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.//