JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — More than 700 paratroopers from the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division, executed a first-of-its-kind company live-fire exercise at the Infantry Squad Battle Course, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, April 27 to May 8.
The event marked the brigade’s first company live fire to incorporate friendly kinetic and strike small unmanned aerial systems, or sUAS, with paratroopers employing first-person view drones to strike simulated enemy positions and defend against live, thinking adversaries in the form of Red Cell drones.
“This was the first time our companies had organic FPV drone pilots executing live-fire strikes on critical targets,” said Capt. Ian McKibbin, lead range safety officer and member of the brigade operations staff. “The drones, built with components from 11th Airborne Innovations and the 2/11 Multi-Functional Reconnaissance Company, were entirely controlled by the units on the ground. No live munitions were used, but the effect and accuracy were tremendous. Enemy bunkers and trench lines were popular targets.”
The exercise challenged paratroopers to clear a six-room shoot house, breach wired obstacles, clear trench systems and engage reinforced bunkers, all while reacting to contact from enemy drones. Red Cell sUAS attacked with simulated munitions, forcing commanders to rapidly employ counter-sUAS systems and adapt their tactics in real time.
“Company live fires are designed to be complex and demanding,” McKibbin said. “This event was especially difficult due to the presence of hostile drones, which observed friendly movement and actively attacked with simulated munitions. It’s the first time we’ve had a live, thinking enemy in the form of these drones for this type of training exercise.”
Day and night lanes were executed with both blank and live ammunition. Parachute flares illuminated targets during night engagements, enabling support-by-fire positions to protect maneuvering squads and providing signaling or degrading enemy night vision capabilities.
The entire company maneuvered on the lane, with commanders assigning platoons and squads to objectives. The event validated company commanders’ ability to integrate direct and indirect fires and demonstrate proficiency in complex, live-fire operations.
Planning for the event began in September 2025, led by McKibbin and Capt. Braden Trent, lead event planner. “Ian was directly responsible for the success and safe execution of each iteration of company live fires,” Trent said. “My role was to refine the brigade commander’s guidance into an actionable, challenging event for company commanders and paratroopers.”
The live-fire event included participation from three different battalions, with extensive support from brigade headquarters. The Red Cell sUAS also captured video of critical points for maneuvering elements, enabling near real-time after-action reviews for companies.
“This exercise represents a significant step forward in integrating new technology and realistic threats into our training,” McKibbin said. “Our paratroopers demonstrated adaptability, teamwork, and the ability to fight and win in a complex environment.”
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