Drone and VIRTUAL REALITY COURSES FOR VETERANS

Comprehensive training and education aeronautics curriculums in the Drone industry designed by commercial airline pilots and flight instructors and trainers who are also drone licensed pilots, on small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). The instruction and material offers strategies and information that provides the breadth and depth of instruction to be a successful and proficient drone pilot and virtual reality photographer.

VETERAN INFORMATION

1. Check for Eligibility

Please see G.I. Bill Chapters & Educational Benefits for a brief overview of chapters and educational benefits offered to service members, veterans, spouses, and other family members.

Note:

  • If you served on Active Duty, you might be eligible for education benefits offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. For example, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for educational and housing expenses to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/l1 GI Bill.
  • If you are currently serving in the military, you may be eligible for funding offered through the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance program. Check your eligibility status and the amount for which you qualify with your Service prior to enrolling.
  • If you are the spouse or child of a service member who is serving on active duty Title 10 orders in the paygrades of El-E5, 01-02, or WI-W2, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the Department of Defense for education, training, and/or the occupational license and credentials necessary for a portable career.
  • If you are the spouse or child of a service member, you may be eligible for transfer of the service member’s Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to you.
2. Apply for Benefits through the VA

To receive benefits, you must apply through the Department of Veterans Affairs (https://www.va.gov/). Veterans Affairs determines the amount of benefits a student can receive. DWS staff cannot estimate benefit amounts or apply for benefits on behalf of a student.

The VA will process your application and send you a letter notifying you of their decision. Please be aware that it may take the VA several weeks to process your claim. If you are approved to receive benefits, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility letter from the VA. 

Once you receive your Certificate of Eligibility letter from the VA email it to (Info@dwsdroneschool.com)

3. Approved courses

NOTE: ALL COURSES WILL BE HELD IN OUR DELAWARE SCHOOL LOCATED AT 920 JUSTISON STREET, WILMINGTON, DE 19801

Program Descriptions

M 101 Drone/sUAS Pilot Training Program:

70 hours- Part time 10 weeks @ 7 clock hours/week

DWS Drone School offers a comprehensive training and education aeronautics curriculum on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) which purpose is designed to not only educate, but to enable and encourage students to learn the art and science of drone technology. Students will gain vast knowledge in how they can apply what they learn to obtain careers in this growing industry through classroom instruction, labs, workshops, and demonstration in the field with “hands-on” training. This instruction and materials offer the strategies and information to provide each student the in-depth training designed to create successful and proficient drone pilots. Students will also learn the rules, regulations, and laws, and in particular “Part 107”, which is required by the Federal Aviation Administration for drone operations. Students must take the FAA Part 107 exam to obtain their commercial drone license.

 

M 102   Boot Camp Drone/sUAS Pilot Training Program:

70 hours- Full Time- 9 consecutive days @ 8 clock hours/day

DWS Boot Camp Drone s/UAS Training Program offers a 9 consecutive day, in-person, intense, expedited comprehensive training and education aeronautics curriculum on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) which purpose is designed to not only educate, but to enable and encourage students to learn the art and science of drone technology. Students will gain vast knowledge in how they can apply what they learn to obtain careers in this growing industry through classroom instruction, labs, workshops, and demonstration in the field with “hands-on” training. These instructions and materials offer the strategies and information to provide each student the in-depth training designed to create successful and proficient drone pilots. Students will also learn the rules, regulations and laws, and in particular “Part 107”, which is required by the Federal Aviation Administration for drone operations. Students must take the FAA Part 107 exam to obtain their commercial drone license.

Pre-Requisites: The targeted population is any student who is at least 18 years of age who has a High School Diploma or G.E.D and a willingness to learn. A laptop is required.

 

Grade Evaluation:

Measurable Performance Objectives (MPO): Upon course completion the successful student will be capable of:

  1. Exhibiting a thorough understanding of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).
  2. Having a thorough knowledge of the rules, regulations and laws, and in particular Part 107, of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with regard to drone operations.
  3. Understanding the anatomy of a drone and the various drones currently on the market and what they can and cannot do.
  4. Knowledge of the individual components of the drone, both vocabulary and function.
  5. Understanding the UAV technology
  6. Understanding the principles of flight including Newton’s Laws of Motion, Bernoulli’s Principle, airspeed, gravity and other key topics to help understand flight of the drones.
  7. Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM)
  8. How to plan an s/UAV flight including pre and post flight procedures
  9. Flight safety and assessment of conditions including weather, site issues and other obstructions.
  10. Aerial photography and Videography and its concepts including learning about light, shutter speed, lens filters and drone positioning.
  11. Creating a “story line” to their videos.
  12. Editing their raw data to create a video
  13. How to add music and narration to the video.
  14. The world of 3-D mapping from the sky through Drone Deploy by creating and calculating measurements for a project.
  15. The world of business and how to become a business-person as a drone operator by learning how to generate wealth, how to repair your credit, fix your credit report and increase your credit score, which entity is the best one to start a drone business, the tax benefits of starting your drone business, how to finance your drone business, how to contract with other s/UAS operators and drone businesses and what the legal clauses mean. Students will review a contract for hiring a business and one for their client.
  16. How to fly a drone on a simulator.
  17. How to fly a drone in the field.
  18. Getting all the important links needed to operate your drone.
  19. How to get a job as a drone operator.

