R 201230Z MAY 25 MARADMIN 236/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CG TECOM QUANTICO VA// SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MARINE CORPS ATTACK DRONE COMPETITION PROGRAM// REF/A/MARADMIN 235/25 REF/B/CNAF 3710.9/1 SEP 2021// REF/C/MCO 3591.2L/3 DEC 2024// REF/D/MARADMIN 284/24 REF/E/MARADMIN 398/24 NARR/REF A IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MARINE CORPS ATTACK DRONE TEAM (MCADT). REF B IS GROUP 1 AND GROUP 2 NAVAL AVIATION TRAINING AND OPERATIONS PROCEDURES STANDARDIZATION. REF C IS MCO 3591.2L THE MARINE CORPS COMPETITION IN ARMS PROGRAM. REF D IS CLARIFICATION OF GROUP 1 AND 2 UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS) POLICY FOR THE OPERATION OF USMC SMALL UAS (sUAS). REF E IS BLUE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM (UAS) PROCUREMENT AND TRAINING.// POC/HUYSMAN, B.P./COL/TRNGCMD G-3/TEL: DSN 378-2196/ COMM: (703) 432-2196// POC/CUOMO, S.A /COL/CO WTBN/TEL: DSN 784-5084/ COMM: (703) 784-5084// POC/TAVIZON, A.P./MAJ/OIC MCADT/TEL: DSN 278-5226/ COMM: (703) 784-5226// GENTEXT/REMARKS/ 1.  Purpose.  To announce the creation of the Marine Corps Attack Drone Competition Program. 2.  Background.  On 3 January 2025, the MCADT was established as described in reference (a) as a means of enabling the Service’s response to the rapid proliferation of armed first-person view (FPV) drone technology and tactics. CG TRNGCMD, as the Designated Approval Authority (DAA), has designated CO WTBn-Quantico as the  Aircraft Reporting Custodian (ARC) to conduct all activities  required to support MCADT operations in accordance with references (b) and (d). The MCADT will participate in the first US Military Drone Crucible Championship hosted by the United States National Drone Association (USNDA) from 30 June 2025 to 3 July 2025 in  Florida, where the Marines will battle against other US military units. The Drone Crucible Championship will consist of tactical inserts and mission parameters designed to utilize the “hunter-killer method” of employing both sUAS and FPVs. After the July competition, the MCADT will share lessons learned to inform iterative updates to Service-level requirements to enable rapid fielding of the most lethal capabilities to Marines across the Fleet Marine Force (FMF). Simultaneously, the MCADT will finalize plans to provide intermediate and advanced armed FPV drone skills to the FMF and Total Force via the Competition-in-Arms Program (CIAP), similar to what the Marine Corps Shooting Team has done annually for many decades. Executing drone competitions in conjunction with the CIAP provides an opportunity to refine and constantly improve these new precision weapons skills to help make Marines across the FMF more lethal on the battlefield. More details will be included with the release of the FY26 CIAP MARADMIN to include specific competition dates and locations. 3.  Mission.  Through aggressive training and experimentation and by representing the Marine Corps in inter-service, national, and international competitions, the MCADT will rapidly accelerate armed FPV drone lessons learned from modern combat to increase our Corps’ warfighting advantage. The MCADT will provide regular input to Service-level requirements and deliver intermediate and advanced armed FPV drone skills to the Total Force via the CIAP to increase individual and unit lethality. 4.  MCADT Events 4.a.  The MCADT will host regional competition events in FY26 in conjunction with the Marine Corps Shooting Team and the CIAP. These events will provide the opportunity to share lessons learned in armed FPV tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) to FMF units to maximize lethality and capabilities with these new systems. These events will also provide training and administrative support to units who are in the process of establishing FPV drone programs  in their respective commands. Additionally, these events will serve as opportunities to recruit the best FPV operators to the MCADT to continue to represent the Marine Corps at future events and directly influence the Marine Corps’ procurement and employment of armed drones. 4.b.  The MCADT will host a final championship and selection event at MCB Quantico in April 2026 in conjunction with the Marine Corps Championships marksmanship event. This selection competition is the venue for the MCADT to select the most highly qualified FPV drone and sUAS operators from across the Marine Corps to augment the MCADT during interservice and national competitions. Marines selected to augment the MCADT should expect to receive  WTBn-Quantico-funded TAD orders. 5.  Tasks 5.a.  Regional hosting units 5.a.1.  Serve as the lead planners for assigned match locations.  Coordinate with local commands and the MCADT to ensure maximum participation.  If not already designated, units must be established as ARCs per Ref (b) by 30 September 2025. 5.a.2.  Coordinate with MCADT and registered teams to schedule FPV/sUAS operations on approved ranges, aligned with Marine Corps Shooting Team events. Be prepared to establish a Restricted Operating Zone (ROZ) per SEPCOR guidance from MCADT.   5.a.3.  Submit frequency requests to the controlling frequency manager IAW local submission timelines. Frequency requests will be determined from available bands at the local installations and frequency ranges in available FPVs and sUAS that are registered for competition. 5.a.4.  Coordinate all required range safety personnel, to include  RSO, OIC, and corpsman. 5.a.5.  Work with MCADT to host a town hall briefing for unit  commanders on establishing FPV / sUAS operations. 5.a.6.  No later than 90 days prior to the execution of the hosted competition, publish a local Letter of Instruction (LOI),  outlining reporting instructions, range regulations, billeting,  and other admin requirements. All requirements must be complete  before training begins. 