublications@ausa.org.