The mission of the United States National Drone Association is to prepare American servicemembers to compete and win in the drone era. To accelerate this mission, we are launching training opportunities for individual servicemembers — alongside our squad competitions — to get more warfighters drone-ready.
Starting in June 2026 with a single offering, we will be expanding the scope and volume of trainings to better serve the warfighter. We are pleased to offer these trainings free of charge — with housing included — for eligible servicemembers.
A focused three-day introduction to modern FPV drone systems — from first principles to your first flight. Free for eligible servicemembers, with housing included.
Overview: Become a qualified Attack Drone Operator at the USNDA Drone Crucible.
Uniformed military can come observe and train at the Crucible, but unless you certify, you will not receive Official USNDA pilot certification.
Our expert instructors will assess, evaluate, and certify.
Participants who complete Intro to FPV Drones will earn the USNDA Padawan Certification — rendering you eligible for attendance at future USNDA Drone Crucibles and advanced training echelons.
The Padawan cert is your entry point into the full USNDA pipeline. From here, the path continues through MilPilot, Certified Drone Trainer, and — for the top 1% — Drone DevGru.
Candidates who successfully complete the Precision Attack Drone Operator Qualification at the USNDA Drone Crucible earn Official USNDA Attack Drone Operator Certification.
Qualification requires demonstrated mastery across all three gates: simulator primer, payload processes & procedures, and an accurate live flight onto a target. Miss any gate and you receive a certificate of training only — not a qualification.
Both programs are available to:
Need help getting CO authorization? Email training@usnda.org and we’ll send you a template.