ASOG Focus Area | Training & Education
Source | ASOG Training Center
In an ideal world, every airborne sensor operator (ASO) and Aerial Work aircrew would have access to state-of-the-art simulators, full-spectrum training programs, and unlimited flight hours. However, in the real world, especially for small units, startups, contractors, or resource-constrained government teams, training budgets are often tight, time is limited, and formal instruction opportunities are scarce.
So how do professionals keep skills sharp and teams mission-ready under those constraints?
Enter "Peer-to-Peer Training!"
What Is Peer-to-Peer Training?
Peer-to-peer (P2P) training is a decentralized, experience-based learning method in which operators teach, mentor, and challenge one another using shared knowledge, lessons learned, and real-world scenarios. It leverages crew room expertise, mission debriefs insights, and informal knowledge sharing to fill training gaps.
It’s not new; military crews, law enforcement units, and contractor teams have done it for decades. However, in today’s environment of limited resources and evolving Aerial Work demands, P2P training is more valuable than ever.
Why It Works
- Experience is currency: Veteran ASOs, pilots, and UAS operators carry a wealth of insight gained through real-world missions. When that experience is passed down informally, it enhances team proficiency organically.
- Tailored learning: Unlike rigid training packages, P2P sessions can focus on what your crew needs, be it radar mode nuances, tactical callouts, or mission planning shortcuts.
- Builds team cohesion: Teaching and learning together naturally strengthen communication and trust within the team, a core component of Crew Resource Management (CRM).
- Cost-effective: No simulator bookings. There are no extra contracts, just a whiteboard, a crew lounge, and a few willing professionals.
Examples of Peer-to-Peer Training in Action
- Mission Debrief Roundtables: After flights, crews gather to replay key moments—what worked, what didn’t, and why. Everyone speaks, and everyone learns.
- Tactical “What Would You Do?” Scenarios: One crew member presents a mission problem, including lost comms, changing tasking, and ambiguous targets, and others walk through their response strategies.
- Sensor Skill Refreshers: A senior sensor operator guides the team through interpreting specific radar returns, recognizing deceptive targets, or working with challenging EO/IR imagery.
- Knowledge Swap Days: UAS operators teach manned crews about autonomous systems, pilots explain aircraft limitations to newer ASOs, and contractors share insights from foreign mission sets.
Best Practices for Effective Peer Training
- Create a Safe Learning Environment
Rank or flight hours shouldn’t prevent questions or honest discussion. Peer learning thrives on humility and curiosity. - Rotate Roles
Don’t always have the most senior person lead. Let junior members run scenarios or brief a mission. It builds confidence and fresh perspectives. - Stay Mission-Relevant
Focus on your actual taskings. Discuss local airspace quirks, current threats, and platform-specific quirks, not generic textbook content. - Document and Share
Capture great insights, techniques, or checklists from your sessions. Share them within your team, or better, with the wider ASOG community.
A Word of Caution
Peer-to-peer training isn’t a silver bullet. It should complement, not replace, formal instruction, check rides, and certification processes. And it relies heavily on accurate information and responsible mentorship—a bad habit passed peer-to-peer is still a bad habit.
When done right, however, it becomes a powerful way to sustain readiness, boost morale, and elevate performance, even when formal resources are lacking.
Final Thoughts
In ASOG’s global network, many of us operate on small teams in diverse environments with varying levels of institutional support. Peer-to-peer training is one of our most powerful tools for maintaining excellence despite these challenges.
If you’ve developed a successful P2P technique, built a local SOP from scratch, or created a clever scenario that sharpened your crew’s edge, share it. The ASOG community thrives when knowledge flows freely. Because in this business, experience is too valuable to keep to yourself.
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