“The preferred nomenclature for these vehicles nowadays is RPA, for Remotely Piloted Aircraft,” photographer Elijah Hurwitz explained. “The word drone conjures images of brainless bots on autopilot, an implication not especially appreciated by the three-person crew of pilot, sensor operator, and intelligence analyst typically tasked with the supervision of these relatively new additions to the military’s arsenal.” Hurwitz spent several days tagging along with these Alamogordo-based pilots, traveling with them to work, to the movies, and to McDonald’s.