Can you be forced to become a Drill Sergeant?

2019-04-07T15:39:38-04:00

For privacy, this will be anonymous.

My friend worked hard to get their E-5, as everyone does. They're in the reserves, so with the promotion came with a transfer into a E-5 slot at another unit, a DS unit. 1SG said, if you don't want to go to DS school, that's fine, we'll find another place for you. The E-5 tested the waters for a month (meaning discussed it with their family, looked up the requirements, talked to other DS's, etc.) and decided it wasn't the best idea for their family right now, wants a different unit.

Now, 1SG says go to DS School or get demoted and transferred out. I was enlisted for over a decade, I understand getting handed unwanted assignments, but this smells fishy. In their promotion packet they did not check the box that said "Are you willing to go to DS school?" Should such a box be interpreted as informative, not definitive? Meaning, "needs of the Army" regardless what they checked? The 1SG says their promotion was conditional and this is their only choice, they have to go.

Most concerning aspect is that they will lose their rank over this, Should they go to JAG/IG to fight this?

***In all honesty, this will probably break them. They'll go back to E-4 and ride out their time remaining. It's a shame to not have more options here and to see the leadership handling it last minute and with an abrasive attitude. The deciding factor really is their family. 3 kids, one just born in December, they're graduating college in MAY with their BA and then getting a new job. They got put in a corner and nobody went to bat for them.

Resolution:

It turns out that their Commander from their original unit, who was stalling their promotion until IG got involved, rushed their transfer through by finding a slot for them in a nearby DS unit, despite the fact soldier that the soldier did not want DS school and left the box unchecked in their promotion packet. The CMDR felt that they were doing this soldier a favor, but neglected to communicate as much and thus it wasn't received that way by the soldier. Rather, it appeared to be the Commander covering up their own mistakes, as events that continued afterward also seemed to suggest.

The situation has been resolved mostly, but it didn't end well. I am hoping they can make the most of it, many NCO's have sympathized with the soldier for the situation they were put in, regardless of the mistakes made on their part. I hope this is a lesson for them in future leadership positions and connects them to a professional philosophy of humbly serving others and communicating with integrity.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2019 3:49 PM

2019-04-07T15:49:27-04:00

As far as I understand, with the reserves your rank is contingent on your slot. He moved into an E5 slot to get promoted, unless he finds another E5 slot somewhere he might be out of luck.
Look at it from the Army point of view, if people just rotated into DS positions for a few months and rotated out there would be a surplus of E5s and that DS spot would never stay filled.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 7 at 2019 4:34 PM

2019-04-07T16:34:26-04:00

You can always turn it down, but branch will not look favorably on you and they have long memories

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2019 6:00 PM

2019-04-07T18:00:52-04:00

If they are getting promoted into a unit they will need at least 12 months there to retain the rank, as far as I know. What I do know though, is there are positions other than DS positions in DS units like Training or Supply. TPU DS units have candidate programs that allow Specialist (P) to come to the unit and they will be promoted so they can go to school. That rank is contingent on them going to and passing the Drill Sergeant Academy. Your friend might be in the same boat. Its possible he can go to that unit and not have to become a Drill Sergeant, it just depends on what position his orders say they'll fill. Then again, that command team will do what they like.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2019 9:07 PM

2019-04-07T21:07:36-04:00

From what it sounds like based on what you're saying, your friend likely entered into a specific Drill Sergeant billet/slot (SQI X). Correct me if I am wrong about that, but if what you are saying is accurate, I doubt it, because drill sergeant school (like airborne school) requires the slot. That being said, being in that billet and not being qualified for it by SQI is essentially the same as being non-MOSQ (because the SQI is apart of the MOS). So accepting it is essentially like saying, "I agree to get qualified in my MOS" and by association, "I volunteer to go to Drill Sergeant School" or whatever school will qualify him for that position. Now, this 1SG may have lied to him as it seems you are saying, which in that case the Soldier should try and voice his concern. However, if you accept a position/promotion into a slot it is your obligation to do everything you can to meet the qualification requirements for that billet. If you can't, the Army assumes you have not kept up your end of the deal in accepting it. To give another example, my previous unit was an airborne unit and I was asked before joining if I would volunteer to go to airborne school to accept the position. I said yes and went. If I had not, they would have kicked me out of the unit, because I would be useless as a paratrooper in an airborne unit not being qualified. Likewise, a Soldier filling up a Drill Sergeant billet in a Drill Sergeant unit, but not willing to go to school is not helping that unit in its mission either. Anyway, regardless of what this 1SG may have told him, this is the way it works.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2019 12:00 PM

2019-04-08T12:00:27-04:00

If you accept a position & rank for a slot then refuse it. You will lose that rank & be transfered to another slot &/or unit.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2019 11:30 PM

2019-04-08T23:30:00-04:00

I think your friend isn’t telling you the whole story. Included in your tpu promotion packet is your election form. In that form he specified his mileage he’s willing to travel, if he’s a mil tech, and if he’s willing to accept an additional duty assignment. He had to initial the block and rank his preferences. Also you said he tried it out for a month, a month for a reservist is 2 days.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2019 8:38 AM

2019-04-09T08:38:07-04:00

Once DS orders get ahold of you that's pretty much it. And in the NG/Reserves your promotions are contingent upon if there's a slot and where that slot is. If he wants the promotion then it sounds like that's his only option unless he moves. The army basically does what it wants with you within the confines of the law. (To an extent. We all know it can get shady now and then.)

Response by CSM Eric Biggs made Apr 16 at 2019 7:54 AM

2019-04-16T07:54:43-04:00

Promotions in the Reserves are based on open slots. I was a Drill Sergeant in the Army Reserves and 1SG of a Drill Sergeant Company. If your friend accepted a promotion he will have to comply with the requirements of the position, and stay in the position for at least a year. He should be given a list of dates for Drill Sergeant School, for him to pick from. They should work with him on when he can go based on his family, school and civilian work. Being a DS will fast track his career. However if he no longer wants to be in that unit or be a Drill Sergeant, that’s fine, but he will have to find a new unit and will lose his rank. The Commander can allow him to keep his rank, but probably not gonna happen.