Method of Instruction:

40% – Lecture

15% – Audio/Visual aids

25% – Lab & Workshop

20% – Field

Total- 100%

 

Assessment Outcomes:

All assignments, tests, quizzes, and drone performance training will be used to objectively determine if the student has attained a level of competence that enables them to meet the course objectives and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules, regulations and requirements and in particular Part 107 for unmanned aircraft systems to enable them to pass the exam.

The following will be used in providing the objective assessments:

  1. Class Attendance
  2. Class Participation
  3. Flight Participation
  4. Quizzes and Tests
  5. Drone assimilator training
  6. Drone flying
  7. Completing assignments

Course Requirements:

  1. Reading and understanding the materials provided
  2. Successfully completing class homework assignments
  3. Successfully completing in-class assignments

 

Evaluation Methodology:

Evaluation Criteria:

1. 90% or more class attendance

20%

2. 70% – classroom participation, in-class assignments

10%

3. 85% – simulator training

20%

4. 90% – drone proficiency

25%

5. 60% – FAA passing score on practice test

25%

 

TOTAL     100%

 

M 103 Virtual Reality and 3D Virtualization Training Program

21 hours- Part time- 3 weeks @ 7 clock hours/week    

21 hours- Full time- 3 days @ 7 clock hours/day

DWS Drone School 360 Technology offers a comprehensive training and education curriculum on virtual reality and 3D virtualization systems which purpose is designed to educate, empower, enable, and encourage students to learn the art and science of virtual reality photography workshops and in the field to obtain careers in this growing industry. We will provide expertise and strategies for our students to apply their skills to various lucrative industries such as marketing, photography, security, documentation, and training. Our curriculum will include the technology behind virtual reality, market opportunity, the equipment available, how to create a virtual reality product for a client, etc. This best-in-class instruction and materials offers strategies and information that provides the breadth and depth of instruction to be successful and proficient in virtual reality and learn the best practices, regulations, and laws to offer virtual reality and 3D virtualization services.

Pre-Requisites: The target population is any student who is at least 18 years of age and who also has a High School Diploma or G.E.D and a willingness to learn. Minimum of cell phone or preferably tablet is required.

Grade Evaluation:

Measurable Performance Objectives (MPO): Upon course completion the successful student will be capable of:

  1. Exhibiting a thorough understanding of Virtual Reality and 3D Virtualization concepts
  2. Understanding the various aspects of the equipment needed and the various cameras currently on the market and what they can and cannot do
  3. Understanding the technology of 360 cameras, 3D Scanning Cameras and Software for editing
  4. Understanding safety and assessment of conditions including weather, site issues and other obstructions
  5. How to plan a VR photoshoot including pre and post capture procedures
  6. Photography and Videography and its concepts including learning about light, shutter speed, lens filters and camera positioning
  7. Creating a “Natural Flow” to VR captures
  8. Editing raw photography to create a higher quality tour
  9. How to use VR equipment in various situations in the field
  10. How to add music and narration to the videos
  11. The world of business and how to become a businessperson as a VR operator by learning how to generate wealth, how to repair their credit, fix their credit report and increase their credit score, which entity is the best one to start a VR business, the tax benefits of starting their VR business, how to finance their VR business

Method of Instruction:

50%- Lecture

20%-Audio/Visual aids 30%-Field

Total-100%

 

Assessment Outcomes:

All assignments, tests, quizzes and drone performance training will be used to objectively determine if the student has attained a level of competence that enables them to meet the course objectives.

