Pasco Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 916 Expands Opportunities to New Heights with Drone Branch

Pasco Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 916 is an exciting opportunity for young adults ages 14 to 21 to learn about the many facets of law enforcement. Post 916 also provides a way for these citizens to learn diverse skills that carry them through life, no matter the path they choose. Explorers gain valuable skills that will help them in the future, such as public speaking, time management and discipline.

Originally encompassing solely a law enforcement focus, Pasco Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 916 added a first of its kind branch focused on drones about a year ago. Since then, the new branch showcasing drones has raised the Pasco Sheriff’s Office’s Explorer Post to new elevations while providing members opportunities to soar to new heights. Versatile and providing access to areas through unique vantage points, drones provide law enforcement with an effective and efficient response to search and rescue operations and more. In addition, drone operation expands a pilot’s reach, as well as their career potential, in this exciting new field.

This is no different for the Explorers in the drone branch. Explorers can use their drone knowledge and experience later on in various industries. With diverse abilities, drones introduce Explorers to career paths they may not have previously considered, such as transportation, surveying, engineering and emergency response, in addition to opportunities in law enforcement.

At a recent meeting, PSO’s Unmanned System Analyst John Kuch welcomed members of the Explorer drone branch to the PSO drone hanger for hands-on training. This unique facility, designed for drones, provides the versatility of a hanger, open space for training, ample work space for research and conference space for meetings.

Regardless of why members initially join the branch, most are following a dream of taking flight. Explorers gain hands-on experience alongside PSO members, as they learn drone operations, while also spending time in the classroom, learning legal and technical standards.

During training as part of the recent meeting, before placing a drone on the landing mat, Explorers conducted their pre-flight inspections, just as a pilot would prepare a plane prior to taking off for flight. Pre-checks consist of battery life, camera condition, propeller blades and any visible defects. Assessment of flight conditions within the area for overcast, low visibility or wind are not issues within the PSO drone hanger, but are still good practices for new drone pilots to build.

For flight training, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) drone proficiency drills provide both PSO agency members and Explorers with exercises to grow their drone operation skills. Each exercise comes with detailed directions requiring pilots to apply their knowledge of angles for exact flight capabilities. Precisely placed five-gallon bucket structures act as guides for such exercises, as drone pilots navigate the bucket structures in accordance with the instructions.

This training has real world applications as well. The use of a drone in search and rescue operations can be difficult, however, with precision flying techniques built from target accuracy, drone pilots are able to reduce time constraints and overcome obstacles. “It can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The more comfortable each Explorer becomes behind the controller, the better pilot they become,” John Kuch shared when reflecting on the growth of the Explorers’ flight skills, competency, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills over the last year.

Explorers take turns leading the exercises, gaining public speaking skills as they call out directions for pilots. Logging flight times, scores and attendance incorporate administrative skills. Photography enthusiasts collect videos and photos of their fellow members performing their flight patterns. In addition, devoted members take time reviewing flight videos and looking for ways to apply valuable insight to their next run.

What may appear as a Wednesday extracurricular club at first is much more to Explorer Bradley Berman. These meetings are a chance for him to absorb as much experience and networking as possible, while also providing him with confidence in his flight skills. The precision flight capabilities learned from Explorer Post 916 aligns with what could very well be his future dream job as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force after attending the Air Force Academy. Berman is eager to hone drone piloting skills with practical application from Explorer Post 916 as establishing a foundation of process, procedures and drone flight experience can help with flight training to come.

This new branch shares chances to soar with impressive skills and valuable new perspectives for Pasco County’s young adults. In addition to personal growth, many Explorers attest to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the community through their experience with the program. Visitors are welcome to attend a drone branch meeting, which are held on the third Wednesday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m.

For more information on the drone branch, as well as the other components of Explorer Post 916, visit PascoExplorers.PascoSheriff.com.