The students of the Defense option at Lycée Bouchardon (secondary and final year) went to the 61st artillery regiment on May 7 to find their sponsor unit, the 1st battery, for an immersion into the heart of the regiment’s operational capabilities.
Supported throughout the afternoon by the soldiers of the battery, the high school students were able to discover several particularly current and technological specialties, directly linked to the new challenges of modern combat.
This visit naturally echoed the drone cycle followed this year by second year students in the defense option. The soldiers notably presented the drone capabilities of the regiment and the essential role played today by this equipment in modern military operations.
The students discovered the DT46 drone, a specialized device used to locate and transmit information to units. Deployed within several artillery regiments, including the 61st RA, this drone makes it possible to observe the terrain, identify objectives and provide real-time images to command posts.
Thanks to its on-board technology, the DT46 can immediately transmit images and precise coordinates, thus facilitating decision-making and coordination of operations.
The students were also able to observe several specialized equipment and discuss with the military about their technical characteristics, their modes of use and their operational specificities.
Another particularly appreciated moment: the discovery of the dog specialty. The soldiers presented the capabilities of the regiment’s cyno teams.
High school students were also made aware of an often overlooked but essential specialty: that of image interpreters. The soldiers explained to them how the images captured by the drones are then analyzed in order to identify useful information on the ground. This analysis work then makes it possible to transmit valuable information to the engaged units.
Throughout the afternoon, there were numerous exchanges between students and soldiers, allowing young people to ask their questions about the professions, career paths and missions carried out within the regiment.
This new meeting once again illustrates the quality of the partnership between the Bouchardon high school and the 1st battery of the 61st RA. Thanks to this privileged link, students in the defense option benefit from concrete and immersive experiences, as close as possible to the technological and human realities of today’s armies.
