Thinking Outside the Airbox: Creative Ways to Integrate SUAS into Small Unit Training

While the nature of war – a violent contest of wills between two forces – remains unchanging, the character of war constantly evolves as new technol ogy develops. The reality of small un manned aerial systems (SUAS) in largescale combat operations is a relatively immutable aspect of the current char acter of war. In the current and future fight, all elements on the battlefield must operate under the assumption that they are under observation. The prevalence of SUAS drones is quickly becoming a defining characteristic in the modern fight. Given this assumption, it stands to rea son that military units at all levels must consider ways to train in this new en vironment. Simply put, Soldiers at every level must internalize the impacts of the prevalence of SUAS on the mod ern battlefield. While the U. S. Army’s acquisition processes may often pro hibit the purchase of commercial off-the-shelf SUAS for training, there are multiple ways that unit leaders can cre atively “think outside the [air]box” to reach the desired training outcomes. This article discusses some training methodologies that leaders can con sider when integrating SUAS into their training guidance. Also, it offers suggestions on ways that leaders can inte grate SUAS into their training. Training considerations integrating SUAS Before considering integrating any thing new into training, unit leaders may consider stepping back and clear ly articulating what their desired train ing endstate is for the training. Put an other way, leaders should first ask themselves “What is the training out come for this training?” Specific to the integration of SUAS, this might be “We want Soldiers who are conditioned to look upwards as well as outwards, and who understand how enemy SUAS re lates to the enemy kill chain.” Alternatively, however, the integration of SUAS into blue operations might pro duce a training outcome like “We want Soldiers who are confident and knowl edgeable in how and when to employ

The two differentiated training out comes – whether considered as “red air” or “blue air” represent two distinct ways that units can integrate SUAS into their training. As the characteristics of the modern battlefield continue to be shaped by changing technology, unit leadership should be challenged to consider both outcomes and determine how best to implement both sets of outcomes. Each distinct training outcome requires a similarly differentiated approach in applying the 8-step training model.1 Once the unit commander has estab lished the training objectives, they should employ a training strategy that incorporates the methodologies laid out in doctrine. In October and November of 2023 the Maneuver Center of Excellence published several products that establish doctrine for small-scale (dismount squad and pla toon) units reacting to SUAS.2 Of par ticular note is that both the battle drill and the entire training support pack age are available online from the Army training website.3 The training support package includes lesson plans, performance checklists, and instructional videos4 to aid commanders in determining the best approach to developing training to reach their training objectives. While the training material at hand is sponsored by and designed for dismounted infantry, many of the considerations are di rectly applicable to dismounted cavalry scouts and can be indirectly applied to mounted maneuver forces. Specific to the Armor community, how ever, there is further work to be done in the codification of react to SUAS bat tle drills for mounted forces. While current doctrine and tasks exist that discuss the appropriate actions for lower echelon (i.e., section and platoon) reaction to air attacks,5 there is nothing that captures doctrine for how

