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Heavy Weapon Carrier for the Infantry: Rheinmetall completes Factory Acceptance Test for New Training Equipment

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026

Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH has reached an important milestone in its training solution for the Heavy Infantry Weapon Carrier. The newly developed training equipment for gunnery and combat training for the Heavy Infantry Weapon Carrier (abbr. AGSW in German) successfully passed the Factory Acceptance Test at Rheinmetall’s Bremen site in June 2026. Representatives from the Army Concepts and Capabilities Development Centre (ACCDC) and the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), as well as soldiers from the fusilier troops and the Infantry School, were present for the acceptance process and, have conducted a comprehensive inspection of the system.

As a result, crew training can begin in parallel with vehicle deliveries. Training and simulation were considered part of the system development from the beginning. As early as 2022, the Bundeswehr and industry jointly set the goal of providing initial training equipment even before delivery of the first vehicles.

The development of the AGSW began after the contract was signed in early 2024 and was completed in July 2026. Rheinmetall’s close cooperation with the Infantry School and the ACCDC during the concept phase made it possible to incorporate the requirements of future users into the development at an early stage.

The first component of the two-stage training solution is already available to the fusilier troops. Between September 2025 and April 2026, the procedural trainers were delivered to the Fusilier battalions. This means that crew training can begin as planned before the first vehicles are delivered. The handover of the first AGSW to the Infantry School is scheduled for autumn 2026.

The AGSW is the core of this training solution: the highly realistic gunnery and combat simulator comprises a control, evaluation and monitoring station and four fighting compartments. The vehicle interior, vehicle logic, operating procedures, aiming behaviour, driving dynamics and ballistics are simulated with a high degree of realism. Training ranges from instruction for individual crew members, through interaction within the entire crew, to tactical procedures and complex scenarios at platoon level.

The simulators are prepared for networking with so-called ‘infantry desktop trainers’. This also enables joint training of vehicle crews and dismounted infantry. The desktop-based operational trainer uses the same simulation software and operating logic as the AGSW, thus forming the starting point for follow-on training.

Both systems also enable users to independently create and customise virtual terrain environments. This means that future areas of operations can be replicated and advancing routes, positions, and tactical procedures can be practised before a potential deployment.

The AGSW is conceptually based on the ‘Training equipment for gunnery and combat training Puma infantry fighting vehicle’ (abbr. AGSP in German) developed by Rheinmetall. The system reached a major milestone in 2025 and is now in serial production. Training solutions for other Bundeswehr vehicles are also being developed on this technological basis. Looking ahead, fusilier troops, armoured infantry and army reconnaissance troops are to have their own training equipment at their respective locations.

In July 2026, the responsible project manager at the BAAINBw officially confirmed that the Factory Acceptance Test had been successfully passed. A total of five AGSW systems shall be handed to users by mid-2027. Following functional testing and acceptance at the respective locations, the simulation software for the operational trainer and the AGSW will be adapted to the final development status of the Heavy Infantry Weapon Carrier and rolled out as an identical version.

This creates a comprehensive training solution in line with the ‘train as you fight’ concept and an important prerequisite for crews to receive highly realistic training even before the new weapon system’s first deployment.

Posted in Armoured Vehicles, International, Press Release, Training | No Comments »

Balancing Innovation and Readiness: How Army CTCs are Modernizing for the Next Fight

Thursday, September 17th, 2026

WASHINGTON — As the Army modernizes for large-scale combat operations, its premier combat training centers (CTCs) manage a dual mission: training and validating immediate unit readiness while systematically testing the technologies destined for future battlefields.

Speaking during a recent media briefing, Lt. Gen. James P. Isenhower III, commanding general of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Command (CAC), outlined how the command is modernizing training at the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, California, and the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Following structural realignments under the Army Transformation Initiative and the establishment of T2COM, CAC regained purview and collective training funding for both JRTC and NTC. This realignment unifies force development, doctrine, education, and collective training under a single institutional command.

According to Isenhower, the modernization roadmap centers on one overriding mandate: delivering lethal, combat-credible formations ready to fight and win against peer adversaries.

