US Army soldiers training with the 35th Engineer Battalion learned a new skillset during initial entry training at Fort Leonard Wood as they reacted to uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) on the battlefield.
Soldiers attending advanced individual training to be combat engineers and bridge crew members are now learning to react to both allied and enemy UAS.
The field training, part of which was designed to test and validate the soldiers’ counter-UAS (C-UAS) skills, concluded on January 23. Soldiers performed reconnaissance on an obstacle when they were surprised by a drone flying over them and had to use battle drills to appropriately identify, track and react to the UAS. The soldiers were tested on their ability to kinetically defeat, or shoot down, the UAS with direct fire. They then had to treat the neutralised drone as an improvised explosive device, and under the guidance of their drill sergeant, interrogate the UAS using a man transportable robotic system.
Pvt. Richard Shipley, Company C, 35th Eng. Bn., said he now feels prepared for a UAS encounter. “I have a new awareness of what a massive threat UASs are and how they have changed how we fight,” Shipley said. “I feel fortunate to be one of the first soldiers to have this skillset be part of my U.S. Army Advanced Individual Training foundation.”
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Image: Pvt. Valerie Gonzalez, a soldier in training with Company C, 35th Engineer Battalion, maintains a concealed position inside vegetation during a field training exercise on January 21 at Fort Leonard Wood. (US Army)
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