FORT BENNING, Ga. — As small unmanned aircraft systems, sUAS, become a defining feature of the modern battlefield, the Maneuver Center of Excellence is ensuring every new Soldier has a high-tech edge.
One-Station Unit Training trainees are now undergoing a 10-hour sUAS familiarization course integrated into their formal program of instruction. Using Virtual Battle Space 4 software and the Virtual Drone Collective Trainer plug-in, Infantry and Armor trainees master flight mechanics before stepping onto a live flight line.
The 12-lane curriculum, modeled after the 75th Ranger Regiment’s Ranger Robotics Lethality Course, is designed to take a Soldier from basic “buttonology” — learning the controller interface — to advanced tactical reconnaissance and lethal kinetic strikes.
“The Army has always used simulation-based training to reduce noise, training costs, and wear and tear on equipment and resources,” said Jayson D. Karch, a training specialist with the Maneuver Center of Excellence Directorate of Training and Doctrine. “This enables Soldiers from across the Army to receive immersive, life-like, low-cost training on equipment they have minimal experience operating, without risk of damage to equipment, personnel, or resources.”
The move toward simulation-based training addresses the logistical challenge of training thousands of Soldiers annually. By using the Virtual Drone Collective Trainer software plug-in, developed by the Combined Arms Center-Training Innovation Facility at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the Army can provide immersive training at scale.
“While live flight is an important and vital portion of certifying an sUAS operator, new operators use simulations to build basic skills without all the resources required for live flight,” said Rory O’Brien, an MCoE simulation specialist. “Given the number of Soldiers trained in Infantry and Armor OSUT, there aren’t enough resources to allow every Soldier to fly a live sUAS, so virtual simulations allow us to train the skills at scale using less resources.”
The training is divided into three distinct phases: flight training, basic tactical training and a culminating assessment. During the tactical phase, trainees use night vision, thermal, and infrared cameras to identify enemy personnel and vehicles before conducting simulated drone strikes.
The Army’s goal is not to turn every Soldier into a certified pilot, but to ensure every Soldier is familiar with a combat enabler they will encounter in future formations. The simulation also serves as a talent-scouting tool; trainees who demonstrate above-average proficiency are considered for the formal sUAS Operators Course following graduation.
The MCoE plans to publish these training lanes on the milGaming website, allowing units across the force to download and utilize the same scenarios for home-station training.
The integration of sUAS training into OSUT represents a fundamental shift in how the Army prepares for the modern, transparent battlefield. By prioritizing digital literacy and technological proficiency from day one, the MCoE is ensuring that the next generation of Infantry and Armor Soldiers is not just keeping pace with change but driving it. As these Soldiers transition to the operational force, they provide a ready, lethal, and tech-capable backbone for the multidomain formations of tomorrow.
View more photos of the virtual sUAS training.
By CPT Stephanie Snyder
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