CULLMAN -- Members of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office and members from the local Army Recruiting Battalion joined forces to support the Rock the South concert and festival June 19-20.
Anyone that has been here in the area for more than five years can remember the devastating tornadoes that wreaked havoc on Alabama in April 2011. The Rock the South festival began as a way to raise funds for relief efforts from the April 27, 2011, tornadoes and has grown each year since the first concert on the anniversary in 2012. And since then, it's just steadily grown.
Braving the stifling heat, 12 members from UAS Project Office and a matching number from the Guntersville and Cullman Army Recruiting Centers spent the two days talking with concertgoers about current UAS technologies as well as the need for individuals to fill the ranks of the world's greatest Army.
On hand from UAS Project Office were Soldiers and civilians displaying an actual Shadow Tactical UAS and small unmanned aircraft known as Raven and Puma with an interactive training simulator for interested visitors to try out.
Many of the conversations began with the question, "Are those drones?" To which the operators would kindly set the record straight by stating that they were in fact unmanned aircraft.
This was a time for the UAS Project Office experts to dispel any notions that the Army is currently or would in the future be spying on our citizens. They educated the groups on the missions performed by these aircraft, explaining how countless lives have been saved since unmanned aircraft have entered into combat action.
To date the festival has given more than $150,000 to local charities, according to organizers. This year's event set a record with more than 40,000 attending the two-day event, and plans are already underway to make next year's festival bigger and better.
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