United States Army and Air National Guard units nationwide are steadily increasing their focus on countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems, bringing distinct advantages in cyber warfare and intelligence analysis to the table.

While news reports over the past year have been dominated by images of Guard units patrolling streets, both Army and Air National Guard units have quietly emerged as experts in modern warfare capabilities and coming up with innovative approaches to counter-drone defense.

Guard units took part in a vast array of cyber warfare and cybersecurity exercises throughout the past year, with Maryland sending airmen to train with NATO in Estonia, Guam deploying cyber specialists to the Philippines, and West Virginia sending a newly formed cyber team to Qatar to practice war games.

This year saw members of the Virginia Army and Air National Guard take part in intense cyber warfare drills hosted by Finland. Pennsylvania Army National Guardsmen received an Army award for inventing a clawed drone, while a Massachusetts National Guard member was credited with developing a portable cyber warfare and counter-drone training platform.

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Additionally, the Washington Air National Guard made history this month when its 194th Wing hosted a cyber warfare conference.

“[Cyber protection] is a growing mission set. In fact, it’s the fastest-growing mission set in the Air National Guard," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Kendall Dyson, who helped organize the event, in a statement. “We have about four more states that are standing up cyber protection teams in the next four years.”

Shaping Drone Tactics

National Guard units demonstrating increasing skills in cyber and drone warfare are taking lead roles in new military initiatives. Notably, the U.S. Air Force tapped the 184th Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard to support its new Point Defense Battle Lab. The Guard unit was chosen due to its proven expertise in reconnaissance and intelligence analysis.

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“The Point Defense Battle Lab obviously is an effort to try and capture a mission that is critical and that is growing across the Department of the Air Force. There are a wide range of airborne threats,” Col. Joe Deeds, commander of the 184th Wing, said in an interview.

The estimated 1,300 Guardsmen serving in the 184th Wing mostly do so on a part-time basis, which is true of all National Guard units. Both Army and Air National Guard troops are reserve components. Members are volunteers from local communities who bring civilian professional skills to the world of the military, and are commonly referred to as “citizen soldiers."

The citizen soldiers of the 184th Wing have over two decades of experience in advanced reconnaissance and intelligence analysis, making them a valued asset to Air Combat Command in today’s rapidly evolving battle landscape.

“We have an incredibly robust intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability within our ground station mission," Deeds said. "We have a pretty profound cyber capability. We consider ourselves the Silicon Prairie of the Air National Guard just given our unique cyberspace capabilities.”

The wing transitioned in the early 2000s from its role primarily flying the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft to "next-generation multi-domain warfare,” according to Deeds.

“We also have an additional capability in which Air Combat Command has asked for us to help pathfind and shape the tactics, the techniques and procedures for airbase, air defense and missile defense capabilities,” he said.

The troops’ new battle lab mission includes not only steps to neutralize drones but control the skies and counter any type of airborne threat posing danger to critical infrastructure or U.S. military installations at home or abroad, he said.

“We’re going to be trying to shape two environments at one time—the best mechanisms and tactics to be able to defeat small UAS, and at the same time becoming very savvy and effective at being able to replicate what that threat may look like,” said Deeds.

Stepping Up Cyber Warfare

Members of the National Guard are likely to continue blazing trails in cyber warfare and drone defense as they take on new responsibilities. The Georgia Army National Guard recently launched a landmark program to train quadcopter drone pilots.

Members of the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 123rd Intelligence Squadron took part in an exercise hosted this month by the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division and Office of Naval Research. Unit members who already specialized in gathering intelligence from drones and satellites conducted mock information warfare battles, flexing Artificial Intelligence as part of the mix.

“As we’ve seen in previous joint operations and currently with Operation Epic Fury, the Department of War fights as a true joint force – air, land, sea and space elements integrated seamlessly to achieve decisive effects," said Maj. Phillip Stevens, commander of the 123rd Intelligence Squadron, in a statement. “All-source intelligence is critical to joint operations, and success doesn’t happen by accident."

As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this year, commemorations will reflect on citizen soldiers who fought successfully by leveraging their experience as civilians. Although warfare today differs significantly, the same principle of blending civilian creativity with military professionalism will continue to drive new achievements.

© Forbes