“Primary is our requirement to deliver readiness to the nation when called,” Isenhower said. “The CTCs are an incredible capability and the envy of militaries across the world, given that they provide a crucible event to the units and truly stress them to give them confidence that they can function in extremis when called upon. However, there are also very few other more appropriate and effective opportunities to responsibly integrate experimentation.”

Evolving Past Mission Rehearsals to Dynamic LSCO Proficiency

When the Army established the CTCs in the early 1980s, their core purpose was to provide rigorous, force-on-force collective maneuvers against an unconstrained, free-thinking opposing force (OPFOR). During the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, CTC rotations pivoted toward mission rehearsal exercises—verifying specific counterinsurgency mission sets before scheduled deployments.

Today, the centers are completing a decisive return to high-intensity, large-scale combat operations (LSCO). Rather than acting purely as a checklist certification exercise, rotations are designed to hone collective warfighting skills, exercise multi-domain command and control, and expose formations to the chaotic friction of modern war.

“What we’re seeing today and what we’re leading the CTCs through is kind of a return to the original purpose focused on large-scale combat operations proficiency,” Isenhower explained. “It becomes an appropriate balance of building readiness and large-scale combat expertise while also giving us an opportunity to integrate some experimentation where we can validate or invalidate the technology or the technique.”

The 180-Day Rule: Priming the Training

Integrating cutting-edge commercial technology into tactical units often carries unintended consequences—chief among them, “technology fatigue” and cognitive overload for soldiers who need to focus on mission command and tactical execution.

To manage the introduction of new systems to rotational units, CAC uses its established CTC governance process in coordination with corps, division, and Army Futures Command leadership. A key component of this process is the mandatory 180-day rule.

“What I have directed is that we want to be very careful with the experimentation requirements we put on the rotational force… because we want them to focus on their processes, standards, and their operating procedures to make sure that they are tactically proficient and can employ themselves in accordance with their mission-essential tasks,” said Isenhower.

Under this threshold, any new technology slated for evaluation by the rotational brigade must be fielded to the unit at least 180 days before entering “the box.”

“We’ve established a temporal threshold 180 days out where we have to give them that equipment then, so that they have sufficient time at home station to integrate that,” Isenhower emphasized. “Then ostensibly, they can focus less on the integration of that equipment during the CTC rotation and more on fighting the enemy to good effect.”

Past instances where units received experimental equipment immediately before entering force-on-force maneuver demonstrated the risk of distraction. “We’ve realized that the reality is we owe them more time so they can integrate that equipment and focus on fighting the enemy as opposed to what oftentimes is a focus on simply trying to understand the equipment,” he added.

Leveraging the OPFOR for the Army’s Tech Testbed

When emerging capabilities need rapid operational testing within that 180-day window, CAC shifts the experimentation burden from the training audience to the permanent opposing forces at NTC and JRTC.

“The OPFOR at the CTCs know the terrain. There’s an argument that they spend more time in the field than any other unit in the Army,” Isenhower said. “It’s easier for us, and with less risk to training objectives, that we can inject a piece of technology in short order with the OPFOR just because they do this routinely… and it has less of a deleterious effect on their ability to employ.”

By arming the OPFOR with novel commercial unmanned aerial systems (UAS), electronic warfare emitters, and advanced sensors, CTCs achieve a dual victory: new technology is tested against realistic field conditions, and the rotational training audience faces an adversary mirroring the sophisticated, transparent threat environments seen in Ukraine and other global hotspots.

Operating in the Drone Era: Uncontested Skies Are History

A major driver behind the updated CTC scenarios is also the proliferation of unmanned systems. Rather than viewing drones as an abstract military revolution, Isenhower described them as a logical evolution that has fundamentally altered the character of warfare across reconnaissance, strike, and sustainment.

Crucially, this evolution has shattered an operational assumption that guided U.S. operations for over two decades: automatic air superiority.

“One of the things that’s been stark to me is the collective recognition that we don’t enjoy air superiority in a tactical environment,” Isenhower observed. “For 20 years, we didn’t have to worry about anything coming out of the sky. And we lost proficiency that I think we had trained in the Cold War era… where we were worried about adversaries who had fixed-wing aircraft and the capability to send long-range precision fires at us.”

At both NTC and JRTC, rotational formations face pervasive drone surveillance and simulated aerial strikes. This forces training unit commanders and squad leaders alike to re-learn active protection, dispersal, camouflage, and immediate Counter-UAS battle drills.