Winter- amounted force should react to SUAS contact. This distinction is important because the nature of the mounted force differs significantly from the dis mounted force. For example, scouts in an observation post (OP) along a screen line may not want to engage SUAS with direct fires because doing so could give away their location. Similar ly, tanks in a hide position (while con ducting a defense) may be better able to survive if they do not engage or disperse, provided their vehicle camou flage is sufficient to the task. Either way, as unit leaders consider how to accomplish the training objectives considering the current doctrine on react ing to SUAS – which is focused primar ily on dismounted infantry forces – it bears noting that the mounted force mission brings inherently different fo cus areas than our light or dismounted infantry counterparts. Approaches to integrating SUAS into unit training Considering the two broad uses of SUAS – as either red air (aggressor) or blue air (defense) – suggests several approaches to integrating SUAS into unit level training. It stands to reason that these approaches will be dependent on the size, scale, and type of SUAS involved – one cannot integrate a RQ-11B Raven the same way as a small-scale drone quadcopter. First, and perhaps the most obvious approach, is simply to get your unit level SUAS into the air. This applies equally to red air or blue air training objectives. While this approach may be the most obvious approach, however, it may not be the simplest approach. To fly SUAS in support of either red or blue training, units must of ten navigate several hurdles. One of the most difficult hurdles to navigate may simply be the lack of available SUAS. Even if the equipment is on hand, it still requires qualified personnel to operate the SUAS. Even with equipment and operators on hand there is no guarantee that the equip ment will work, meaning that units must execute regular maintenance on their SUAS and proper pre-combat checks and pre-combat inspections prior to using it. Barring equipment, maintenance, and trained operators, other unit leaders must also consider other factors such as airspace requests, land requests, and weather, all of which may detract from a units’ ability to effectively employ its SUAS. Once the SUAS is employed, however, units can begin achieving their training objectives, whether it is conditioning dismounted forces to look up and listen while on patrol or validating vehicle “air guard” positions during mounted maneuver. The second approach applies primarily to use of SUAS in a “red air” context. Often individual Soldiers and unit leaders do not fully appreciate the im portance of maintaining movement spacing or basic noise and light disci pline. One way to reinforce these fun damental basics is to fly the SUAS over friendly forces and start audio/visual recordings. The unit leadership can then pull aside the training audience and show them the audio/visual re cordings to help them understand what an enemy SUAS could have seen. This is a similar practice to what ob server/coach/trainers (O/C/Ts) at com bat training centers do when they pull unit leadership aside to show them just how far their noise and light signa tures travel at night. Third, if the training, equipment, or weather conditions do not allow for the use of SUAS, units can still achieve some of their training objectives by replicating the audio signatures of SUAS’s from a red air perspective. One example of this could include using small-scale gas-powered engines (i.e., weed eaters) or other audio recordings for stationary units. Whether or not the training audience sees a visual SUAS, the audio signature should trigger a similar response and help achieve the training objective. Fourth, and from a primarily blue air perspective, the continued prevalence of SUAS on the modern battlefield means that blue forces should feel equally comfortable requesting and employing SUAS. This means that SUAS integration into training should not be limited to “react to SUAS,” but it also should include “employment of SUAS.” Our dismounted cavalry scouts should feel equally comfortable employing an SUAS drone as they do an M240 in a dismounted OP. Vehicles in a concealed position should feel com fortable using SUAS to cover dead space in a defense or screen. If we accept the premise that SUAS is a valid sensor, then mounted and dismounted scouts in a screen should be trained to use SUAS to initiate and observe indi rect fire missions. The need to inte grate SUAS into this is further exacer bated in urban operations, which pres ent significant challenges to mounted maneuver forces. The integration of small-scale disposable SUAS drones into our mounted forces should be considered to mitigate combat losses Figure 2. T-Swarm 800 drones, experimental drones currently in a beta phase, undergo testing in a training field for Allied Spirit 24 at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany, March 10, 2024. Allied Spirit 24 is a U. S. Army exercise for its NATO Allies and partners at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center near Hohenfels, Germany that develops and enhances NATO and key partners interoperability and readiness across specified warfighting functions. (U. S. Army National Guard Photo by PFC Ayden Norcross, 153rd Public Affairs Detachment)

