Drone Incident Response Training (DIRT) Logo

Drone Incident

Response Training

Training for Grounded UAS Incident Response

38 Sierra delivers operationally focused training that prepares personnel to safely identify, report, and manage drone-related hazards encountered on the ground.

Why Grounded Drone Response Training Is Needed

Detection and counter-UAS technologies are only part of the solution.

When a drone crashes, is abandoned, or delivers a payload, personnel on the ground must respond safely while managing potential hazards and preserving evidence.

Improper response to a grounded drone can expose personnel to:

  • Explosive hazards

  • Hazardous materials

  • Narcotics Contraband

  • Intelligence exploitation risks

DIRT prepares responders to safely manage these incidents.

Explosive ordnance disposal technician examining weaponized drone during training exercise

DIRT Courses

38 Sierra’s Drone Incident Response Training (DIRT) courses are designed to provide personnel with clear procedures for safely responding to grounded or recovered drones. Our courses focus on real-world response procedures, threat recognition, safe search practices, identification and reporting, coordination with specialized units such as Bomb Squads or EOD, and the development of Standard Operating Procedures tailored to each organization’s mission and environment.

Each DIRT course is customized to the audience, region, and operational environment and includes both classroom instruction and practical exercises to ensure personnel can apply what they learn in real-world scenarios.

38 Sierra training is experience-based and designed for personnel who may encounter drones in the course of their duties and must be prepared to respond safely, professionally, and in coordination with the appropriate authorities.

  • Critical Infrastructure: Drone Incident Response Training

    This course provides critical infrastructure personnel with the knowledge and procedures necessary to safely respond to grounded or recovered unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

    The course includes a regional UAS threat overview, grounded drone initial response procedures, drone identification and reporting protocols, and coordination with emergency responders. Instruction also includes development and integration of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) tailored to facility-specific risks and operational considerations.

    Practical exercises reinforce initial response actions, identification procedures, and reporting protocols to ensure personnel can respond safely and effectively to drone incidents affecting critical infrastructure.

    Course Length: 4 Hours (1/2 Day)

    Class Size: 5+ Students

    Who Should Attend:

    • Facility Security Personnel

    • Corporate Security Teams

    • Critical Infrastructure Protection Personnel

    • Plant Managers and Operations Supervisors

    • Safety Officers and Risk Managers

    • Emergency Response Teams

    • Industrial Security Teams

    • Utility Security Personnel (Power, Water, Communications, Energy)

    • Transportation Infrastructure Security Personnel

    • Government Facility Security Personnel

  • Law Enforcement: Drone Incident Response Training

    This course prepares law enforcement personnel to safely respond to grounded, abandoned, or recovered drones encountered during operations or investigations.

    Training includes a regional UAS threat overview, grounded drone initial response procedures, safe search procedures, drone identification and reporting, drone pilot interaction considerations, and escalation procedures to Bomb Squad response when appropriate.

    The course also includes Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) development and integration to support agency policy and operational planning. Practical exercises allow officers to practice safe response procedures, search techniques, and identification and reporting protocols.

    Course Length: 4 Hours (1/2 Day)

    Class Size: 5+ Students

    Who Should Attend:

    • Patrol Officers

    • Supervisors and Shift Commanders

    • Detectives and Investigators

    • Crime Scene Units

    • Special Operations Units

    • SWAT Personnel

    • School Resource Officers

    • Aviation Units

    • Harbor / Marine Units

    • Federal Law Enforcement Officers

    • Task Force Officers

    • Evidence Technicians

  • Bomb Squad / EOD: Grounded UAS Response and Exploitation

    This course is designed specifically for Bomb Technicians and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel and focuses on response to grounded or recovered unmanned aircraft systems.

    Training includes a threat overview tailored to Bomb Squad and EOD operations, grounded UAS response best practices, diagnostics and threat assessment procedures, render safe considerations, evidence preservation, and post-incident site stabilization.

    The course includes tabletop response exercises and practical exercises involving grounded UAS response, assessment, and post-incident procedures.

    Course Length: 24 Hours (3 Days)

    Class Size: Determined by Client

    Who Should Attend:

    • Bomb Technicians

    • Public Safety Bomb Squads

    • Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Personnel

    • Military EOD Units

    • Federal Bomb Technicians

    • Hazardous Devices Units

  • Corrections: Drone Incident Response Training

    This course prepares corrections personnel to safely respond to drones used for contraband delivery, reconnaissance, or other illicit activity involving correctional facilities.

    Training includes a regional UAS threat overview, grounded drone initial response procedures, safe search procedures, drone identification and reporting, drone pilot interaction considerations, and escalation procedures to Bomb Squad response when necessary.

    The course also covers SOP development and integration along with corrections-specific facility considerations. Practical exercises reinforce safe response procedures, search techniques, and identification and reporting protocols.

    Course Length: 4 Hours (1/2 Day)

    Class Size: 5+ Students

    Who Should Attend:

    • Correctional Officers

    • Correctional Emergency Response Teams

    • Facility Security Staff

    • Intelligence / Investigations Units

    • Contraband Interdiction Teams

    • Facility Supervisors and Command Staff

    • Transportation Officers

    • Perimeter Security Personnel

    • Special Operations / Tactical Teams

    • State and Federal Corrections Personnel

  • Military Installation: Drone Incident Response Training

    This course prepares military personnel and installation security personnel to safely respond to grounded or recovered unmanned aircraft systems encountered on military installations or training areas.