“Our ability to integrate protection requirements—this affects the squad as it does a platoon, a company, a battalion, or a brigade—has become far more clear to us,” Isenhower said. “At the combat training centers, I’ve witnessed a sea change in how those units employ, how they seek dispersion, and how they use terrain and other camouflage techniques, but also incorporate deception to present a dilemma to an opposing force that has an air capability.”

Validating Tech and Tactics Through Soldier Feedback

Ensuring that modernization keeps pace with dynamic battlefield changes requires a reliable, rapid feedback loop between field maneuvers and procurement authorities.

To bridge this gap, CAC deploys Transformation Lessons Learned Managers (TLLMs) into training rotations and overseas operational exercises. These subject-matter experts collect ground-truth observations directly from soldiers and staffs under extreme conditions—such as noting when commercial drones perform well in humid Louisiana weather but struggle in European winter cold.

By institutionalizing this data flow through CAC’s Transformation Integration Directorates and passing empirical evidence directly to Army Futures Command and program executive offices, the Army avoids reliance on vendor marketing claims.

“The ultimate arbiter for me of an effective piece of technology is the soldier’s confidence in that technology and whether or not it’s helping them perform their mission,” Isenhower emphasized. “If a soldier doesn’t have confidence in a piece of equipment, he’ll discard it. We don’t put it on a soldier to tell a vendor something’s not working; we want to provide a consistent Army message based on the experience of experimenting in an environment where they’re going to employ it.”

By LTC Orlandon Howard, Army Communications & Outreach Office

Posted in Army, Forces Focus, Guest Post, Training | Comments Off on Balancing Innovation and Readiness: How Army CTCs are Modernizing for the Next Fight

Free Fall School Trains Students in High-Altitude Infiltration

Tuesday, September 15th, 2026

YUMA PROVING GROUND, Ariz. – Joint-forces students attending the Military Free Fall School are reaching new heights as they qualify in advanced high-altitude insertion techniques at one of the Army’s toughest advanced courses.

The Military Free Fall School (MFFS), located at the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, is an elite joint-forces institution operated by the U.S. Army John F.Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. The school trains special operations forces in critical infiltration skills, including high-altitude low-opening (HALO) and high-altitude high-opening (HAHO) parachuting.

“We train Department of War and other agencies’ personnel to conduct airborne infiltrations,” said Sgt. Maj. Zachary Achziger, MFFS’ senior enlisted leader under the 2nd Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne).

The military free-fall program traces its roots to March 1957 when the 77th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, conducted the first basic body-stabilization free-fall course.This evolved into the formal HALO project in 1958. The official Military Free Fall School graduated its first class at Fort Bragg on Aug. 13, 1971, before moving operations to Yuma Proving Ground.

Students from across the military services master one of the most demanding skills in the military. The students learn advanced parachuting techniques and tactical infiltration methods to jump into sensitive areas undetected from altitudes up to 25,000 feet.

“This course gives an operator the skill set of airborne infiltration that allows geographic combatant commanders more flexibility on how to employ special operations forces,” Achziger said. “It gives those geographic combatant commanders options to extend their range to infiltrate someone into far away areas.”

To qualify for attendance, students must be a graduate of basic U.S. Army Airborne School, hold a designated free fall-coded position, such as special operations, select riggers, or approved allied Department of War personnel and meet strict Class 3 flight physical and medical standards for high-altitude oxygen use.

Before climbing aboard an aircraft, students begin their training by packing their main parachute, while qualified riggers pack the reserve parachutes.

Next, students learn the fundamentals of body position and stability during training in a controlled environment as they learn to fly their bodies in the Master Sgt. George Bannar Vertical Wind Tunnel.

The presence of the vertical wind tunnel, which opened at Yuma Proving Ground in early 2014, has become a crucial tool for students who attend the course.

The 16.5-foot tunnel allows students to practice maintaining a stable body position and learn how to make small adjustments with their arms and legs and, ultimately, gaining the muscle memory needed once they jump from an aircraft.

The progression is deliberate. Students learn how to control their bodies, then practice those skills in a simulated environment before taking them into the air.

