Unifying Air-Mindedness: Every Airman a Drone Pilot
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58315/jcld.v12.330Keywords:
air-mindedness, first-person-view drones, great power competition, airpower, military technological adaptationAbstract
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine demonstrates how technological advancements in unmanned systems are reshaping the character of war and democratizing military capabilities. This evolution underscores the need for the United States Air Force (USAF) to address a longstanding cultural gap—a lack of air-mindedness. This paper argues that embracing drone operations at all levels of the USAF provides a cost-effective and practical means to reinvigorate air-mindedness and prepare Airmen for the dynamic demands of great power competition. By fostering a unifying ethos of adaptability, innovation, and mission command, drone training offers a unique opportunity to integrate emerging technologies while enhancing strategic and operational contributions to the Joint Force. Practical implementation begins with the USAF Academy, where foundational programs can educate and empower Airmen to apply these principles in decentralized, high-tempo environments. Ultimately, incorporating drones into USAF culture ensures relevance and effectiveness in modern warfare while preparing Airmen to shape the next chapter of airpower excellence.
Downloads
References
Builder, C. H. (1994). The Icarus Syndrome: The Role of Air Power Theory in the Evolution and Fate of the U.S. Air Force. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers.
Freese, K. (2023, August 10). Smart phones playing prominent role in Russia-Ukraine War. TRADOC G2. https://oe.tradoc.army.mil/2023/08/10/smart-phones-playing-prominent-role-in-russia-ukraine-war/
Gray, C. S. (2012). Airpower for strategic effect. Air University Press.
Hamblin, D. (2024, October 15). Drone war over Ukraine is a high speed technology arms race. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2024/10/15/jammers-and-cameras-new-twists-in-drone-interceptor-war-over-ukraine/
Hardie, J. (2024, June 21). Ukraine’s new unmanned systems force takes shape. FDD’s Lonog War Journal. https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2024/06/ukraines-new-unmanned-systems-forces-takes-shape.php
Hinote, S. C., & Ryan, M. (2024). Empowering the edge: Uncrewed systems and the transformation of U.S. warfighting capacity. Special Competitive Studies Project. https://www.scsp.ai/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SCSP-Drone-Paper-Hinote-Ryan.pdf
Horowitz, M., & Schwartz, J. (2024, December 18). Stealth and scale: Quality, quantity, and modern military power. War on the Rocks. https://warontherocks.com/2024/12/stealth-and-scale-quality-quantity-and-modern-military-power/
Johstono, P. (2024). Rapid ascent: Airmindedness. Wild Blue Yonder Online Journal. https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Wild-Blue-Yonder/Articles/Article-Display/Article/3810860/rapid-ascent-airmindedness/
Kagan, F. W., & Kagan, K. (2024). Ukraine and the problem of restoring maneuver in contemporary war. Institute for the Study of War. https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/ukraine-and-problem-restoring-maneuver-contemporary-war
Kennett, L. (1991). The first air war 1914–1918. Simon & Schuster.
Kenney, C. G. (1997). General Kenney reports: A personal history of the Pacific war. Duell, Sloan and Pearce.
Kyiv Post. (2024, July 14). Ukraine’s drone pilots’ academy—Giving skills where they’re needed. Kyiv Post: Ukraine’s Global Voice. https://www.kyivpost.com/post/35791
Laslie, B. D. (2024). Fighting from above: A combat history of the US Air Force. University of Oklahoma Press.
Shcherbak, S. (2024, December 29). Ukrainian forces innovate: FPV drones armed with shotguns take down Russian UAVs. Defense Express. https://en.defence-ua.com/news/ukrainian_forces_innovate_fpv_drones_armed_with_shotguns_take_down_russian_uavs-13013.html
Solano, R. (2024, February 22). Why the Army needs a drone branch: Embracng lessons from Ukraine. Retrieved from Breaking Defense: https://breakingdefense.com/2024/02/why-the-army-needs-a-drone-branch-embracing-lessons-from-ukraine/
Suciu, P. (2025, November 25). Elon Musk criticized the F-35—Called for armed drones instead. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2024/11/25/elon-musk-criticized-the-f-35-called-for-armed-drones-instead/
Trew, J. M. (2019). Rescuing icarus. Air & Space Power Journal. https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/ASPJ/journals/Volume-33_Issue-2/F-Trew.pdf
United States Air Force. (2023, March 6). Air Force future operating concept executive summary. Air Force Future Operating Concept Executive Summary. https://www.af.mil/Portals/1/documents/2023SAF/Air_Force_Future_Operating_Concept_EXSUM_FINAL.pdf
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Nicholas Tsougas, Joseph Bledsoe
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors contributing to Journal of Character and Leadership Development agree to publish their articles under the terms of the Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 License. Authors retain copyright of their work, with first publication rights granted to the JCLD.
