This study served as a pilot initiative aimed at exploring possibilities for long-term and sustainable collaboration and cocreation involving academia, industry, and the Swedish Armed Forces through demonstrations of Unmanned GroundVehicles (UGV) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technologies. For three days, ranger soldiers participated in demonstrations, scenario-building and reflection on potential use cases. Initially, the soldiers expressed a healthy scepticism toward using a UGV in practical situations, e.g., as logistics support. Their reasoning focused primarily on potential problems and the difficulties they anticipated in incorporating the UGV into field operations. However, their perception changed quickly once they observed the vehicle’s capabilities and conducted a 15-minute-long practical drive per soldier. When it came to initial reactions to UAVs, the soldiers expressed clear discomfort with the sound of the drone, leading to discussions about the risks of enemy drones rather than exploring how UAVs could support their own missions. The soldiers’ attitudes toward both UGVs and UAVs evolved and after reflecting overnight, the soldiers began identifying practical applications for the technologies to solve real operational challenges. A key lesson learned is that seeing technology in action is not enough; soldiers must also use it themselves. and getting guidance in how to think about how and why it can be applied. However, a certain level of initial scepticism is beneficial, as it prevents over reliance on innovation without critical evaluation. Moreover, early adopters or technology ambassadors speed up the transition from a conservative mindset to a more innovative way of thinking.