“The wind tunnel allows us to give students increased time with training their free fall skills before their first jump and as a tool for remedial training,” Achziger said. “It has also increased our overall capabilities to train without having to use an aircraft.”

For Sgt. Maj. Matthew Krueger, an instructor at the school, he said that the wind tunnel is a great training tool.

“With it, the students are able to recover from tumbling much faster and gets them ready for the harder parts of the course when we introduce equipment,”he said.

After mastering the basics of free fall in the wind tunnel, the students make their first jumps with a highly skilled instructor.

During the four-week course, instructors evaluate students aircraft exit to landing on the drop zone.

Students make most of their jumps from the C-27J Spartan, a smaller cargo plane that uses the same engine as its larger cousin, the C-130 Hercules. Jumps are conducted from altitudes ranging from 9,500 to 25,000 feet, depending on the training requirement.

To qualify for the course, a prospective student must have completed at least five static line jumps, though most students have completed more.

The course exposes students to a variety of equipment and conditions. They practice jumping with and without weapons and combat equipment, as well as with night vision goggles and supplemental oxygen. They conduct jumps during both daylight and nighttime conditions, requiring them to apply their skills while adapting to various wind conditions and changing environments.

“The students add one piece at a time and get evaluated throughout the course before moving to the next graded exercise,” Achziger said. “They are graded on everything – slick jumps, combat equipment, night jumps, everything.”

Achziger said that following the jumps they move into the grouping phase.

“Then they learn and train on weapons integration,” he said. “Also, during the grouping phase, students train for “stand-offs,” which include high-altitude high opening jumps during both day and night conditions.”

After jumping, students execute free-fall techniques before deploying their parachutes and descending toward Phillips Drop Zone at Yuma Proving Ground. Instructors have the ability to talk to students on two-way radios to assist them on how and where to land.

By the completion of the Basic Military Free Fall Course, students will have developed the foundation needed to conduct military free-fall operations from high altitude, while using the specialized gear required for operational missions.

The school also trains and qualifies select students for the Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Course, the Advanced Tactical Infiltration Course and the Military Free Fall Instructor Course.

Those with higher levels of free-fall experience can return to Yuma Proving Ground and attend the Advanced Tactical Infiltration Course, which focuses on HAHO, navigation, complex mission planning, and execution under canopy.

The Military Free Fall Instructor Course selects elite, seasoned operators with hundreds of jumps to earn a rare Department of War instructor rating, so that they can forge the next generation of free-fall service members.

“For Green Berets, Air Force special operations, Marine special ops and Navy SEALs, it’s a unique method to get to work,”Krueger said. “It’s a great infiltration technique, especially for an ODA [Operational Detachment Alpha] where they can exit an aircraft, fly together in a group in a standoff, and land on target ready to carry out a mission.”

Story by K. Kassens

United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Parachuting, SOF, Training | No Comments »

Elbit Systems UK Plays Key Role in Landmark Live Virtual Constructive Training Exercise

Wednesday, September 9th, 2026

Colchester, UK 08 September 2026 – Elbit Systems UK (ESUK) has partnered with the British Army’s 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team to use its in-service training systems to undertake one of the largest live virtual constructive training exercises in the UK. The exercise, which included over 300 soldiers ranging from dismounted close combat to logistics, used the full suite of ESUK’s integrated Recce Strike Training System (RSTS). This includes the Joint Fires Synthetic Trainer (JFST), Deployable Virtual Constructive Simulator (DVCS), and Interim Indirect Fires Simulation (IIDFS). The partnership approach saw ESUK tailor each system to meet the soldiers’ needs.

The Live Virtual Constructive Training, known as Exercise Pegasus Athena, was undertaken over three days with JFST, DVCS and IIDFS integrated for the first time with the British Army. Soldiers were able to find targets using JFST and call in fires from the teams using IIDFS to strike these targets with the effect seen across all the simulators. DVCS was used to provide the synthetic layer where all virtual and live events were recorded, as well as providing the system for drone pilot operations. Alongside the integration of the three in-service training capabilities, ESUK was also able to collect data to measure outcomes and assess performance.

As well as the use of synthetic training, the exercise included realistic operational situations, including ammunition resupplies, dismounted combat operations and vehicle manoeuvres. Air assets were also deployed throughout the week, with Chinook helicopters being used to reposition the light guns during the exercise.