The following will be used in providing the objective assessments:

  1. Class Attendance
  2. Class Participation
  3. Quizzes and Tests
  4. Hands on training
  5. Equipment usage
  6. Completing assignments

Course Requirements:

  1. Reading and understanding the materials provided
  2. Successfully completing class homework assignments
  3. Successfully completing in-class assignments

 

Evaluation Methodology:

Evaluation Criteria:

1. 90% or more class attendance

50%

2. 70%- classroom participation, in-class assignments

25%

3. 85%- Hands on training

25%

 

TOTAL     100%

 

M 104 Agricultural and Forestry Drone Collected Imagery Training

Program 20 Hours-Full time- 4 days @ 5 clock hours/day

DWS Drone School provides a training course for using small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (s/UAS) in the Agricultural and Forestry industries. In this course, students will gain knowledge in agriculture generally, and skills on how to provide professional drone services and precise analytics to Agricultural producers in the areas of stand count, plant population, plant stress analysis, weed analysis, pest analysis, plant disease analysis, water stress analysis, flowering estimates, and Eagle eye, both in the classroom and in the field.

Pre-Requisites: Each student is required to have taken a drone class previously and have some experience in how to fly a drone to take this class as solely determined by DWS, and

a drone that has the capability to provide mapping such as a DJI Phantom 4, Mavic 2 Pro or Mavic 3 Enterprise or equivalent, with a minimum 4K camera. The student is at least 16 years of age and has a High School Diploma or G.E.D and a willingness to learn. It is highly suggested and highly encouraged that the student have a laptop.

 

Grade Evaluation:

Measurable Performance Objectives (MPO): Upon course completion, the successful student will be capable of:

  1. Understanding industries challenges (Agricultural and Forestry industries)
  2. Understanding how Agremo system works – machine learning, AI, computer vision, knowledge base
  3. Knowledge of Agremo analyses, their capabilities, and the benefits they provide for the growers (plant counting and plant health analyses)
  4. Choosing the perfect time to fly (plant growth stage, time of the day, cloudiness, weather, structure of the field)
  5. Setting a flight plan for mapping agricultural field (altitude, overlapping, field boundaries, image resolution)
  6. Map requirements – stitching images, GeoTIFF file, a structure of the zip file
  7. How to use the Agremo platform (creating a field, uploading a map, request for the analysis, platform features)
  8. Reading analyses results (pdf report, shapefile, result map)

 

Method of instruction:

Lecture – 30%

Workshop – 20%

Field – 50%

Total- 100% Assessment Outcomes:

All assignments, tests, and drone performance training will be used to objectively determine if the student has attained a level of competence that enables them to meet the course objectives and be able to provide services to agricultural producers.

The following will be used in providing objective assessments:

  1. Class Attendance
  2. Class Participation
  3. Flight Participation
  4. Drone flying
  5. Completing assignments

Course Requirements:

  1. A FAA certified Part 107 commercial license (proof required)
  2. A DJI Phantom, Mavic pro-2, or Mavic 3 Enterprise or Thermal or better, and which has the ability to do mapping with a minimum 4K camera
  3. A laptop
  4. Reading and understanding the materials provided
  5. Successfully completing class homework assignments
  6. Successfully completing in-class assignments
  7. Successfully completing in-field assignments

 

Evaluation Methodology:

Evaluation Criteria:

1. 90% or more class attendance

50%

2. 70%- classroom participation, in-class assignments

25%

3. 90%- Hands on training

25%

 

TOTAL 100%

4. Training Catalog

DWS Drone School  Delaware

STUDENT HANDBOOK/COURSE CATALOG

Volume 1

January – December 2023

[Effective January 1, 2023]

Website: https://dwsdroneschool.com

Location:

New Castle County Chamber of Commerce

920 Justison Street

Wilmington, DE 19801

877-397-4353 

 

This Student Handbook/Catalog presents the course offerings and academic requirements in effect at the time of publication but provides no guarantee that offerings will not be changed or rescinded. The course offerings and requirements of DWS Drone School are continually under examination and review. The school reserves the right to make changes in course offerings, curricula, academic policies and other rules and regulations affecting students and which will become effective whenever determined proper by the school. Reasonable notice will be given to students regarding any changes in the Student Handbook/Catalog. All updates and/or corrections will be posted in the online version of the Student Handbook/Catalog, which will supersede previous written copies. Changes will govern current, former, and prospective students. This Student Handbook/Catalog is not intended to state contractual terms and does not constitute a contract between the student and the school.

 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

It is against the law for this recipient of Federal financial assistance to discriminate on the following bases: against any individual in the United States, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, sex stereotyping, transgender status, and gender identity), national origin (including limited English proficiency), age, disability, or political affiliation or belief, or, against any beneficiary of, applicant to, or participant in programs financially assisted under Title 1 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, on the basis of the individual’s citizenship status or participation in any WIOA Title1-financially assisted program or activity.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Program” and “auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities”; and the telephone numbers for TDD/TTY access and/or telephone relay services (711).

DWS Drone School is approved by the Division of Private Business and Trade School of the Delaware Board of Higher Education.

