Army Enhances Basic Training to Prepare Soldiers for Drone Warfare

The United States Army is currently in the process of revising its fundamental training curriculum to better equip recruits with the skills necessary to navigate the complexities of contemporary warfare, with a particular emphasis on the threat posed by drone swarming. 

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The updated capstone event, "Forge 2.5," now incorporates the lessons learned from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where drones have become a critical component of combat.

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General Gary M. Brito, the commander of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, clarified that the revised training will expose personnel to operational threats they may encounter during deployment. Upon their arrival at their initial unit, recruits will have undergone scenarios that involve being pursued by drone swarming, thereby preventing them from experiencing these hazards for the first time.

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Critical teachings on drone concealment are included in the 96-hour Forge 2.5 exercise. Tactics are taught to trainees to reduce the size of command posts and limit the number of electronic signatures, thereby rendering them less alluring targets. Brito underscored the potential devastation of coordinated drone attacks by stating, "If you can be seen, you can be hit."

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The Army's apprehension regarding drones is not a recent development; in February 2021, military leaders issued a warning that drones posed a substantial threat to U.S. forces, akin to the improvised explosive devices employed in Iraq. 

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The Army is currently in the process of creating new ammunition that is equipped with proximity sensors and is intended for use by Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Apache helicopters to mitigate drone threats as part of its response. 

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U.S. forces must maintain a vigilant stance against aerial threats that can operate at low altitudes, a departure from conventional air dominance strategies, as emphasized by experts. The Army's dedication to equipping soldiers for the changing nature of warfare is stressed by the incorporation of drone evasion tactics into basic training.

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