The following is the March 2015 Pentagon Inspector General report — released last week — on the use of military unmanned aerial vehicles over U.S. soil.
From the report:
A U.S. Marine Corp UAS unit told us that once each month their wing hosts a community leadership program where local politicians are invited to view and learn about the capabilities of the various aircraft on base. During one such event, a local mayor requested UAS support to look for potholes in the area. While the unit conceded that this type of operation could provide realistic training for their pilots and sensor operators, local commanders determined that under the interim guidance, requesting SECDEF approval to conduct a UAS mission of this type did not make operational sense.