Winter- in urban terrain. Fifth, and lastly, integration of SUAS from a blue air perspective should also consider how SUAS can be used as a di version or deception operation. Much like individuals can telegraph their movements, the use of SUAS to clear areas can potentially telegraph future movement of mounted or dismounted forces. Based on this, however, the use of small-scale disposable SUAS drones as a deception element can cause the enemy forces to reallocate forces to disadvantageous positions. Similarly, the current doctrine on re acting to SUAS includes the passive measure of dispersal when reacting to SUAS.6 Blue forces may look at using SUAS to similarly displace entrenched enemy forces as a precursor to direct fire engagement. If we currently have quad-copter drones that can deliver packages,7 those same drones can drop grenades and other munitions to disrupt or displace enemy maneuver forces. Conclusion The unchanging nature of war means that military leaders at all levels must always be able to think creatively and be willing to apply violence in a contest of wills. The continually changing char acteristics of war mean that modern military leaders must be willing to re main adaptive in their thinking and continually innovate to provide well-trained forces that can close with and destroy the enemy on the modern bat tlefield. Today, the prevalence of SUAS on the battlefield means that military leaders must assume they operate under al most continual visual observation. Those same military leaders have a duty to provide creative and adaptive ways to offer tough realistic training – to do otherwise is to betray the con tract of trust they have with the American people. COL Gregory W. McLean is the Brigade Commander for 194th Armor Brigade at Fort Moore, GA. His previous assignments include Senior Cavalry Trainer “Grizzly 07,” Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany; squadron commander, 2nd Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT), 1st Armored Division; deputy inspector general, U. S. Central Command; and brigade executive officer, 1st ABCT, 1st Cavalry Division. COL McLean’s military schools include Armor Officer Basic Course, Fort Knox, KY; Armor Captain’s Career Course, Fort Knox; U. S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS; School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth; and U. S. Army War College, Carlisle, PA. He holds a bachelor’s of arts degree in political science from Kansas State University, a master’s of military arts and science degree from the School of Advanced Military Studies and a master’s of strategic studies degree from the U. S. Army War College. COL McLean’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf, Purple Heart Medal, and the Combat Action Badge. LTC Mitchell Payne commands the 5th Squadron, 15th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Moore, GA. His previous assign ments include serving as the Chief C2 observer/coach/trainer (O/C/T) for the Mission Command Training Program, Fort Leavenworth, KS; battalion/task force commander in the 3rd Infantry Di vision, Fort Stewart, GA; brigade exec utive officer, 188th Infantry Brigade, Fort Stewart; and squadron executive officer, 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, AK. LTC Payne’s military schools include Armor Officer Basic Course, Fort Knox, KY; Armor Captains’ Career Course, Fort Knox; and the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS. LTC Payne has Ph. D. in organiza tional leadership and human resource development from Regent University, a master of military arts and science de gree from the Command and General Staff College, and he holds a bachelor’s of arts degree in philosophy from Wheaton College. LTC Payne’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with Silver Oak Leaf) and the Combat Action Badge. Notes 1 Field Manual 7-0, Training, U. S. Army, June 2021. 2 U. S. Army Training Network. 07-PLT-D8015 “React to Aircraft while Dis mounted – Platoon;” https://rdl.train. army.mil/catalog-ws/view/100. ATSC/

2CFE59-1688735194590/report.pdf, and U. S. Army Training Network. 19-SQD- D0111, “React to Enemy Air Attack while Mounted;” https://rdl.train.army.mil/cat alog-ws/view/100. ATSC/E2C4AB96-08E2-

81FC-1507131239517/report.pdf. 3 U. S. Army Central Command Registry, Central Army Registry (CAR). 4 U. S. Army Central Command Registry, “React to Aircraft While Dismounted – Platoon (Training Support Package).” https://atiam.train.army.mil/catalog-ws/ zip/100. ATSC/8256B086-39F9-4163-

4BD5-1696966520210/1701709258.zip. 5 U. S. Army Central Command Registry. 19-SQD-D0111, “React to Enemy Air At tack While Mounted,” and 19-PLT-D8005, “React to Air Attack while Mounted – Platoon,” https://rdl.train.army.mil/catalog-ws/view/100. ATSC/E2C4AB96-08E2-4D18- 916A-C782CCFD81FC-1507131239517/re port.pdf. 6 Army Techniques Publication (ATP) 3-01.81, Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System, U. S. Army; August 2023. 7 Amazon.com. Oct. 18, 2023. “Amazon announces 8 innovations to better deliver for customers, support employees, and give back to communities around d the world.” Accessed Dec. 4, 2023. aboutam azon.com/news/operations/amazon-de livering-the-future-2023-announcements. Acronym Quick-Scan O/C/T – observer/coach/trainer OP – observation post SUAS – small unmanned aerial system