AFROTC finds success with new unique drone program

The Troy University Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps’ (AFROTC) recently launched drone program has shown significant success among cadets. 

Most notably, the program, which was launched last semester, is the first of its kind and has allowed eight cadets to earn their remote pilot certification. 

Drone Program Director Chase Lunsford, a criminal justice graduate student from Freeport, Florida, shared some insight into the program and how it began. 

“The program came around as initially an idea from our commander to get more cadets interested in aviation and to teach them life-applicable skills like critical thinking, working with a team and leading a team,” Lunsford said. “It has now evolved into being the first nationally recognized AFROTC drone program.” 

In the fall semester, cadets were prepared for their certification test. In the spring, cadets began more specific mission-oriented training and hands-on application working with drones. 

Lunsford shared his thoughts on the evolution of the program. 

“I just sent up some documents to standardize the actual program,” Lunsford said. “Again, it started from just us meeting on the side to now we’ve got weekly classes, training curriculum and currency qualification training.” 

Cadets in the program shared the skills they feel they’ve learned from the program so far. 

“Just airspace knowledge in general,” said Lesley Jackson, a sophomore interdisciplinary studies major from Troy, Alabama. “Briefing capabilities have also gone up tremendously just because you have to know what you’re talking about, and you have to make sure that everybody’s tracking exactly what’s going on.” 

Bobby Rader, a junior business in music industry major from Wicksburg, Alabama, agreed. He said briefings are something that they’ve evolved overtime. 

“Public speaking as well for me personally,” Rader said. “Having to put together the briefings is something that we’ve been evolving overtime.  

“We’ve been getting more complicated with them each time, just to make sure we have more detail in there.” 

The cadets also discussed the development opportunities the program provided, which included airspace knowledge, leadership and quick thinking. 

“Just being able to think on your feet, be able to lead effectively and be able to lead with a purpose,” Rader said. 

The cadets also shared what is most rewarding about being involved in the drone program. 

“The things we do, all the missions we get tasked with, watching them play out and they end up going, for the most part, incredibly smooth,” Rader said. “We’ll find something we need to learn and improve on, but watching it just play out perfectly is an absolutely amazing feeling.” 

Jackson shared the opposite approach. 

“I really like when we mess something up because everything is a learning experience, but seeing how everybody reacts to their mess-ups, it gives me a real warm and fuzzy [feeling] about how these people are going to act as officers,” Jackson said. 

Lunsford also shared some words of acknowledgement for the cadets. 

“The cadets are making history, plain and simple,” Lunsford said. “These cadets are now developing this new curriculum into the program, so [I’m] very much proud of them.” 

Anyone interested in learning more about AFROTC can visit troy.edu and search Air Force ROTC Department.