The U.S. Marine Corps has introduced a new training framework aimed at rapidly increasing the number of service members qualified to operate small unmanned aerial systems, as part of a broader push to expand drone-enabled combat capabilities.
The program establishes standardized training and certification pathways to support the fielding of new platforms, including commercial off-the-shelf first-person-view (FPV) attack drones such as the Neros Archer. The initiative aligns with the Pentagon’s objective to deploy tens of thousands of attack drones beginning in March 2026, with production and fielding expected to scale in subsequent years.
Developed by the Marine Corps Training and Education Command, the framework will introduce six pilot courses and eight formal certifications spanning multiple roles, including basic drone operators, FPV attack drone operators, payload specialists, and instructors. The courses are open to personnel from all occupational specialties and are designed to establish core competencies for both armed and unarmed unmanned systems.
To support implementation, seven organizations have been designated as regional training hubs, drawing from operational units, military schools, and Marine Forces Special Operations Command. Weapons Training Battalion at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, will function as the interim central authority, responsible for training standardization, certification oversight, and safety governance.
The expanded training effort builds on recent certification events involving the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and competitive exercises held in the National Capital Region and Okinawa, Japan. Through these activities, multiple instructors, payload specialists, and pilots have already been qualified, with hundreds more Marines expected to enter the program in the coming months. The Corps plans to field FPV attack drone capabilities across all infantry, reconnaissance, and littoral combat units by May 2026.
