U.S. Marine Corps Adopts Naval Drone UAV Training Model for Joint Combat Integration.

At the end of August 2025, three U.S. Marines completed a historic first by graduating from the Navy’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) training program at Training Air Wing Six (TRAWING 6), Naval Air Station Pensacola. This milestone allows Marine UAV operators to earn the same aviation wings as their Navy counterparts, marking a structural shift in naval aviation training and reinforcing joint force integration under the Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 initiative.
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U.S. Marine Corps UAV operators trained at NAS Pensacola form the foundation for future integration of platforms like the MQ-9A Reaper and FPV armed drones, enabling synchronized command and control across manned and unmanned systems in contested maritime domains. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

Training Air Wing Six is one of five primary training air wings within the U.S. Navy’s aviation training command structure. Based at NAS Pensacola, TRAWING 6 is responsible for advanced flight training for Naval Flight Officers (NFOs) and now unmanned systems operators. It oversees multiple squadrons, including VT-4, VT-10, and VT-86, and serves as a critical hub for developing the next generation of naval aviators in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and multi-crew coordination. The wing plays a central role in executing the Navy’s and Marine Corps' vision of a modern, integrated aviation force prepared for multi-domain operations.

For the U.S. Marine Corps, the decision to embed UAV operator training within the Navy’s aviation infrastructure signals a deliberate evolution in how the service prepares for future warfare. This shift directly supports Force Design 2030’s emphasis on distributed operations, sensor-to-shooter integration, and stand-in forces capable of operating in contested maritime environments. By aligning UAV instruction with Navy protocols, the Marine Corps gains access to a unified aviation framework that ensures greater interoperability in fleet operations, expeditionary strike, and persistent ISR.

The strategic rationale for this integration rests on two primary factors: doctrinal convergence and operational efficiency. As naval campaigns increasingly rely on manned unmanned teaming and distributed maritime operations, having Marine UAV operators trained under the same tactical and technical standards as their Navy counterparts accelerates interoperability across platforms, networks, and command structures. It also ensures seamless coordination in joint missions involving amphibious ready groups, carrier strike groups, and Marine Littoral Regiments.

The training program at NAS Pensacola delivers instruction across the full spectrum of unmanned aerial systems operations, including intelligence collection, targeting, communications relay, and precision strike. The curriculum is designed to cultivate multi-domain awareness and rapid decision-making in complex maritime theaters. By participating in this pipeline, Marine UAV operators acquire mission planning proficiency and platform expertise that aligns with Navy aviation doctrine, creating a standardized knowledge base across the naval services.

The graduation ceremony, overseen by Brigadier General David Walsh, Program Executive Officer for Air Anti-submarine Warfare, Assault, and Special Mission Programs (PEO(A)), underscored the increasing operational value of unmanned systems in shaping modern naval doctrine. Capt. Douglas White, commodore of TRAWING 6, stated that integrated training strengthens joint readiness and prepares both services to conduct distributed operations across expansive maritime terrain.

This development is not only a cultural milestone but also an operational force multiplier. Historically, Marine UAV operators were trained by the U.S. Air Force, which often prioritized different mission sets and tactical conditions. The transition to Navy-led UAV instruction corrects that misalignment and places Marine aviators within the same decision-making ecosystem that governs naval aviation, from carrier operations to littoral combat zones.

In terms of long-term force development, the inclusion of Marines in Pensacola’s UAV track creates a shared foundation for command and control, airspace deconfliction, and sensor integration across manned and unmanned platforms. This is critical as the Marine Corps introduces new capabilities such as the MQ-9A Reaper, currently being integrated at VMUT-2, and first-person-view (FPV) armed drones now deployed through the Marine Corps Attack Drone Team (MCADT) at Quantico. These systems rely on operators who can adapt to multi-domain operations and leverage joint intelligence networks in real time.

As the U.S. military reorients toward great power competition, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, the demand for agile, low-signature ISR and strike capabilities continues to grow. UAV operators trained at Pensacola will be expected to support expeditionary advanced base operations (EABO), operate from austere forward positions, and maintain connectivity across distributed naval assets. Their training is designed to meet the operational complexity of these environments, enabling the Marine Corps to function as a forward-deployed sensor and shooter within a larger naval framework.

The graduation of the first Marine UAV cohort from TRAWING 6 reflects more than symbolic progress. It represents a deliberate restructuring of joint aviation doctrine to meet emerging threats. It prepares the Marine Corps to operate in heavily contested spaces where command of the electromagnetic spectrum, autonomous ISR, and persistent surveillance are prerequisites for mission success.

TRAWING 6 is now positioned as a critical node in the future of naval UAV operations. For the Marine Corps, this training integration delivers tangible operational benefits: standardization, increased readiness, and faster deployment timelines. These are vital in supporting the Corps’ modernization goals and ensuring lethality and survivability in a new era of maritime conflict.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.