MAY 7, 2026 — U.S. Soldiers assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, are redefining how modern warfare is fought during Raider Density, an intensive training event conducted from April–May designed to prepare units for large-scale combat.
Across the installation’s training areas, Soldiers are adapting to a battlefield where information, speed and innovation are as critical as firepower, taking on expanded roles as battlefield technology integrators who connect emerging capabilities directly into maneuver formations.
The concept is rooted in multi-domain operations, or MDO, which synchronizes effects across land, air, cyber and electromagnetic domains. During Raider Density, Soldiers are applying it by employing unmanned aircraft systems and electronic warfare tools at the lowest levels to sense, understand and act within complex environments.
“It’s best to put UAS assets at the company level because it allows them to be used more freely,” said Sgt. Ian Anglin, a UAS operator with 1st ABCT. “At lower levels, they’re quickly accessible and ready to be used at a moment’s notice.”
For cavalry scouts, this shift is transforming reconnaissance by pairing traditional observation with quadcopter drones and EW capabilities, enabling them to identify targets, monitor movement and interpret activity within the electromagnetic spectrum with greater speed and precision. For Soldiers integrating EW at the maneuver level, maintaining proximity to the formation is critical.
“Staying with the formation allows us to get close enough to intercept those systems while maintaining good security,” said Sgt. Griffin Quimby, assigned to the 10th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st ABCT.
By integrating UAS and EW into a single sensing framework, Soldiers can confirm targets, share real-time intelligence and speed up decision-making, increasing responsiveness across maneuver elements.
“Having UAS allows us to scout the battlefield before we’re out there,” said Anglin. “We can relay enemy positions and direct or indirect fire missions.”
Elements of 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment have demonstrated this integration during the exercise, reflecting a broader effort across the brigade to place advanced capabilities in the hands of junior Soldiers, enabling them to adapt quickly and shape the fight at the tactical level.
“If we want to be able to counter UAS and EW or improve our own EW capabilities, we’re going to have to allow the Soldiers to innovate,” said Quimby.
As Raider Density continues, Soldiers of 1st ABCT are reinforcing that success in future conflicts depend on both advanced technology and the Soldiers who employ it. This approach to integrating emerging systems at the lowest tactical level is emerging as a key component of the division’s readiness across multiple domains.
“Integrating with maneuver formations allows Soldiers to see what’s ahead,” said Anglin. “It allows them to survive.”
By Sgt. Jonathon Downs