POCAHONTAS, Ark. — The Arkansas Army National Guard, in collaboration with Black River Technical College, has completed a groundbreaking Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) course, marking a significant step forward in drone training across the state.
The 40-hour program, held at the Pocahontas-based college, provided soldiers with essential training on deploying drones for a range of missions. Participants gained hands-on experience in flying, landing, and handling drones under diverse conditions, as well as classroom instruction on mapping and planning flight scenarios.
Force Protection Officer Daniel Patterson emphasized the evolving role of drones as tools rather than just weapons. He spotlighted their potential in post-disaster assessments and search-and-rescue operations, scenarios where deploying drones offers cost-effective and efficient solutions compared to traditional methods.
“Why not send a drone?” Patterson said. “The same thing with battle damage assessment for things like tornadoes that come through or search and rescue efforts. Drones are cheaper to fly. They’re much more deployable. They’re easier to get out and then recover. We can replace them.”
Patterson also noted the urgency of keeping up with advancements in drone technology. “We can’t sit here and wait as an organization for...people way above us...to come up with the answer and give it to us,” he said. “We need to lean forward and see what we can do in order to be proactive instead of reactive because that’s the nature of today’s fight.”
The course concluded Thursday afternoon with practical drone exercises and a graduation ceremony for the participants. Graduates are expected to share their knowledge and train others within the National Guard, ensuring the organization can effectively adapt to rapidly advancing drone technologies.
BRTC officials said this initiative highlights the potential of drones in responding to emergencies and performing critical tasks across Arkansas and beyond.