 

Mission Statement

The DWS Drone School is a global technology and Strategic Business Solutions company to provide solutions for businesses, organizations and governments requiring drones and virtual reality operators.

Mission:

1. To accelerate the growth of the drone industry, and its capacity to help to solve many of the world’s challenges by harnessing technology using drones and virtual reality and 3D modeling (VR) by providing education and training and workforce development opportunities through the DWS global technology school, DWS Drone School, and its global employment company, Drone Workforce Solutions.

2. To create a Global drone and virtual reality network, (aka “The Universe”) which acts as a catalyst in bringing together and accelerating cross collaborations of drone and VR industry innovators, producers, programmers, software developers, robotics/drone manufacturers, FAA Part 107 certified, commercial drone pilots, global thought leaders, strategic partners, and futuristic solution providers, from a range of organizations including major corporations, start-ups, non-profits, universities and governmental entities.

Diversity Statement

DWS Drone School does not discriminate for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, age, disability or national origin, yet reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant whom we feel will not uphold the practical, physical or ethical standards of the school.

Officers, Administrator, Director, and Instructors

Under the placement and guidance of DWS Drone School’s Executive team, Theophilus R. Nix, Jr., Esq., Owner, President/Chief Executive Office, Administrator; Suzanne E. Nix, Chief Operating Officer; Theo Nix Jr, Institutional Director. Drone instructors are certified under the guidelines of the Federal Aviation Administration and DWS Drone School. Depending on class size (maximum class size is 25 students), we provide at least 1 instructor per in-class instruction.

Drone/sUAS Pilot Training Teachers

Karl Wacker-Lead teacher

John Monaghan-Teacher/Flight Instructor Will Saunders- Teacher/Flight Instructor

Christopher DeMuro-Teacher/Flight Instructor

Kenny Tribbett- Teacher/Flight Instructor

Troy Bard-Teacher/Flight Instructor

Ashlee Cooper- Lead teacher

Mathu Baynes- Lead teacher

 

Virtual Reality and 3D Virtualization Training

Sury Gupta- Virtual & 3D Instructor

Christopher DeMuro-Instructor

 

Agricultural and Forestry Drone Collected Imagery Training Program

Christopher DeMuro-Instructor

Kenny Tribbett- Instructor

 

Virtual Reality and 3D Virtualization Training Sury Gupta- Virtual & 3D Instructor Christopher DeMuro-Instructor

 

Read The Full Training Catalog

5. Instructors Resume

Drone/sUAS Pilot Training Teachers   


Ashlee Cooper (Lead Teacher)

READ ASHLEE’s RESUME

 

Kenny Tribbett (Lead Teacher) 

READ KENNY’s RESUME

 

Troy Bard (Teacher/Flight Instructor)

READ TROY’s RESUME

 

Karl Wacker (Lead Teacher)

READ KARL’s RESUME

 

Natalie Kelly (Teacher/Flight Instructor)

READ NATALIE’s RESUME

 

Travis Jeffries (Teacher)

READ TRAVIS’s RESUME

 

John Monaghan (Teacher/Flight Instructor)

READ JOHN’s RESUME

 

Will Saunders- (Teacher/Flight Instructor)

READ WILL’s RESUME

 

Christopher DeMuro (Teacher/Flight Instructor)

READ CHRIS’s RESUME

 

John Lyde (Teacher/Flight Instructor)

READ JOHN’s RESUME

Virtual Reality and 3D Virtualization Training 


 

Sury Gupta (Virtual & 3D Instructor)

READ SURY’s RESUME

 

Christopher DeMuro (Teacher/Flight Instructor)

READ CHRIS’s RESUME

 

Agricultural and Forestry Drone Collected Imagery Training Program 


 

Christopher DeMuro (Teacher/Flight Instructor)

READ CHRIS’s RESUME

 

Isaiah Sellers (Teacher/Flight Instructor)

READ ISAIAH’s RESUME

 

Drone Photography Editing Instruction


Sury Gupta (Virtual & 3D Instructor)

READ SURY’s RESUME

 


Eric Davison- Editing Instructor

READ ERIC’s RESUME

 

Drone Business Training 


 

Theophilus R. Nix, Jr., Esq.

