Michigan National Guard Trains for UAS Battlefields

As part of training for advanced battlefields, nine soldiers in the 3rd Battalion, 126th Infantry Regiment, Michigan Army National Guard took part in a two-week unmanned aerial systems (UAS) program that started on May 31, 2026. The training will enable them to safely operate uncrewed systems and gain certification needed to integrate UAS devices into their National Guard units. 

Regarding the training, the 3rd Battalion’s executive officer, Army Major Brandon Shortner, explained, “The goal of this training is to expose [service members] to the challenges and opportunities provided by a piece of equipment like that.”

He added, “That's making such an impact on the modern battlefield.”

The nine student soldiers began in a classroom to review regulations and UAS equipment before enhancing their UAS knowledge on flight simulators and then working in the field with the smallest drone class, Level One UAS units (see image above). They were challenged to effectively steer the drones through difficult obstacle courses tailored to diverse types of missions. Once skilled with the Level One drones, the soldiers will undergo live-fire training.

One of nine soldiers, Army Spc. Aleksandr Blain, said, “It's an incredible honor to be part of a small group of individuals selected to do this.” Regarding his classmates, he added, “We are looking forward to developing these skills.”