5.b.  Regional Hosting Installations (MCB Quantico, MCB Butler,  MCB Hawaii, MCB Camp Pendleton, and MCB Camp Lejeune). 5.b.1.  Facilitate training area and ROZ requirements  per paragraph 5.A.2. 5.b.2.  Facilitate coordination, deconfliction, and approval of  frequency utilization per paragraph 5.A.3. 5.b.3. No later than 2 June 2025, coordinate with Training and Education Command’s Range and Training Program Division and provide identified points of contact. 5.c.  Command Sponsored Teams 5.c.1.  Maximum participation increases the number of highly skilled FPV and sUAS pilots across the Marine Corps. Commanders from across the Total Force are encouraged to support team entries. Teams  should be comprised of at least one officer, one staff non-commissioned officer, and at least four FPV pilots. The planned concept for the drone competition includes at least one sUAS operator as the sensor / hunter and one FPV pilot as the weapon / killer. Specific guidance for team structure will be released in the FY26 CIAP MARADMIN NLT June 2025. 5.c.2.  In preparation for these MCADT competitions and events, units are encouraged to thoroughly review reference (b),  specifically appendix H, and reference (d), which outline the current steps needed to establish sUAS operations at a command.  5.c.3.  Per reference (e), units can visit the Intelligent Robotics and autonomous Systems (IRAS) SharePoint at https:(slash)(slash) usmc.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/DCCDI/SitePages/DistroD/Intelligent -Robotics-and-Autonomous-Systems.aspx to review the process for purchase of Blue UAS system in the Blue UAS Handbook. 5.d.  Range and Training Programs Division. No later than 2 June 2025, coordinate with MCICOM and hosting installations to identify locations and nearby airspace for drone events alongside regional marksmanship competitions. 6.  Individual Eligibility.  All officer and enlisted Marines of the active and reserve components who meet the following criteria are eligible to participate in the MCADT selection and competition  events: (1) approved by their command; (2) have at least one year  remaining on contract from date of USNDA National Competition;  and (3) possess the maturity and competence to safely conduct FPV and sUAS operations. Participants must also be qualified to operate the assigned FPV drone and / or sUAS IAW ref (b), (d), and (e).  Operators must have completed the UAS operator physical (authorized by a licensed medical provider, flight surgeon authorization is not required), be BUQ I / II qualified, and designated in writing by their ARC. 7.  Systems authorized for use in competition must be Air Worthy as  defined by paragraphs 7.A. through 7.C. below. 7.a.  All program of record (POR) Group 1 sUAS systems (Skydio, SkyRaider, Puma). 7.b.  All non-POR systems listed on the DIU Blue List per reference (e) that also meet the requirements listed in paragraph 7.C. 7.c.  Systems procured or developed by individual units. The MCADT will evaluate any unit-procured or developed system for approval to participate in drone events during the CIAP. Decision authority rests with MCADT Team Captain. The respective sUAS / drone must meet air worthiness as approved by the MCADT Team Captain in coordination with the hosting unit commander and installation commander.  Procedures and timelines to submit requests will be provided in the FY26 CIAP MARADMIN. Procured systems via Commercial-Off-The-Shelf  (COTS) or developed as described above by participating unit or supporting command must fit the criteria as listed below: 7.c.1.  Man-packable (must carry the gear to the competition,  i.e., no palletized or trucked containers of components); 7.c.2.  Specifications of weight (0)-(20) pounds, operates below 1,200 feet AGL, and speed up to 100 KIAS; 7.c.3.  Purchased as National Defense Authorization Act  (NDAA)-compliant or assembled with NDAA-compliant parts  per reference (e). 7.c.4.  Attritable.  Attack drones on the modern battlefield must be low-cost. Units should strive to keep innovative building solutions as low as possible within the constraints of the criteria identified above. For competition, attritable will be defined as less than $2,000 for the flying components of the system.  This  cost figure does not include FPV goggles, controller / radio,  and supporting equipment. 7.d.  MCADT will establish a SharePoint site with a working list of NDAA-approved components and reference documents to establish  local teams. 8.  MCADT Summer Augment Program 8.a.  Marines who demonstrate maturity, professionalism, and the  highest technical and tactical proficiency will be selected to  augment the MCADT during the summer competition season. Summer  augments to the MCADT will further compete in national and  inter-service matches from April through August 2026. The MCADT OIC will send by-name invitations from the MCADT Team Captain to the Marine’s battalion / squadron / unit commanding officer (or OIC) and senior enlisted advisor. Length of TAD orders are negotiable between commanding officers / OICs but will not exceed the fiscal year. The MCADT will fund Marines via a cross-organizational line of accounting from the MCADT. The MCADT will provide more detailed reporting instructions once a Marine is approved to attend. 8.b.  Summer augments to the MCADT will have the opportunity to attend available courses offered by WTBN-Quantico such as additional FPV and sUAS courses and have the potential to be recruited as permanent personnel to the MCADT. 9.  Command and Signal 9.a.  Command.  Applicable to the total force. 9.b.  Signal.  This message is effective on the date signed. 10.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Benjamin T. Watson, Commanding General, Training and Education Command.//