Drone Incident Response Training (DIRT) for Critical Infrastructure
Counter-UAS Training for Critical Infrastructure Security, Safety, and Operational Continuity
Drone incidents are no longer limited to airspace security. For critical infrastructure operators, the more immediate operational challenge often begins after a drone is on the ground.
A grounded, crashed, abandoned, or suspicious drone on or near critical infrastructure property creates a security problem, a safety problem, and an operational continuity problem. Whether the aircraft is conducting surveillance, testing security measures, delivering contraband, or carrying a hazardous payload, the first personnel to encounter it are unlikely to be Bomb Squad or EOD. In most cases, the initial response will fall to security personnel, facility operators, supervisors, or response teams responsible for protecting personnel, maintaining operations, and preserving site security.
Drone Incident Response Training (DIRT) for Critical Infrastructure is a counter-UAS training course focused on the operational problem most organizations are least prepared for: what to do after the drone is on the ground.
DIRT provides practical grounded-drone response training for organizations responsible for protecting infrastructure, personnel, and operations, with instruction focused on hazard recognition, safe assessment, reporting, coordinated escalation, and continuity of operations during drone-related incidents.
Why DIRT for Critical Infrastructure
Most counter-UAS training focuses on detection, airspace monitoring, and drone interdiction. Far fewer organizations are prepared for what happens after the drone is on the ground.
For critical infrastructure operators, this is the point where operational risk becomes immediate.
A drone discovered near restricted areas, utility corridors, perimeter fencing, control systems, access points, storage areas, or sensitive infrastructure components may represent more than a trespass issue. It may indicate surveillance, security testing, disruption activity, contraband delivery, or a potential hazardous payload.
In these environments, even a single suspicious drone incident can disrupt access, interrupt operations, expose vulnerabilities, delay response, and create unnecessary risk to personnel, infrastructure, and continuity of operations.
DIRT addresses the operational gap between drone detection and specialized response by providing personnel with practical procedures for grounded drone incidents before they escalate into larger security, safety, or continuity problems.
Who This Course Is For
Critical Infrastructure Protection Personnel
Corporate Security Personnel
Facility Security Teams
Site Supervisors and Security Managers
Operations and Continuity Personnel
Industrial Security Personnel
Safety and Emergency Response Personnel
Physical Security and Force Protection Personnel
Security Integrators and Risk Personnel
This training is intended for personnel responsible for protecting infrastructure, maintaining operational continuity, and responding to suspicious drone activity on or near operational sites.
What This Training Covers
DIRT for Critical Infrastructure focuses on practical grounded drone response procedures for operational environments where safety, security, and continuity of operations must be preserved.
Instruction is built around the operational realities of critical infrastructure sites and focuses on organizational readiness, safe decision-making, incident reporting, and coordinated response before specialized assets arrive.
Instruction is built around the operational realities of critical infrastructure sites and focuses on:
Grounded drone hazard recognition
Safe assessment procedures
Suspicious payload and dropped munition recognition
Scene security and access control
Protective standoff and personnel safety
Reporting and escalation procedures
Evidence and intelligence preservation
Coordination with Bomb Squad, EOD, law enforcement, and response partners
Continuity and operational disruption considerations
Training is designed to improve the ability of personnel to make safe, informed decisions during the earliest stages of a drone-related security incident while preserving operational continuity and reducing unnecessary disruption.
Course Delivery Options
DIRT for Critical Infrastructure is available in three course formats to support varying operational requirements, training objectives, and resource availability.
Basic
4 Hours (Half Day)
Designed for personnel who require foundational awareness of grounded drone hazards, safe assessment, and reporting procedures.
Best suited for:
Awareness training
Executive exposure
Security team orientation
Initial site familiarization
Intermediate
16 Hours (2 Days)
Designed for personnel who require a more operational understanding of grounded drone response, including practical exercises, scenario-based decision making, and integration of grounded drone response procedures into existing site response frameworks.
Best suited for:
Security teams
Supervisors
Response personnel
Facility-specific drills
SOP review and refinement
Intermediate DIRT introduces practical considerations for integrating grounded drone response into existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), reporting workflows, escalation pathways, and site response procedures.
Advanced
40 Hours (5 Days)
Designed for organizations requiring comprehensive grounded drone response training with expanded practical application, scenario-based exercises, site-specific response integration, and structured support for planning, SOP refinement, and policy development.
Best suited for:
Dedicated security teams
Critical response personnel
Supervisory and planning staff
Site-specific response integration
Policy and procedure development
Advanced DIRT includes expanded scenario work, site-specific planning considerations, and facilitated discussion to support the development or refinement of grounded drone response SOPs, internal reporting procedures, escalation frameworks, continuity planning, and policy considerations aligned with organizational security and operational requirements.
Training Outcomes
Recognize grounded drone threats in operational environments
Assess suspicious drones from a safe distance
Protect personnel and preserve site safety
Establish initial control measures
Report clearly and escalate appropriately
Preserve evidence and intelligence value
Support continuity of operations during drone-related incidents
Coordinate effectively with internal and external response partners
Intermediate and Advanced course participants will also be better prepared to evaluate, refine, and support the integration of grounded drone response procedures into existing site SOPs, reporting structures, and security response policies.
Why 38 Sierra
38 Sierra provides counter-UAS training built around the operational realities of modern drone threats and the practical security challenges they create for infrastructure operators.
DIRT was developed to address the gap between drone detection and safe, effective response after a drone is on the ground. Our training is informed by grounded-drone threat analysis, operational response considerations, and the realities of protecting infrastructure where drone incidents can create immediate security, safety, and continuity consequences.
DIRT for Critical Infrastructure is built to provide practical, decision-focused training for organizations responsible for protecting infrastructure, maintaining operational continuity, and managing security risk in environments where drone incidents create immediate operational consequences.
Delivery and Customization
DIRT for Critical Infrastructure can be delivered on-site or integrated into existing security, safety, and emergency preparedness programs.
Training can be tailored to support:
Site-specific operational environments
Facility security priorities
Infrastructure protection requirements
Internal reporting structures
Existing response protocols
Security and continuity planning objectives
SOP refinement and development priorities
Policy and escalation framework considerations
Request Training
To discuss DIRT for Critical Infrastructure, evaluate delivery options, or review site-specific training requirements, contact 38 Sierra.