JMRC Soldiers Take to the Skies During Raven Instruction

Photo By Sgt. Rebecca Call | U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Kyle York, assigned to the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, observes an RQ-11 Raven drone during a familiarization training near Hohenfels, Germany on Dec. 12, 2022. Soldiers learned to launch, fly, and land drones in a field environment during the training. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Rebecca Call)  

HOHENFELS, BAYERN, GERMANY

12.12.2022

Story by Cpl. Shawn Richardson 

Joint Multinational Readiness Center

HOHENFELS, Germany – Soldiers at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) participated in a course intended to familiarize them with flying the RQ-11 Raven, a small, unmanned aircraft system.

This training aims to make soldiers comfortable with taking off, flying and landing the RQ-11 Raven in a field environment.

Originally introduced in 1999 as the FQM-151, the Raven developed into the Raven RQ-11B UAS in 2002. The U.S. military’s use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) reduces the need for troops to physically conduct reconnaissance in dangerous areas.

“I appreciate the capability the Raven provides to accomplish the mission while keeping troops out of harm’s way,” said Sgt. David Meyer of the 101st Airborne Division, one of the soldiers receiving training.

The Raven can be remotely controlled from the ground as well as fly autonomously using GPS navigation. It is fitted with a 360-degree rotating camera that can switch between day and night settings while still airborne, enabling soldiers to perform mission essential tasks.

“Acquiring targets, knowing what’s around you, clearing out [areas], reconning sites that you’re coming from or going to. It’s up to your imagination what you can do with [the Raven],” said Staff Sgt. Gary Allen, master trainer for the Raven Initial Qualification Course at JMRC.

This course, which takes place at the Hohenfels Training Area, involves both classroom instruction and hands-on training.

Evaluation of soldiers is purpose-oriented to ensure the soldiers are properly trained on objectivity, powers of observation and the ability to provide instructive commands while operating the system. This enables the execution of reconnaissance missions without putting soldiers in close proximity to enemy forces.

“Instead of sending a soldier out, you can send a [Raven],” said Staff Sgt. Allen. “It keeps people away from the frontline and safe in the rear. It’s more secure, with less risk.”

• Date Taken: 12.12.2022
• Date Posted: 12.16.2022 07:50
• Story ID: 435053
• Location: HOHENFELS, BAYERN, DE
• Hometown: HOHENFELS, BAYERN, DE