    Training includes a regional threat overview, grounded drone initial response procedures, safe search procedures, drone identification and reporting, and escalation procedures to EOD response.

    Instruction includes SOP development and integration and installation-specific operational considerations.

    Practical exercises reinforce safe response procedures, search techniques, and identification and reporting protocols.

    Course Length: 4 Hours (1/2 Day)

    Class Size: Determined by Client

    Who Should Attend:

    • Installation Security Personnel

    • Military Police / Security Forces

    • Force Protection Personnel

    • Range Control Personnel

    • Training Area Supervisors

    • Facility Security Officers

    • Base Operations Personnel

    • Quick Reaction Force (QRF) Personnel

    • Command Staff and Force Protection Officers

    • EOD Support Personnel

    • Intelligence Personnel involved in UAS threat response

  • Event & Stadium Security: Drone Incident Response Training

    This course prepares event security, stadium security, and venue security personnel to safely respond to grounded or recovered drones encountered at public events or venues.

    Training includes a regional UAS threat overview, grounded drone initial response procedures, drone identification and reporting, and coordination with emergency responders.

    The course also includes Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) development and integration and venue-specific operational considerations. Practical exercises reinforce initial response actions, identification procedures, and reporting protocols to ensure safe and coordinated response to drone incidents at public venues.

    Course Length: 4 Hours (1/2 Day)

    Class Size: 5+ Students

    Who Should Attend:

    • Stadium Security Personnel

    • Event Security Staff

    • Venue Security Directors

    • Contract Security Teams

    • Event Operations Staff

    • Emergency Management Staff

    • Law Enforcement assigned to Event Security

    • Fire / EMS Event Response Personnel

    • Campus Security

    • Convention Center Security

    • Private Security Companies supporting large events

Weaponized drone carrying improvised explosive munition used for response training

Who Should Attend

DIRT is designed for personnel who may encounter unmanned aircraft systems during their duties.

Primary audiences include:

  • Bomb Squads / EOD

  • Military Security Forces

  • Federal Law Enforcement

  • State & Local Police

  • Corrections Personnel

  • Event Security Teams

  • Critical Infrastructure Security

Students learn how to:

  • Recognize hazards associated with weaponized or suspicious drones

  • Safe and effective search techniques to locate grounded or crashed UAS

  • Identify potential explosive or hazardous payloads

  • Establish safe cordons and reporting procedures

  • Preserve evidence for follow-on exploitation

  • Develop and implement response policy & procedures

DIRT Training Objectives

Crashed DJI Mavic 3 drone with VOG-17 drone dropped munition inert training aids by 38 Sierra
Students examining inert drone ordnance training aids during UAS hazard training

Customized Training Options

DIRT can be delivered in multiple formats:

  • On-site training at your facility

  • Hosted courses

  • Scenario-based exercises

  • Integration with your existing training program

Realistic training aids can be incorporated to replicate drone-borne threats.

Fixed wing drone crashed carrying Domestic Threat bomblet inert training aids by 38 Sierra as part of grounded drone response training

Host A DIRT Training Course

38 Sierra can deliver Drone Incident Response Training at your agency or training facility.

Hosting agencies can provide training to personnel from their organization as well as neighboring agencies.

Typical Host Agencies

  • Bomb Squads

  • State Police

  • Military Installations

  • Regional Training Academies

  • Corrections Training Centers

Hosting Benefits

• Reduced travel costs for participating agencies
• Regional multi-agency training opportunities
• Flexible scheduling
• Realistic scenario training at your facility

Drone dropped explosive munition UAS inert training aids by 38 Sierra

Realistic Training Scenarios

38 Sierra produces inert drone ordnance replicas and training aids designed to simulate real-world threats. These items allow agencies to conduct realistic hands on training and exercises.

Training aids support:

  • Classroom instruction

  • Threat familiarization

  • Scenario-based exercises

  • Multi-agency training events

Experience-Based Training

38 Sierra training is developed by professionals with operational experience in explosive hazards, federal law enforcement, and unmanned aircraft threat response.

Our approach focuses on practical response considerations based on real-world incidents.

38 Sierra delivers realistic Drone Incident Response Training grounded in operational experience. Our instruction focuses on practical hazard recognition, safe response procedures, and structured reporting for grounded drones.

We provide operational knowledge that personnel can apply immediately in the field—not hypothetical theory.

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician examines a weaponized grounded drone during a training exercise.

Prepare Your Agency for Grounded & Weaponized Drone Incidents

Counter UAS capability must extend beyond airspace detection.

Your personnel must know how to safely manage the drone once it is on the ground.

DIRT™ provides practical, safe, and operationally sound UAS Incident Training that addresses:

  • Weaponized Drone Training

  • Bomb Squad Drone Response

  • Downed Drone Search & Identification

  • Hazard Recognition & Reporting

  • Policy & Procedure Development

Crashed weaponized DJI Mavic 3 with a directional fragmentation improvised explosive device inert training aid by 38 Sierra