US Marine Corps Releases Videos Showing Drone Training for Infantry Units

Drone Skills Move to the Individual Marine

The US Marine Corps has released footage showing an infantry Marine learning to operate Skydio's X2D, a compact reconnaissance drone already fielded by military and law enforcement agencies. The clip walks through basic maneuvers, including flying a circle, tracking a tree line, and orbiting a fixed point at increasing speeds.

A New Occupational Specialty

After a 2025 Department of Defense directive pushed for emerging technologies to be integrated at the unit level, the Marines created a Military Occupational Specialty for sUAS Operator. Graduates return to their home units to spread both know-how and equipment, replacing the older approach of concentrating drone expertise in separate specialized formations.

Why the X2D Fits the Mission

The X2D delivers fast visual and thermal reconnaissance, autonomous flight behavior, and straightforward launch and recovery. Skydio left the consumer market more than three years ago to concentrate on government and enterprise customers, and the X2D has become a centerpiece of that strategy.

Beyond Reconnaissance

The Corps is also exploring drones for strike options and frontline logistics. In August, Marines demonstrated a heavy-lift drone delivering medical supplies to a simulated casualty, with platforms from companies like Malloy Aeronautics capable of carrying ammunition, supplies, or other payloads to units in need. Together, these efforts point toward a future where small drones are as routine for Marines as a rifle or radio.