Why can't Guardsmen become Drill Sergeants?

SPC Zachary Weaver
I can’t add on to what CPT Garbarini explained. His information is dead on.
I see you’re a student at State College. Deciding to be enlisted instead of commissioned after you are a college graduate is the road less traveled; I’ve traveled it and for me it was good. I can say at the beginning I took some pokes from low to mid level NCOs who liked that they were in charge of a college boy. That wears off after awhile, and is OK, after they realize you can hang (for most of them).

In any case you’re in a good position. For the time being concentrate on being the best 12B that you can be; learn your job and learn how to be a good leader. Go to PLDC or whatever they call it now. When you make SGT I would say is the time to move. In the meantime talk to every DI you see and ask them about their journey. Ask them probing questions about their work assignments: the good and the bad. Being an old Brown Round myself, I can tell you we ain’t too smart. Who would take a job where you’re up before everyone else and the last to hit the bunk? Good Luck.

SPC (Join to see) - you could request to be released from your unit to transfer to the reserve component. A reserve recruiter can help you out. They will find a unit with a slot you get accepted and then get released from the NG unit and process in the reserves. They will then get you scheduled to attend Drill Sgt school. That one one of the better roles I held in the military. Extremely rewarding

Consider asking for a conditional release from your Guard unit to transfer to an Army reserve DI unit. Of course that is if you find one in your area or are willing to travel to closest one.

Although the NG doesn't have Drill Sergeants, there are instructor positions that you can do open vacancy applications. These positions generally are in support of MOS, OCS, and WOCS (at least in my state). You can also see if there is an opportunity for you to become instructor qualified while remaining in your current unit. I realize instructor qualification isn't a Drill Sergeant, but it may be an alternative to the conditional release

They use the reserve drill sergeants to augment the summer surge of trainees. You fall into active duty unit and train the new recruits

Conceptually USAR Drill Sergeants are used the same way as any other Soldier in the Army. Army Reservist obligations are one weekend a month, two weeks a year. Unless we are talking about the past 15 years........
When we engaged in two ongoing conflicts, the USAR Drill Sergeants were called onto Active Duty to fulfill critical gaps that the Active Component couldn't fill. Companies completely comprised of Reserve Component Soldiers were called up because the Active Army Drill Sergeants were put into line units for deployment purposes. They were a very effective tool to continue training Soldiers throughout this period.

Having been a "Reservist DS' I can attest that the standards are upheld. Yes two days a month and three weeks in the summer (not two) , plus any additional duty time that comes up thru out the year. Yes the standards may be upheld to varying degrees by individual units. The unit that I was in upheld the standards as if we were Active duty on the trail. Unit goal was PT Scores were minimum 80% per event. Based at Ft. Benning we had ample opportunity to get involved with actual trainee's in a BCT/OSUT enviorment and augment the DS's on the trail. Admittedly I had the same preconceived ideas about the reserves as most active duty soldiers when I transitioned but with the right leadership and mentorship from my "Seniors" I not only excelled but made it thru DSS with minimal difficulty.