The Danish Home Guard is introducing new drone training for volunteer soldiers. The first training round includes 16 new drone pilots, while eight experienced pilots receive further training.
According to a press release from the Hjemmeværnet (Danish Home Guard), the 16 new drone pilots come from the army, navy and air force branches of the Home Guard. In parallel, eight already experienced drone pilots will receive further training. The initiative is intended to strengthen the Home Guard's drone capability for both civilian and military tasks.
The training begins with basic flight instruction and continues in military exercise terrain, including precision flying, landing and handling emergency situations. Participants are also trained in mission planning and operational risk assessment.
Following the basic training, participants undergo functional training in which they are converted onto the operational drone system used by the Hjemmeværnet. The press release does not specify which system is involved.
"We find ourselves in a serious security policy situation, and this places new demands on the Home Guard's capabilities. Drones have become a decisive tool on the modern battlefield, and with this new training programme we are increasing our ability to strengthen the defence's task solving," says Major General Gunner Arpe Nielsen, Chief of the Hjemmeværnet, in the press release.
The plan is for the training to be offered to more volunteer soldiers across Denmark in the coming years.