Lance Cpl. Austin A. Haneline, an unmanned aerial vehicle operator with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, based in Camp Pendleton, California, not only flies UAVs with the Marine Corps, but also in his civilian career. UAVs are aircrafts operated without a human pilot aboard, and instead are operated by a ground-based controller and a system of communication between the two. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alexis B. Rocha/released) - Lance Cpl. Austin A. Haneline, an unmanned aerial vehicle operator with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, based in Camp Pendleton, California, not only flies UAVs with the Marine Corps, but also in his civilian career. UAVs are aircrafts operated without a human pilot aboard, and instead are operated by a ground-based controller and a system of communication between the two. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alexis B. Rocha/released)

Unmanned aerial vehicle operators, with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, in Camp Talega on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, were honored in VMU-4’s very first winging ceremony on June 17, 2018. This winging ceremony is historic for the Marine Corps, as it is the first time the Marine Corps has winged UAV operators. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alexis B. Rocha/released) - Unmanned aerial vehicle operators, with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, in Camp Talega on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, were honored in VMU-4’s very first winging ceremony on June 17, 2018. This winging ceremony is historic for the Marine Corps, as it is the first time the Marine Corps has winged UAV operators. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alexis B. Rocha/released)

Lance Cpl. Miguel Salazar, an unmanned aerial vehicle technician with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve, returns an RQ-7 Shadow to the VMU-4 hanger at Camp Wilson, Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, June 22, 2017. - Lance Cpl. Miguel Salazar, an unmanned aerial vehicle technician with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve, returns an RQ-7 Shadow to the VMU-4 hanger at Camp Wilson, Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, June 22, 2017. VMU-4 provided aerial reconnaissance in support of the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, MARFORRES final battalion exercise of ITX 4-17. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stanley Moy)

U.S. Marines with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4, Marine Aircraft Group 41, Marine Forces Reserve prepare to launch the RQ-7 Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System on Camp Pendleton, Calif., August 19th, 2017. - An RQ-7 Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System before being loaded onto the launcher on Camp Pendleton, Calif., August 19th, 2017. The RQ-7 is helping Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4, Marine Aircraft Group 41, Marine Forces Reserve make history as it is utilized to conduct yearly surveys of deer and buffalo populations on the base, a job formerly tasked to manned helicopters. In addition to offering a low-cost solution to conducting wildlife surveys, the exercise also provides valuable training to Marines who are learning to use the UAVs for aerial reconnaissance in areas of conflict. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Desiree D King)