Army Launches Drone and Robotics Leader Course at Fort Benning

The U.S. Army has quietly opened a new front in its modernization push, not on a distant battlefield, but inside a classroom at Fort Benning, Georgia.

This week marked the debut of the Robotic Autonomous Systems Leader Tactics course, known as RASLT. The goal is simple but ambitious: teach combat leaders how to actually use drones, ground robots, and autonomous systems in real operations, not just talk about them in PowerPoint briefings, as reported by Stars and Stripes.

And for some seasoned soldiers, the experience is eye opening.

Teaching Leaders to Think in Drones

During a hands on demonstration, an instructor flipped a small drone upside down and jerked it rapidly back and forth while Army Sgt. 1st Class William Benz watched through first person goggles. The motion made him nauseous. He laughed and handed the goggles to the next student.

Benz is a 16 year cavalry scout and Afghanistan veteran. He admits he used to be skeptical about integrating drones and robotics into small combat units.

Now, after just days in the course, his perspective has shifted.

“This would have made life a lot easier,” Benz said, reflecting on his 2010 deployment with the 4th Infantry Division. Small drones flying over dunes and mountain ridges to identify enemy movement along narrow trails would have been a game changer for reconnaissance teams operating in dangerous terrain.

The three week RASLT course is not designed to turn leaders into drone pilots or robotics engineers. Instead, it aims to give sergeants first class, captains, and other mid level leaders a working understanding of what these systems can and cannot do.

Capt. Allison Darby, an armor officer directing the program, says that balance is critical. Leaders need to understand the capabilities and the limitations. The systems are powerful, but they are not magic. And they are often difficult to operate.

The Army wants commanders to plan realistic missions, not assign tasks that exceed what operators and machines can handle.

Bridging the Generational Gap

One of the most interesting aspects of the course is its cultural mission.

Many newer soldiers have trained with drones and robotics from early in their careers. But mid career leaders often entered the Army before small unit drones were common. That gap can create friction inside formations.

RASLT is designed to bridge that divide.

Most students are recently promoted captains who have completed the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course and are preparing to command infantry, armor, or cavalry companies. If they do not understand how autonomous systems fit into maneuver warfare, the Army’s broader Transformation in Contact initiative risks stalling at the unit level.

The course unfolds in phases.

Week one focuses on the fundamentals of robotics and autonomous systems. Week two shifts to planning defensive operations that incorporate drones and ground robots. Week three challenges students to design offensive attacks using those same tools.

Ethics are also part of the curriculum. Leaders discuss the responsible use of autonomous systems and the human role in decision making. Human robot teaming is not treated as science fiction. It is treated as doctrine in development.

Darby says the program will run three classes in fiscal year 2026, with plans to expand enrollment to 18 students per class next year. Feedback loops are built into the design, allowing the curriculum to evolve alongside emerging technology and updated doctrine.

Tools, Not Replacements

For Benz, the biggest takeaway is perspective.

Drones, especially first person view systems, represent a massive advantage for reconnaissance units tasked with finding the enemy. They extend sightlines, reduce exposure, and can probe dangerous terrain before soldiers step into it.

But he is clear about one thing.

“Nothing will ever replace a guy on an observation point with a little optic and a radio,” he said.

Technology multiplies capability. It does not erase the human element. War remains brutal and uncertain. Autonomous systems may reduce risk, but they do not eliminate it.

In that sense, the RASLT course is less about gadgets and more about mindset. The Army is training leaders to treat drones and robots as integrated teammates rather than exotic add ons.

DroneXL’s Take

The Army is finally addressing a reality that many drone operators have known for years: hardware is only half the equation. Leadership understanding is the other half.

By educating captains and senior NCOs on both the strengths and friction points of drones and autonomous systems, the Army is strengthening the link between technology and tactical execution.

If this course scales effectively, it could influence how small units fight in future conflicts. Not by replacing soldiers with robots, but by giving leaders the confidence to deploy both in harmony.

Photo credit: Stars and Stripes