NSU Provides Drone Training to Fort Polk Soldiers

Northwestern State University's ARGO Lab offers hands-on UAS operations training to military personnel.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:52pm

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An abstract, highly structured painting in muted tones of green, blue, and gray, featuring sweeping geometric shapes, concentric circles, and precise mechanical spirals, representing the complex interplay of drone technology and modern military operations.Drone technology is rapidly transforming military operations, as evidenced by the hands-on training provided to Fort Polk soldiers by NSU's ARGO Lab.Leesville Today

Northwestern State University's ARGO (Advanced Remote and Geospatial Operations) Lab recently provided comprehensive drone training to a group of soldiers from Fort Polk, Louisiana. The training covered the basics of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations, including flight planning, mission execution, sensor usage, and maintenance.

Why it matters

As drones play an increasingly vital role in modern military operations, providing soldiers with hands-on training in UAS technology is crucial. This partnership between NSU and Fort Polk allows the military to leverage the university's expertise in drone education and certification, better preparing troops for real-world drone deployment.

The details

The training, offered in partnership with NSU's Office of Economic Development and Advancement, took participants from the fundamentals of drone operations to more advanced topics like maintenance and practical applications. While some soldiers had prior drone experience, most were seeking in-depth knowledge to enhance their skills. The workshop covered areas such as aviation weather, aeronautical decision-making, and crew roles and responsibilities, in addition to hands-on flight planning and execution.

  • The training was held in early April 2026.
  • NSU's ARGO Lab will offer another two-day training session on April 25-26, 2026 at the Leesville/Fort Polk campus.

The players

JD Cox

Director of NSU's ARGO Lab, which organized and led the drone training for Fort Polk soldiers.

SPC Kevin Ruiz

A soldier with the 3rd Brigade 10th Mountain Division (3/10th MTN) who participated in the drone training to improve his skills and knowledge of UAS capabilities.

Mark Leslie

Director of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security at Fort Polk, who praised the training program and expressed interest in further collaboration with NSU.

Northwestern State University's ARGO Lab

A leading provider of drone education and training in the region, offering courses to law enforcement, industry, and civilians seeking Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification.

Fort Polk

A U.S. Army installation in Louisiana that partnered with NSU's ARGO Lab to provide drone training to its soldiers.

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What they’re saying

“We're taking participants from the basics of drones, particularly multirotor quadcopters, up through operations, maintenance and applications where you get a full a full view of what actual utilization looks like.”

— JD Cox, Director of NSU's ARGO Lab

“We're learning more about the drone capabilities, what they're able to do and how we can implement these in real life scenarios.”

— SPC Kevin Ruiz, Soldier, 3rd Brigade 10th Mountain Division (3/10th MTN)

“Overall great first program. I appreciate the effort that JD and staff put into developing the program. It was well thought out, developed and executed. The parallels of what the civilian drone world does and what the military's UAS world executes were quite amazing.”

— Mark Leslie, Director of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security at Fort Polk

What’s next

NSU's ARGO Lab plans to offer another two-day drone training session at the Leesville/Fort Polk campus on April 25-26, 2026, building on the success of the initial program.

The takeaway

This partnership between NSU and Fort Polk demonstrates the growing importance of drone technology in modern military operations and the value of providing hands-on training to soldiers. By leveraging the expertise of a leading drone education provider, the military can better prepare its personnel to effectively utilize UAS capabilities in real-world scenarios.