Notable among them are the first female non-commissioned officer to become a drone pilot in the institution, and Second Lieutenant Jhon Kennedy Murcia Cuéllar, who ranked first in the course thanks to his operational achievements, including the dismantling of Structure 19.
In a firm commitment to innovation and operational superiority on the battlefield,
the National Army graduated 105 new unmanned aircraft operators, who will strengthen the institution’s strategic capabilities throughout the national territory.
The military closing ceremony for Course No. 16 on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) was held at Alberto Lleras Camargo Airport in the municipality of Sogamoso, Boyacá. This is the second course held at the facilities of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Battalion (BANOT) since its activation in late 2025 in Firavitoba.
The academic program, led by the
Center for Military Education (CEMIL) through the Aviation School, trained 104 men and one woman, all members of the Military Forces, who received more than 330 hours of in-person instruction over a period of more than two months.
During their training,
the soldiers acquired technical, tactical, and operational knowledge, as well as a foundation in international humanitarian law and humanistic education, thereby consolidating comprehensive preparation to face the challenges of the current environment.
The ceremony was attended by military authorities, delegates from the Boyacá Governor’s Office, and family members of the graduates, who witnessed this important achievement in
strengthening a key differential capability for the National Army.The new operators will be deployed to different regions of the country, where, through the use of these technologies in aerial operations, they will contribute to increasing the effectiveness and precision of the troops in the National Army’s eight divisions and the Omega Task Force.
First female non-commissioned officer drone pilotStanding out in this graduating class is Third Corporal Karla Caballos García, a native of Ipiales, Nariño, and a member of the Military Communications Corps, who becomes the first female non-commissioned officer in the National Army to be certified as an unmanned aircraft operator.
Until now, this responsibility had been assumed exclusively by officers, marking a milestone in
the evolution and expansion of roles within the institution.Before entering the Aviation School, Corporal Caballos García served in the 18th Brigade in Arauca,
where she performed key functions in ensuring military communications, which are essential for command and control during operations.Source:
Air Assault Aviation Division Press.
