Cadets gain hands-on training with drones

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) Cadet Leadership Academy (CLA) continues to expand its training on disruptive technologies for cadets. Following its "AI literacy" course in spring 2025, UNG is offering cadets drone training this spring through a combination of a virtual flight simulator and actual drones.

Alumnus Maj. Max Eason, assistant product manager for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the Army, kicked off the initiative in January by sharing some of his work with drone technology in the Army.

Cadets also had a chance to test their skills firsthand when For-The-Win (FTW) Robotics brought its drones to campus March 16-17. The visit from FTW Robotics provided both educational and competitive elements that allowed cadets to gain a greater understanding of both the capabilities and vulnerabilities of drones.

With the rapidly evolving technology landscape, UNG is seeking to be proactive in training cadets.

"We want to give them exposure and awareness about the types of tools they will be expected to use so they can be mindful users," said Dr. Lindsay Linsky, coordinator of the computer science endorsement and professor of Middle Grades, Secondary & P12 Education. "We want to help them make better decisions faster."

Laney Dycus, a sophomore from Acworth, Georgia, pursuing a degree in management, is grateful to be gaining knowledge about how drones work and how often they need improvements.

"This will help us in the future," Dycus said. "We will have already seen these drones and know what they can do."

Hannah Hopkins, a sophomore from St. Augustine, Florida, pursuing a degree in criminal justice with a forensics concentration and Peace Officer Standards and Training certification, is another one of the cadets benefiting from the drone training. She is glad to be on the cutting edge.

"Being able to familiarize ourselves with an asset we haven't encountered before is going to be helpful later on when drones continue to become even more prevalent and we take on our roles in the military," Hopkins said.