READ THEO’s RESUME

 

 

6. No Classes For 2024

No Classes For 2024

 

7. Tuition and Additional Costs

Tuition and Additional Costs

M 101-Drone/sUAS Pilot Training (Total Training Cost- $10,000.00)

M 102 – Boot Camp Drone/sUAS Pilot Training (Total Tuition Cost- $10,000.00)

  • Tuition includes a safety vest―$5,860.00
  • Textbooks― Drone curriculum, and the” Airman Knowledge Testing Supplement for Sport Pilot, Recreational Pilot, Remote Pilot, and Private Pilot- ”$140.00
  • Equipment―DJI Drone Mavic 3 Enterprise-$4,000.00
  • FAA drone exam will be paid for by DWS Drone School only if the student takes the exam within 30 days of class completion. The student must provide test results composed of both the numerical score and pass/fail result, and proof of payment for reimbursement, as solely determined by DWS.
  • Parking― (provided at no cost)

Note 1: Each student is required to purchase from DWS the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise drone that can provide mapping, to attend the class, to ensure the student has the proper equipment.

Note 2: It is strongly suggested and highly encouraged that the student have a laptop for editing the videos taken.

Note 3: DWS will reimburse the student if they take the FAA exam but only if it is taken within 30 days of class completion. DWS will only pay for the exam one time. Additionally, the student must send proof of payment and exam results to be reimbursed.

Note 4: Additional out of pocket costs to the student which are not part of the total cost of the program are as follows: 

  • FAA drone registration- $5.00 (Required)
  • Battery case to prevent lithium explosions (Highly suggested)- $20.00
  • Drone landing pad-(Highly suggested)- $20.00
  • Magnifying glass to read the maps (Suggested)-$25.00
  • Extra batteries- The package comes with only 3 batteries. 3 extra batteries are recommended- $209.00/each

Students who withdraw from the program may be able to sell the drone, drone equipment and accessories back to DWS Drone School if in excellent condition but at the sole discretion of DWS Drone School. The student workbook is not returnable. Students who carelessly damage DWS Drone School’s training location property or equipment may be required to pay the repair or replacement costs. Students will need to meet all financial responsibilities before a Certificate of Completion from DWS Drone School will be issued.

 

M 103- Virtual Reality and 3D Virtualization Training Boot Camp (Total Tuition Cost- $3,350.00)

  • Tuition includes the DWS Drone School curriculum― $2,915.00
  • Materials and Supplies― $435.00 includes, (Insta360 One X- $399.02; Samsung 64GB 100MB/s (U3) MicroSD EVO Select Memory Card with Adapter, (MB-ME64GA/AM)- $11.99; Fugetek Selfie Stick/Tripod- $23.99), goggles (no charge).
  • Parking― (provided at no cost)

 

M 104 – Agricultural and Forestry Drone Collected Imagery Training

(Total Tuition, curriculum and Agremo report evaluation cost- $2,850.00)

  • Parking (provided at no cost)

Note 1: Each student is required to receive from DWS Drone School any materials/supplies/books/map analysis reports to attend the classes.

Note 2: Each student is required to have taken a drone class previously and have some experience in how to fly a drone to take this class as solely determined by DWS.

Note 3: Each student is required to have their own drone that can provide mapping such as the DJI Phantom 4, Mavic 2 or Mavic 3 Enterprise, to attend the class, as determined solely by DWS, to ensure the student has the proper equipment.

Note 4: It is strongly suggested and highly encouraged that the student have a laptop for editing.

8. DWS Refund Policy

DWS DRONE SCHOOL STATE OF DELAWARE REFUND POLICY

If the student terminates or withdraws from the class, the minimum refund of the remaining tuition will be:

  1. After 0.01% enrollment time of the course, 80% of the remaining tuition;
  2. After 5% to 9.9% enrollment time of the course, 70% of the remaining tuition;
  3. After 10% to 14.9% enrollment time of the course, 60% of the remaining tuition;
  4. After 15% to 24.9% enrollment time of the course, 55% of the remaining tuition;
  5. After 25% to 49.9% enrollment time of the course, 30 percent of the remaining tuition;
  6. After 50% or more enrollment time of the course, the student may be considered obligated for the full tuition.

When DWS receives the tuition in advance of entrance and if after expiration of the 72-hour cancellation privilege, the student does not enter the DWS class, DWS will retain $100.00. Enrollment time is the time elapsed between the actual starting date and the date of the student’s last day of physical attendance in the DWS school.

9. Application Form

Veterans Testimonials

DWS Drone School: Student Graduate Testimonial

DWS Drone School: Student Graduate Testimonial

DWS Drone School: Student Graduate Testimonial

DWS Drone School: Student Graduate Testimonial

DWS Drone School: Student Graduate Testimonial

DWS Drone School: Student Graduate Testimonial

DWS Drone School: Student Graduate Testimonial

DWS Drone School: Student Graduate Testimonial

DWS Drone School: Student Graduate Testimonial

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DWS DRONE SCHOOL APPLICATION VETERANS FORM