This training exercise was the first demonstration of ESUK’s integrated Recce Strike Training Solution, showcasing the value of integrated high-tech solutions provided to the British Army. It represents a step change in capability for the Armed Forces, allowing troops to conduct live and virtual training without the need for external assets and at a much lower cost than live fire exercises, without using ammunition stockpiles.

An Elbit Systems UK spokesperson said: “This exercise demonstrated what is possible when our training systems operate as an integrated capability, delivering the high-fidelity and operationally realistic training that our Armed Forces demand. As the first use of our integrated RSTS offer, it validates the concept and the technology, and we are looking at future opportunities to deploy this capability with the UK, as well as potential opportunities internationally.”

A 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team spokesperson said: “The integration of live and virtual constructive training has added a level of realism to our training that would be unachievable on a normal field exercise. ESUK’s support was important to the success of the exercise.”

Posted in Contracts, International, Press Release, Training | Comments Off on Elbit Systems UK Plays Key Role in Landmark Live Virtual Constructive Training Exercise

Air National Guard Squadron Sharpens Readiness in Jungle Terrain

Monday, August 10th, 2026

Wind moves through the trees at Schofield Barracks’ East Range as leaves crunch underfoot and boots sink into mud. Humidity clings to uniforms as security forces airmen navigate steep terrain, flowing water and unfamiliar surroundings, trading the familiar landscape of the Midwest for the jungle terrain of Oahu, Hawaii.

For two weeks, July 13-27, airmen assigned to the Ohio Air National Guard’s 178th Security Forces Squadron challenged themselves through annual training designed to strengthen small-unit tactics, decision-making and expeditionary readiness.

The training combined classroom instruction with hands-on field exercises, including jungle familiarization, dismounted patrolling, ambush training, land navigation and rope systems. The realistic environment challenged airmen to apply what they learned while operating in unfamiliar terrain.

This was part of an 18-month effort by the squadron to increase its focus on small-team operations and prepare airmen to make tactical-level decisions in increasingly decentralized environments that will be needed in the future, said Air Force Maj. Eric Minshaw, 178th Security Forces Squadron commander.

The jungle environment quickly became one of the most valuable instructors.

“The terrain and the environment have been perfect,” Minshaw said. “It certainly has been the greatest challenge that we’ve faced out here, just navigating through the water and elevation changes.”

For Air Force 1st Lt. Kyle Mackerig, a guest jungle instructor assigned to the 820th Base Defense Group at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, the training provided an opportunity to share knowledge gained through his experience operating in jungle environments.

Mackerig graduated from the Army Jungle Operations Training Course in May 2025 and joined the 178th SFS to help airmen develop the skills necessary to operate in jungle terrain.

The goal extended beyond simply learning how to navigate. The training challenged airmen to remain effective when conditions were unfamiliar, and the path forward was uncertain.

“The jungle is the classroom, not the objective,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Bradley Akers. “Our purpose is to push our airmen beyond their comfort zones in one of the world’s most demanding environments, reinforcing disciplined leadership, teamwork and adaptability. Those are the qualities that make them more capable defenders, regardless of where the mission takes them.”

That challenge took many forms throughout the two weeks. Airmen hiked through steep terrain and mud, navigated waterways and practiced moving through the jungle while carrying their equipment.

During one exercise, they made their way to a river and moved chest-deep through the water, testing whether their packs could float and learning how to operate in and around a water obstacle. They emerged from the river covered in mud, carrying another lesson from an environment far removed from what they typically encounter in Ohio.

For Air Force Staff Sgt. Macy Flannery, squadron member, the experience also provided an opportunity to strengthen the bonds within her team. Flannery, who is in her fifth year of service, said the training challenged them to work together while learning basic survival skills and small-unit tactics.

“It’s been a good bonding experience for our team,” she said. “We’re going through it all together and having to do a lot of teamwork for our different training experiences.”

Mackerig said the teamwork he witnessed throughout the training gave him a new appreciation for the squadron.

“The biggest thing that surprised me about working with the [National] Guard, and in particular the 178th, is how tight-knit they are, how much of a family they are,” he said. “Everyone feels welcome here, even from being an outsider.”

That sense of teamwork became evident throughout the training, as airmen and noncommissioned officers looked after one another and shared skills developed through previous training and experience.

