Army Drone Team Pilots Showcase Speed, Skill in National Competition

The call for drone dominance has taken center stage recently, with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announcing an ambitious plan to outfit combat units with tens of thousands of unmanned systems in 2026 and hundreds of thousands more by 2027.

Framing this initiative as "adopting new technologies with a fight tonight philosophy so our warfighters have the cutting-edge tools that they need to prevail," Hegseth underscored the urgency of integrating drones at scale.

That vision is already being tested and showcased by the Army Drone Team, which competed in the Drone Maneuver Competition at the National Drone Association Conference at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, Dec. 2-3. The competition allowed the Army team to hone their skills against drone pilots from other services and even some civilians. It also demonstrated how unmanned systems will redefine battlefield dominance in the years ahead through the convergence of innovation, agility and tactical application. The team was officially launched in September, according to Army Capt. Jacob Bickus, the team's officer in charge. Bickus, a UH-60 pilot assigned to A Company, 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment at Fort Rucker, Alabama, was chosen to lead the team upon his graduation from the Aviation Captain's Career Course.

Formed initially through informal connections, the team competed in the International Drone Racing Tournament in the United Kingdom and a drone crucible event at Avon Park, Florida, earlier this year. Bickus said those first contests revealed the need for a more structured recruitment process.

Soldiers applied through a system coordinated with the U.S. National Drone Association. Out of more than 120 applicants, 50 were interviewed, with 20 selected as primary members and 10 as alternates.

Bickus said they built a diverse team from formations across the Army, including soldiers with backgrounds ranging from infantry to aviation to military police to cyber. He said some have more experience with first-person-view drones, while others have experience with Shadows and other larger systems. He noted that this range of expertise allows the team to learn from one another and, in turn, take the knowledge back to their units.

Among the soldiers selected is Army Sgt. 1st Class Stephan Ringsmuth, an unmanned aircraft systems instructor-writer assigned to the 1st Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Ringsmuth said his involvement began earlier this year after attending the Special Operations Robotics Capability Course.

"I got interested in the hobby and started practicing," he said. "We learned how to take equipment and essentially put it into any drone to make it fly. From there, we started writing programs of instruction for flight training at the schoolhouse."

Ringsmuth said the competitions sharpen skills that go beyond racing.

"It looks like it could be just a game, but the crawl-walk-run phase is really paramount in understanding the best way to provide flight instruction," he said. "The competitive side brings people together. We're able to collaborate a lot more, learn from each other and take those lessons back to our units."

Ringsmuth said he values the precision required in first-person-view drone racing compared to larger, more autonomous systems. He also sees the team as part of a growing community.

"We're actually a team from across the Army," he said. "A lot of these people are doing things differently, so we all come together and see what works best."

Also on the team is Army Capt. Nathan Rosenberger, a military intelligence officer and artificial intelligence technician assigned to the Army's Artificial Intelligence Integration Center in Pittsburgh. Rosenberger took on a unique role in the Army's growing drone program.

"I kind of took on the job as the hardware guy and pilot," he said. "I've been the main pilot for all of the FPV flying that we do."

Rosenberger said he has been flying competitively for about a year and a half, honing both technical skill and precision in high-speed drone racing. While he acknowledges that racing drones may not directly translate to battlefield tactics, he sees the competitions as valuable in other ways.

"The racing is not really tactically relevant," he said. "But to be good at racing, you need to be very accurate. That translates really well to being able to fly precisely when you need to."

Beyond technical skill, Rosenberger believes the Army's presence in drone competitions helps build awareness and strengthen recruiting.

"It's going to bring some awareness to people outside of the Army," he said. "If they get to see there are some cool things that you can do in the Army, I think it will be a good recruiting tool."

Rosenberger's perspective highlights the dual purpose of Army drone racing: advancing technical precision while showcasing innovation to the public. His work reflects how the Army is blending cutting-edge technology with competitive spirit to inspire future generations of soldiers and technicians.

The Army's Drone Team pilots fared well in the competition, taking three of the top four spots. Rosenberger had the fastest time in the competition. Army Sgt. Kyle Brower, a UAS repairer assigned to 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington, and Army Staff Sgt. Brandon Schiller, assigned to 1st Armored Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, rounded out the top of the leader board.

Their strong showing underscored both their technical proficiency and their ability to perform under pressure. More importantly, Bickus said every member of the team gained valuable real-world flying experience, ensuring the team completed the event not only with recognition but with sharpened skills for future missions.