Can someone be forced into becoming a Drill Instructor? If so, how do you avoid it?

You want the short answer- self refer to ASAP as soon as you come down on DS orders. Thats how I ditched the orders. You can PM me to find out how to get out of recruiting. Both of those while important are not for everyone-

Look it is considered a privilege to be DA selected for anything, cause you were picked from everyone else in your pay grade to do this. DI, Recruiter, are the main ones- cause damn few folks volunteer to do these cause they are a bitch to handle. Yet most all survive it and if they do well, branch normally rewards them with a plum assignment afterward, and they are favored by promotion boards. I don't know what other services do, but since it is a necessary job- I imagine so.

I’m sorry I’m not sure I believe that one, no one can be forced into being a DI or going Airborne or.... strictly voluntary. If I’m wrong I’ll say so, it’s a highly competitive slot they wouldn’t have to do that.

I was informed I was being put in to attend that school. I retired.

No NCO should ever be forced (ordered) to become a drill instructor, training instructor for the Air Force. Back in the mid 1980’s I was working full time for an Air National Guard fighter wing. One day someone handed me a printed order from the active duty force. It went on to say that the active AF was looking for volunteers from the Guard and AF reserve to become training instructors at Lackland AFB Texas. The tour would be three years on extended active duty (EAD) orders. I thought about it and decided I’d apply, I was 44 years old. My application was submitted after the usual physical and interview with the senior Air Guard officer and the CMsgt. Then the AF BMTS staff at Lackland reviewed the applications. Initially the AF was hoping to get three NCO’s from both Guard and Reserve. The final selection process was conducted at BMTS, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX. The board consisted of several senior NCOs including the CMsgt. I flew home and some time later was notified by the AF BMTS staff I had been selected. Following the BMTS instructors school I was assigned to an all male squadron. During my three years I encountered several instructors who had not volunteered, but had received orders to the BMTS. Not one was happy, they were all on second enlistments and had no other options. What I observed during my three years convinced me that only volunteers should be assigned as BMTS instructors. It was easy to find yourself “jammed up” if you weren’t careful. Two of my squadron’s AD instructors received courts martial and DD discharges following stockade time, for infractions with trainees under their commands.

Regardless of unit size, from squad to platoon, the responsibilities of an NCO are in two words. Lead & Train. That's what Drill Instructors do, and a lot of it. Be aware that as you gain rank and join the NCO corps, that's what you'll be doing. Some of, maybe "the" most rewarding part of my career is when I can look back and see the difference I've made and the influence I've had on other soldiers. When and if the time comes, you may decide you want to become a DI.

There are few other places in life where you canbe an influence and m akea difference like you can as an NCO.

I don't remember a lot, don't remember that names of many leaders I've had, but 44 years later, I still remember the rank, names and appearance, of my Drill Instructors from Basic Training. That should tell you a lot all by itself.

STOP SUCKING DICK!!! THE ONLY REASON SOLDIERS BECOME COCK SUCKERS FORCED "DRILL SERGEANTS" BYFORCE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE PROMOTED !!! EMAIL IS: [login to see] -

The short answers: Probably. No. Yes.

I can't speak to the other three branches, but I would assume that it is likely that when not enough volunteers are present they select likely candidates.

The Army National Guard doesn't really have a DS corp. The USAR is where you find lots of Drill SGTs, but even there it is voluntary. I have never encountered someone in the USAR "forced" to become a DS.

You can certainly avoid the assignment by signing a Declination Statement, but of course that ends your Active Duty career. You can still transfer to the Guard or Reserve, but if you were planning to make the Army a full time career...oh well.

To be totally honest it is completely your decision, but you need to thoroughly research the Pros and Cons.

What? Forced into it? If by that you mean having the privilege of being selected by the Department of the Army for one of the most prestigious duties you could ever hope to be selected for, then no. You can refuse to attend and get a bar to reenlistment. You can fail the course and basically end your career or career progression. So, there are options.

Most of the answer are all about "selfless service" and "do what you are told." And they aren't necessarily wrong. But they don't answer your question either. And they ignore the reality that some people may be great within certain roles and horrible in others. Or that they might have some serious shit going on in their lives which make an assignment such as DS a bad fit for them *at that time.*


Please note, almost all of these ideas have serious long-term repercussions on your career. I do *not* recommend these options 99% of the time.

Yes, there is DA Select. No, you cannot refuse. But you *can* request not to do it (will probably be denied) have your CoC request you not do it (probably be denied), or be found unfit. Drills have to complete a packet for school which includes a laundry list of things, like PT test, mental fitness screening, Command recommendations, etc. If you complete your packet but (for instance) fail your mental screening, you will not be going to DS school. If your Chain of Command non-recommends you, you will *likely* not be going to DS school. If you submit an APFT failure, you will *likely* not be going to DS school. If you go to DS school and you fail, you will likely not be hitting the trail. Etc. Also... last I knew single parents cannot be drills (or recruiters - but they can be AIT PSGs), so that is a non-career-ending loophole. Injuries will put it off, if not get it canceled permanently - but intentionally injuring yourself is malingering, so don't do that.

When might it be a good time to do it anyway?

I came down on DA Select for AIT PSG in Arizona. At the time, I was going through a custody battle in Kentucky. Kentucky refused to move jurisdiction, or to allow me to participate long-distance. Taking an AIT PSG job (and moving across the country for the job) effectively would have spelled the end of custody for me. It was worth it to me to effectively torpedo my career to keep my son. My Company, Battalion, and Brigade Commanders all wrote recommendations to HRC asking them to cancel my orders - HRC refused. I asked for a 12 month deferment to finish custody - HRC refused. I had already passed my mental screening, and had my packet complete (favorably). My Commanders all included their non-recommendations (for compassionate reasons, not fitness reasons) in my PSG packet. Off I went to AIT-land, and off my son went to his unfit mother. To this day I regret not working harder to sabotage myself (like failing AIT PSG school).

Yes, the Army *is* about selfless service. But that does not mean that the Army is always right or that the assignment that is right for the Army is the assignment that is right for you. You *can* sabotage yourself, but if you do so, do so knowing that you will severely hurt your chances for promotion, and you may remove any options to continue your career after your current term of enlistment.