“We’ve got a great team,” Minshaw said. “The NCOs that we have and the instructor cadre that have come in [are] absolutely top shelf.”

From checking water supplies and applying sunscreen to sharing specialized skills and helping teammates navigate difficult terrain, the small actions demonstrated the team’s commitment to one another, he said.

“It’s really awesome to see the team come together” and use some of the special skills they have in the training environment and then teach their teammates, Minshaw said, adding that the ultimate value of the training lies in what airmen take with them when they leave. Training environments like this allow airmen to discover their limits in a controlled setting, giving them the confidence to face future challenges.

“It’s better to find … your breaking points and move past those in a training environment like this, rather than to be caught flat-footed in our operational environment,” Minshaw said.

As the airmen leave the mud, water and steep terrain of Schofield Barracks, the lessons learned in the jungle will follow them. The physical challenges, tactical problems and moments of uncertainty provided more than a test of endurance. It allowed them to build confidence, strengthen teamwork and develop the ability to make decisions in unfamiliar environments.

By Air Force TSgt Tiffany Scofield, 178th Wing

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, Training | No Comments »

Fort Rucker’s Unmanned Advanced Lethality Course Ramps Up Tactical Drone Training

Tuesday, August 4th, 2026

The Unmanned Advanced Lethality Course at Fort Rucker, Alabama, is pushing forward with a series of updates aimed at strengthening tactical proficiency and meeting student expectations, said Army Staff Sgt. Mario Rostran, the course’s noncommissioned officer in charge, and Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Gatta, the course manager.

Rostran said the leadership team is focused on refining instruction in response to student feedback to ensure the course delivers the advanced-level rigor it promises.

“We’re continuing to improve the course,” he said. “We’re taking comments as we go and making sure [that] we’re meeting the standards students expect. The goal is to make this the advanced course it claims to be.”

Working alongside the team, Gatta is helping expand hands-on training and strengthen tactical application throughout the program.

“The most significant update is increasing the amount of physical, kinetic engagements from five to 12,” he said. “We have been working to refine the overall course to run smoother and provide the most up-to-date data.”

To meet the demand for advanced instruction, the course is shifting to a more tactical framework. Gatta noted the class will complete a culminating exercise this week at the drone training facility in Daleville, Alabama, marking a new experience for the students.

“This exercise will demonstrate a more real-world tactical environment and incorporate a close-quarters battle level of training, whereas previous emphasis has been heavily placed on outdoor live flights,” he said. “Our current goal is to make the training more tactical in nature. I believe we have several solid plans to build on moving forward.”

During this iteration of the course, students conducted live-engagement training using a purpose-built attributable system, the Shank 1.0, and C-4, a versatile plastic explosive. The event allowed students to apply lessons learned by flying the system, coordinating altitude and executing tactical employment against a designated target.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Riley Watts, assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 14th Aviation Regiment, spent months trying to enroll in the course. He said attending has given him a clearer view of how unmanned aircraft systems fit into the future of Army aviation.

“This is a great course to keep you relevant in today’s force,” Watts said. “Seeing how UAS is being implemented and utilized in today’s Army is eye-opening, and it shows you how important it is to understand these systems.”

Matthew Baldwin, a civil engineering major at the U.S. Military Academy, is attending to take tactical drone employment strategies back to the academy’s future applied systems and tactics team. His leaders pushed to send two cadets to the course to expand their understanding of drone employment and to share that knowledge when they return.

Baldwin, who hopes to commission into the air defense artillery branch, said the course offers a perspective that will be important to future Army operations.

“One of the big questions is how to counter drones effectively,” he said. “You’re talking about sending a very expensive rocket to take out a cheap drone. Understanding drones from the operator’s side, how they fly, what they look for, helps you understand how to counter them.”

Although he arrived with limited tactical flying experience, he said the hands-on instruction has significantly boosted his confidence.

“I didn’t know how to tactically fly. It’s a completely different flying style,” Baldwin said. “I feel better flying them, and now we’re trying to develop a training program to help build other pilots on our team.”

Beyond flying, Baldwin highlighted the value of the course’s mission-planning segments.

