096 S04 Ep 05 – Drones in the Fight: Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems at Echelon during Large-Scale Combat Operations w/LTC Mason Thornal & CW3 Jerrad Rader

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the ninety-sixth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the Task Force Senior for the BDE Command & Control (BCT HQ), LTC Timothy Price on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today’s guests are the notorious “Geronimo 06,” LTC Mason Thornal, and a seasoned Observer-Coach-Trainer across the fire support enterprise at the JRTC, CW3 Jerrad Rader. LTC Mason Thornal is the Battalion Commander of 1-509th IN (OPFOR). CW3 Jerrad Rader is the Brigade Targeting Officer OCT for BC2 (BCT HQ) with seventeen rotations as an OCT.

In this episode, we focus on the integration and employment of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) at echelon during large-scale combat operations (LSCO). The conversation explores how sUAS platforms—ranging from short-range quadcopters to medium-range reconnaissance systems—are increasingly prevalent across formations, including at the squad, company, and battalion levels. While these tools enhance battlefield transparency and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) capabilities, they also introduce significant challenges in areas such as target identification, airspace deconfliction, and command and control. Rather than solving new problems, sUAS platforms are reframing existing warfighting challenges with different tools and at new echelons, placing additional emphasis on defining authorities, refining standard operating procedures (SOPs), and ensuring operators understand their role within the broader targeting process.

 

The episode also highlights best practices and points of friction in employing sUAS across the force. A major issue is the lack of standardized processes and knowledge management systems to handle the influx of information generated by sUAS. Brigades must move beyond simply acquiring new platforms to fully integrating them into the targeting cycle, using tools like targeting synchronization matrices and engagement criteria. Proficiency and training are recurring themes—highlighting that operator skill can be the difference between mission success and failure. The episode concludes by urging leaders to invest in home station training, share lessons learned across units, and foster innovation at the lowest levels, reinforcing that success with sUAS in LSCO will come from disciplined process integration, not just hardware acquisition.

 

Part of S04 “Scouts Out” series.

 

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“The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.