Overmanned and Undertrained: Preparing UAS Crewmembers for Unmanned Close Air Support

Abstract

Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadrons (VMU) are not postured to achieve Headquarters Marine Corps newest tactical or operational goals and capabilities due to underutilized and undervalued UAS flight simulation, inefficient crew composition, and lack of organic Close Air Support (CAS) subject matter experts. The VMUs are not currently postured correctly. The following recommendations will help ensure they are. An emphasis on UAS flight simulation, including the required contractor support, will ensure cost effective advances in tactical acumen. Detailed examination of the current crew composition, from a skill set perspective, will identify areas of redundant training and inefficient crew coordination. Finally, introduction of UAS into the CAS environment without the requisite subject matter expertise residing in each VMU will result in the underutilization of this crucial asset.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 22, 2012
Accession Number
ADA601444

Entities

People

  • Rodney C. Rodriguez

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Force
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Combat Operations
  • Flight Crews
  • Flight Simulations
  • Flight Simulators
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Ground Control Stations
  • Military Science
  • Students
  • Unmanned Aerial Systems
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs