FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Soldiers assigned to the 44th Medical Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps are expanding battlefield medical support capabilities by integrating unmanned aircraft systems into medical resupply operations.
1st Sgt. Fisamuel Reggans and Cpl. David Sanchez, both dental specialists assigned to the brigade’s Dental Company Area Support element, recently graduated from the Clemson University Drone Academy’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems course. The approximately 12-week online program provided training in drone operations and expanded the unit’s ability to support medical resupply missions during field training exercises and deployed operations.
The training supports the Army’s modernization efforts and highlights how medical units are adapting to sustain operations in contested and austere environments where traditional resupply methods may be delayed or restricted.
The UAS allows us the flexibility to quickly and effectively resupply soldiers to keep them in the fight, Reggans said. The biggest capability is soldier safety. It allows commanders to mitigate unnecessary risk. We would rather send out a drone than a soldier.
The new capability allows medical personnel to rapidly transport critical supplies necessary for patient care and treatment while reducing the manpower and risk associated with traditional ground resupply methods. Unmanned systems can improve response times, extend operational reach and reduce the exposure of soldiers operating in hazardous environments.
According to the soldiers, the training also encouraged medical personnel to think beyond traditional medical roles and develop technical skills that support future battlefield operations. Reggans said one of the most valuable aspects of the course was learning how to manually operate the systems, providing additional flexibility if automated systems fail during operations.
The Dental Company Area Support mission within the brigade continues to evolve to meet the demands of large-scale combat operations and distributed battlefield environments. As a corps-level medical asset, the unit provides field dental support and forward medical care to sustain combat readiness across the formation. It involves thinking outside the box, Sanchez said. With medical operations, there will always be a need for supplies. This capability not only makes resupply easier, but it also reduces delivery time.
The graduates said unmanned systems can significantly improve continuity of care by delivering supplies more quickly and efficiently while reducing the need to place additional personnel in dangerous operational areas. They added that drone-enabled resupply operations can help commanders preserve combat power while ensuring soldiers receive critical medical support when and where it is needed.
The integration of UAS operations into medical support training reflects the Army’s broader focus on innovation, survivability and sustainment across the modern battlefield.
Reggans said he believes UAS technology will continue transforming battlefield operations by improving the rapid delivery of critical medical and operational supplies in high-risk environments. He added that unmanned systems provide commanders with greater flexibility to sustain soldiers and deliver essential equipment in contested areas while reducing unnecessary risk to personnel.
The training also provided opportunities for collaboration across multiple warfighting functions while expanding operational knowledge beyond traditional medical specialties. Leaders within the brigade said emerging technologies such as unmanned systems will continue to play a growing role in future medical operations by improving speed, flexibility and survivability across the force.
As battlefield conditions continue to evolve, soldiers assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps are developing new capabilities to support operational effectiveness and ensure timely medical care for forces operating across dispersed and contested environments.