Laser-painting targets, is one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States military. However, laser-equipped backpack drones might mitigate the risk.
There are many jobs in the United States Army that are dangerous — it’s the military, after all. Still, there are a few jobs or tasks that are considerably more dangerous than others. In the Navy, working in the danger zone on the deck of an aircraft carrier comes with plenty of potential peril, while the Army and other ground combat forces are often engaged in direct contact with the enemy. One task above all else is considerably more dangerous than others, and it’s laser-painting targets.
You’ve probably seen it in movies: a small team of Special Forces operators is behind enemy lines, keeping watch on a target building. They then use a laser to direct laser-guided bombs onto their targets, and as you can imagine, it’s not the safest thing to do. After all, these brave warriors are almost danger close throughout the operation and must remain in place to keep the target painted to ensure the strike goes off without a hitch.
