Black River Technical College (BRTC), in collaboration with the Arkansas Army National Guard and industry partner RXR Worldwide, has graduated its inaugural class of Arkansas National Guardsmen of the 77th Aviation Brigade from a pioneering 40-hour course, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for the Warfighter. Ranging in rank from specialist to captain, cohort members underwent intensive training in small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) flight operations, airspace regulations, and tactical maneuver integration.
The program responds directly to the reality of modern warfare. Much like in the past, low-cost tactical drones have altered the dynamic of ground combat. Arkansas Secretary of the Department of Military, 55th Adjunct General, and Arkansas Army National Guard Brigadier General Chad Bridges emphasized the urgency of training American soldiers on the use of UAS in combat in his message to the graduates. "The war in Ukraine has rewritten the character of ground combat in real time. The Army cannot hand us a finished solution on a timeline that matches that threat. The authorities, the airspace rules, and the doctrine are still catching up, which means the answers will be built by leaders and operators like you."
By uniting BRTC’s technical workforce infrastructure with industry partner RXR, Unmanned Aircraft Systems for the Warfighter establishes a rapid, adaptable training framework that bypasses traditional, multi-year lags. BRTC President Dr. Martin Eggensperger underscored the strategic agility of higher education in meeting defense needs: "Technical colleges are designed to react quickly to the needs of our workforce, and today that workforce extends directly to the tactical edge. This stands as proof that when public institutions, private sector expertise, and military leadership align, we can move with impressive speed."
The impact of BRTC’s training is two-fold. Beyond military readiness, the ability to safely navigate airspace rules and deploy sUAS platforms equips the Arkansas National Guard not just for war but also for critical state missions including disaster relief, flood response, and search-and-rescue operations. Returning to their home units as educated trainers, these inaugural graduates now serve as instructors and innovators, building organic capability from the ground up.
For more information about BRTC’s Workforce Training Program, contact Jody Callahan, Executive Director of Workforce Education, at (870) 248-5220 or
