Tanner Yackley, a former drone sensor operator with the US Air Force, spent years flying remote combat missions, tracking targets, and executing high-stakes strikes — all from a windowless room thousands of miles away from the battlefield.<br /><br />Yackley enlisted in the military at 18, drawn in by a recruiter who told him he'd be protecting convoys. He spent nearly 8 years in the service, sometimes working up to 12-hour shifts in a type of combat most Americans don't realize exists. Operating MQ-9 Reaper drones, Yackley made life-and-death decisions daily, striking targets based on limited intel, monitoring suspected terrorists, and witnessing acts of war unfold in real time.<br /><br />Yackley opens up to Business Insider about the realities of drone warfare: the precision required to pull a trigger, the emotional cost of fighting a war you're not physically in, and what it's like to live with the memories of decisions made through a screen. He breaks down drone pilot training, the mental toll of shift work, and how it feels to be forgotten in the conversation about combat veterans.<br /><br />Since leaving the service, Yackley has become a vocal advocate for mental health awareness among drone crews and continues to challenge public misconceptions about remote warfare.<br /><br />For more:<br />https://remotewarrior.carrd.co/<br />https://rwsupport.carrd.co/<br /><br />If you or someone you know is dealing with substance misuse or mental illness, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) for 24/7, free, confidential treatment referral and information.
