USARMYJROTC, "To motivate young people to be better citizens", Drones

RADC Drone World Championships

The RADC Drone World Championships is a cutting-edge event designed to immerse students in the fast-growing field of drone technology. Teams gain hands-on experience in drone flight principles, engineering, programming, documentation, and professional communication. Along the way, participants explore future career paths in aerospace, robotics, and technology — all while competing in thrilling aerial challenges.

Upcoming Drone Events

📅 Date	📍 Location	🏆 Event Name

20-21 Mar 2026	Fort Benning, GA	JROTC National Drone Championship
26 May 2026	TBD	Southeast Drone Championship
26 May 2026	Flint, MI	North Central Drone Championship
26 May 2026	Fairmont, WV	Northeast Drone Championship
26 May 2026	TBD	West Drone Championship
Future events and national finals: announcements coming soon!

Competition Experience

Learn & Launch: Students grasp fundamental drone concepts including flight physics, propulsion, and mission planning.
Collaborate & Code: Teams practice real-time coordination while programming autonomous flight routines.
Compete & Showcase: Events feature obstacle navigation, precision landings, and documentation reviews judged by industry professionals.

Curious about equipment specs, event formats, or team setup? Visit the
Aerial Drone Competition FAQ for answers.

What Students Gain

Career Exposure: Hands-on experience aligned with growing drone and robotics industries
STEAM Integration: Programs emphasize science, tech, engineering, arts, and math
Communication: Teams produce logs, presentations, and documentation to showcase process and learning

Highlight Reel:

Teams are encouraged to submit drone cam footage, pit crew selfies, and award celebrations for our upcoming Drone Spotlight section.

JROTC National Events Hub

Explore premier competitions and leadership experiences that define the Army JROTC program. These events challenge cadets in academics, fitness, STEM, and citizenship—while building lifelong skills and connections.

Featured Events

Raider Nationals – Oct 23–26, 2025, Fort Knox, KY. Includes obstacle courses, rope bridges, strength tests, and first aid challenges.
JLAB – Leadership & Academic Bowl – June 15–26, 2025, Washington, D.C. STEM activities, trivia competitions, and DC-area leadership experiences.
Drill Championships – May 2–3, 2026, Daytona Beach, FL. Armed/unarmed drill, color guard, and inspection events.
VEX Robotics Nationals – May 9–11, 2025, Dallas, TX. Engineering and coding competition with REC Foundation.
Air Rifle Championships – Regionals Feb–Mar; Finals Spring 2025. Sporter and precision marksmanship events.
CyberPatriot Challenge – Finals Spring 2025. Cybersecurity competition focused on securing virtual networks.
Archery Nationals – Spring 2025, Sandy, UT & Louisville, KY. Precision archery competition across two regions.
Drone Nationals – Spring 2025, TBD. New STEM event using RADC-approved drones.

Registration & Contact

Raider Registration

Vendor Registration (Email)

JLAB Registration