{"id":2623,"date":"2026-02-19T01:35:41","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T01:35:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/?p=2623"},"modified":"2026-02-19T01:35:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T01:35:42","slug":"fort-benning-integrates-virtual-drone-training-into-osut-program-of-instruction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/?p=2623","title":{"rendered":"Fort Benning Integrates Virtual Drone Training into OSUT Program of Instruction"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FORT BENNING, Ga. \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The 12-lane curriculum, modeled after the 75th Ranger Regiment\u2019s Ranger Robotics Lethality Course, is designed to take a Soldier from basic \u201cbuttonology\u201d \u2014 learning the controller interface \u2014 to advanced tactical reconnaissance and lethal kinetic strikes.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe Army has always used simulation-based training to reduce noise, training costs, and wear and tear on equipment and resources,\u201d said Jayson D. Karch, a training specialist with the Maneuver Center of Excellence Directorate of Training and Doctrine. \u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile 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,\u201d said Rory O\u2019Brien, an MCoE simulation specialist. \u201cGiven the number of Soldiers trained in Infantry and Armor OSUT, there aren\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Army\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

View more photos of the virtual sUAS training<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By CPT Stephanie Snyder<\/em><\/p>\n

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FORT BENNING, Ga. \u2014 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2624,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2623","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-army"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2623"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2625,"href":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2623\/revisions\/2625"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}