The sun was intense and the air thick with humidity as drones buzzed just above ground June 28 at the CSX rail yard off McDuff Avenue in Jacksonville.
The commercial drones are not the same as those used by hobbyists and backyard pilots.
Drones used by hobbyists can be bought without any regulatory guidelines. Commercial drone operators have to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration.
About 65 veterans will be FAA certified as part of the 2023 CSX program by the end of this year. The program has been active since 2021.
Through the CSX “Pride in Service” program, in a partnership with the nonprofit Wounded Warrior Project, 21 military veterans trained for a new life, career and belief in themselves.
The 10-week program ends with Federal Aviation Administration certification for commercial drone piloting.
Jacksonville-based rail company CSX has 158 drones in operation, said Patrick Barnett, technical director of geographic information systems and drones. They are used to inspect the thousands of miles of rail lines owned by CSX and need skilled personnel to operate them.
“Drones have played an intricate role in supplementing our duties and job responsibilities. As a company, we are making the investment in drones,” he said.
The drones are flown by remote control. There are autonomous drones as well.
Mike Linnington, CEO of Jacksonville-based Wounded Warrior Project, said the partnership with CSX helps wounded veterans transition to civilian employment and the drone work is a good fit.
Though CSX provides the training, the 21 veterans completing the 10-week course June 28 are not obligated to seek jobs at CSX.
This was the second program this year. A third training session for 2023 is being planned.
The partnership with CSX began in 2021 as part of its “Pride in Service” initiative that supports about a half-dozen nonprofit organizations through a variety of programs.
CSX funds the drone training program. Linnington said about 65 veterans will be FAA certified as part of the 2023 CSX program by the end of this year. The program has been active since 2021.
“It’s unbelievable what CSX is doing in Jacksonville to help veterans transition into meaningful careers,” Linnington said.
He said that if the veterans were paying for commercial drone training and certification at a college of professional institution, the course would likely cost tens of thousands of dollars.
In addition to job opportunities, programs like drone training provide meaning to veterans seeking personal identity as well, Linnington said.
“It’s all about purpose,” Linnington said.
“Many of them lose that sense of purpose. They were part of a tribe. They were part of an organization. They had the brotherhood and sisterhood and shared adversity. Now they come back to a community where less than one-half of 1% have served.”
The program “helps reintegrate them and gives them a new sense of purpose which has enormous positive aspects for mental well-being,” he said.
Daniel Peoples, 45, retired from the military in 2017. He served as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the Marines, then as a chief warrant officer in the Army. He suffered cumulative back injuries after heavy combat duty and tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The opportunity to engage in commercial aerial drone training was a good fit, Peoples said.
“It’s great to stay proficient in the aviation industry,” he said.
Peoples said he eventually would like to settle in Central Florida and become a drone specialist for emergency management operations for a group like the Federal Emergency Management Agency and work on the front lines of disasters.
“Getting to this part and to this level of certification gives guys open doors all across the broad spectrum,” said Peoples, who lives in Tampa.
“This starts from CSX to real estate to the engineering industry. I mean, you name it. I didn’t know there were so many opportunities.”
Peoples said while career opportunity is important, the transition into a career with the assistance of companies such as CSX is meaningful for veterans who suffered injuries.
“It lets you know that there’s help out there. People want to see you succeed. You don’t feel like you’re on the wayside,” Peoples said.
“It’s a great feeling. It lets you know that people care about you.”
Bryan Tucker, vice president of corporate communications for CSX, said the company has been supporting Wounded Warrior Project for years. The drone training program is an evolution of that partnership.
“It’s more than just cutting a (charitable) check, which is important,” Tucker said.
“But we want to provide the resources that we have at our company to help the Wounded Warrior Project do their mission even more successfully.”
CSX has long been involved in the nonprofit’s “Warriors to Work Project,” which is designed to funnel veterans into the workforce.
The drone certification program is more specific.
“This is a growing area, the area of drones. There are a lot of applications that people don’t even think about. We use drones a lot on the railroad,” Tucker said.
Helping military veterans integrate into civilian life is essential, Tucker said, and they are excellent job recruits, especially in a field such as drone technology, which requires discipline and tenacity.
“Veterans make great railroaders. We already have a large veteran population in our company. The military experience that veterans have translates very well into heavy industry and logistics like the railroad industry,” he said.
“It’s not only about giving back and doing something that has an impact. But we’re also looking for qualified individuals who have experience and who have gone through trainings like this to work at our railroad.”