FORT LIBERTY, North Carolina—Army special operations soldier Josh arrived in Poland to train Ukrainian soldiers on high-speed racing drones. His expertise was initially doubted by the Ukrainians, but after winning multiple drone races, he proved his skills. The success he had with the Ukrainians led him to apply those lessons to a new Army program called the Robotics and Unmanned Systems Integration Course (RUSIC).
The RUSIC course at the Army’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School spans six weeks. Lt. Col. Steve Schuerman oversees the program, which includes training on FAA regulations, flying in jammed conditions, counter-drone systems, and creating drones. The goal is to equip students with the ability to advise partner forces effectively on drone usage.
Graduates of the RUSIC program become certified master trainers, enabling them to train others in drone operations. The course covers operating various types of drones, building drones, and managing ground robots. One challenge is resourcing, with legal constraints also impacting the acquisition of drone components.
The Army is working on updating policies to allow for more flexibility in drone training, as soldiers currently face restrictions on who they can train. Josh advocates for a more streamlined system that would enable competent soldiers to train others on new equipment without unnecessary hurdles.
