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UASTB largest UAS training center, 'pilots' unique mission

May 20, 2010

By Amy Sunseri

FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. -- Fort Huachuca is home to the largest Unmanned Aircraft System training center in the world, with more than 350,000 square feet of training space, including runways, four hangars, and 24-hour operational capacity, training more than 1,400 students annually.

The Unmanned Aircraft System Training Battalion, a tenant unit here, trains all the Army's command aircraft operators and maintainers. The UASTB's brigade headquarters and command staff is located at Fort Rucker, Ala.

"We train the Soldiers on the Hunter (MQ-5B), Shadow (RQ-7B), Warrior-A, and Gray Eagle (MQ-1C), said Lt. Col. Patrick Sullivan, UASTB battalion commander. Some know the Gray Eagle as ER/MP [Extended Range Multi Purpose].

Unmanned aircraft systems, or UASs, are often called, "the eye in the sky." UASs are controlled remotely by a pilot on the ground. They are used by the Army primarily to obtain surveillance and save Soldiers' lives. "They allow the commander to have a God's-eye view; in order to forecast what the enemy is going to do and deny him that ability,' said Mark Farrar, director of UAS training on Fort Huachuca.

In order to meet the op-tempo required by the Army, Sullivan says the battalion has three shifts of training which last approximately eight hours a day.

"We almost operate around the clock, there is always someone here training," said Maj. Kent MacGregor, UASTB executive officer.

The battalion also trains the UAS warrant officer technicians.

"They go through their professional schooling here at the UASTB," said Sullivan.

Another major course the battalion trains is the leaders' course, which is for any member of staff or unit leadership interested in UAS capabilities, employment and planning. The course lasts one week.

"You could send an MI [military intelligence] lieutenant or noncommissioned officer and they will receive overview training of UAS capabilities and operations in order to get some exposure for UAS planning and employment purpose," said MacGregor.

UASTB also trains all Marine Corps maintainers and operators. "We have also trained some Navy in the past and will train some in the future," stated Maj. Tony Daniels, UASTB operations officer.

Next year, the battalion will train Soldiers from Australia, said Farrar. In total there are 19 different UAS training courses offered to military personnel on Fort Huachuca.

Last year more than 1,479 military personnel were trained on UASs at Fort Huachuca and logged 4,700 flight hours. That number will continue to grow. The Army is expected to see an increase in Soldiers who need to be trained at the facility on post.

"In 2010 we're expected to train over 2,000 Soldiers," Sullivan explained.

In 1986, the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training Center started as a task force for research and development on Fort Huachuca. Five noncommissioned officers were selected to help determine how to integrate UASs into the Army.
"Everything was started right here on Fort Huachuca," said Farrar, who was one of five initial noncommissioned officers in the program when it began. In 2006, the UASTB was activated.

"Fort Huachuca's training facility is the only area in the world where UASs take priority over manned aircraft," said Farrar. The air space of operation is from the San Pedro River to the east, Nogales to the west, Highway 82 to the north, and roughly six kilometers north of the Mexican border to the south. Farrar says this area is about the size of Rhode Island.

UASTB is comprised of four companies. Company A houses and feeds all initial entry training military occupational transfers and Soldiers who are transferring from another MOS. Members of Company B instruct the student operators on the Shadow and Hunter. Company C, which is located on Libby Army Airfield, instructs Soldiers on the Warrior-A and Gray Eagle. Company D instructs the maintainers on the Shadow and is responsible for the 150U training as well as the UAS Leaders course.

"Our biggest accomplishment is the growth," said Sullivan. This month, the battalion becomes the single training location for UAS maintenance.

"Prior to May, the Soldiers had to train in Fort Eustis, Virginia first and then they would come here," he explained. Now when Soldiers enter the Army in the maintainer MOSs, MacGregor says they'll come right here to Fort Huachuca to train.

"This is important because we're the initial entry training for 15W and 15E; we're the follow-on from their basic training" said Sullivan.

To support the growth, many of the battalion's facilities are receiving upgrades along with new construction. A new motor pool and company headquarters are currently being built. The post is undergoing construction, worth $58 million, to support the UASTB's growth. Sometime this summer or fall, a new hangar will be built for the Gray Eagle. Then later this fall, construction is slated for a new battalion headquarters.

The UASTB team on Fort Huachuca is comprised of military personnel, department of Army civilians, and contractor employees.

"We have approximately 700 personnel working out here," said Sullivan.

"We get excellent support for the garrison activities. In order to meet our missions, we couldn't [build] this entire infrastructure without the Department of Public Works and U.S. Army Garrison. We get a lot of support from the 111th [Military Intelligence Brigade] including our ground vehicle maintenance support and oversight of our new student in-processing. United States Intelligence Center of Excellence provides us with a lot of support because they understand the importance of the battalion," Sullivan explained.

This is all just the beginning," said Farrar. "I think that unmanned aircraft will be the tool that drives us to answer the question, 'To what extent will we allow machines to wage war?'" He says every day the Army is working on better capabilities to develop better equipped UASs for the Soldiers' needs.