“I’ve really appreciated the planning side, [the military decision-making process], troop-leading procedures, what goes into reconnaissance,” he said. “I hadn’t learned a lot of that yet. Going into my [fundamentals of small-unit operations] class and eventually into the Army, my knowledge base is definitely better now.”

The Unmanned Advanced Lethality Course runs six times per fiscal year, providing recurring opportunities for soldiers seeking advanced UAS training. Upcoming course dates are Sept. 14-Oct. 2, and Nov. 2-20.

By Leslie Herlick, Aviation Center of Excellence

Posted in Army, Drone, Guest Post, Training | No Comments »

Greenside Training Announces Gerald Hooee as New Instructor for CamoStalk360

Monday, August 3rd, 2026

Greenside Training LLC announces a new instructor for the first time in 15 years other than its founder Freddy Osuna. Greenside Training is proud to announce Mr. Gerald Hooee as our newest Premiere Instructor for CamoStalk360™. Gerald is also Handling curricullum design and research.

Welcome to the Team, Mr. Gerald Hooee.

A Marine Corps Scout Sniper, combat veteran, and seasoned sniper instructor, Gerald brings decades of experience developing professionals who must move unseen, observe with precision, and perform under pressure. Hailing from the Zuni Nation of New Mexico, he blends ancient Indigenous fieldcraft with modern human perception and performance science to create an unmatched learning experience.

In CamoStalk360™, you’ll learn that true camouflage isn’t about hiding—it’s about understanding how the human mind detects, processes, and overlooks information.

See. Move. Disappear. His first class August 30- Sept 1st, 2026 Avery Texas.

greensidetraining

Posted in Industry, Press Release, Training | No Comments »

Soldier Pushes Limits for Hard-Earned Skippy Badge

Sunday, August 2nd, 2026

It was just before midnight as Private Ryan Doyle quietly prepared his gear for the final test to become a fully fledged rifleman.

Clouds smothered what little light the stars could provide, so he watched his breath fog in the air through night optics as he waited.

“I was more excited than anything, to be honest. We didn’t quite know what was in store, they didn’t really give us a brief, so I was in anticipation of what was coming,” Private Doyle said.

The signal finally came from the platoon commander and the section stepped off, carrying stores and heavy packs.

It wasn’t long before enemy engaged from the darkness.

Under direction of their section commander, they fought back with bursts of gunfire lighting up the night, and a soldier was wounded in the ambush.

After applying tactical care to the combat casualty, the section carried their teammate on a stretcher, the hardest part for Private Doyle.

“We had just come off 10 days of digging defensive positions, so my grip was quite gone. I wasn’t expecting that,” he said.

As they marched, Private Doyle reflected on the past 17 weeks of intense training at the Australian Army’s School of Infantry.

He learned to use multiple weapon systems, from pistols to 84mm Carl Gustaf recoilless rifles.

He dug defensive positions, fought in hand-to-hand combat, set barbed wire and trip flares, and negated those threats when he encountered them.

‘I wanted a challenge and to do things that you don’t get to do as an ordinary person. The equipment you use, the lifestyle, it stood out to me.’

With his section, he breached and cleared buildings or conducted patrols through the scrub to seek out, close with and destroy the enemy, regardless of weather or terrain – as the role of the infantry goes.

Now, he had to prove it on Exercise HardCorps, the final test before posting to a battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment.

The stretcher carry ended at the tunnels leading from Singleton Range to Lone Pine Barracks and the sun had started to rise.

The section cleared an urban facility before making their way through the obstacle and bayonet assault course one last time.

Their final stand was at the 25-metre range, with a live-fire shoot to finish the test.

After clearing off the range, they headed back to their lines – with broad smiles and laughter in contrast to the determined stoicism a few hours earlier.

A quick shower, cleaned rifles and fresh uniforms got them ready for the most anticipated event of the day: the Skippy Badge presentation.

With the mark of a qualified rifleman cradled in his hand, Private Doyle was excited for the next stage of his career in the Royal Australian Infantry.

“I wanted a challenge and to do things that you don’t get to do as an ordinary person. The equipment you use, the lifestyle, it stood out to me,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to learning what it’s like to be a soldier. We’ve completed this training and now we move on to learn and develop more. That will be really interesting.”

– Via Australia Department of Defence

Posted in Guest Post, International, Training | No Comments »