Do you think Drill Sgts going back to AIT will fix things or make them worse?

No! Tradoc 350-6 states how should AIT soldier should be treated. So, campaign hat or not, it will not.

Additionally, a Sergeant that embodies the spirit NCO Corps will always instill discipline and standards. So, if you uave a shitty Sergeant as a Platoon Sergeant or Drill Sergeant he is still a shitty Sergeant. The AIT PSG or DS position will only amplify it.

Note: I Am AIT PSG volunteering to convert as a DS because I believe we need solid NCOs for these positions.

I Had Drill Sergeants during AIT. I went to the last 91B Field Medic Course before the transition to the 91W then 68W course. We had phases just like AIT a Red Phase and a Yellow Phase. It was actually conducted in a ceremony.

During Red Phase it was like Blue Phase in Basic Training. You were restricted, The Drill Sergeants had high expectations of you but you had some liberties to include daily phone time, on the Pay Phones access to the Day Room and return to bunks for lights out at 2100.

After 4 weeks of that, those of us who had passed our PT Test, had acceptable grades in class and no problems with basic soldiering abilities, (on time, right uniform, properly shaved) we had privileges to include cell phone use, weekend passes and access to Post Activities. while in civilian clothing.

Campaign Hat or Not, its up to the NCO's to lead the way for the Soldiers. If you have laxed leadership the Soldiers will follow suit. Just because the Platoon SGT decides to change his head gear doesn't make him personally any different.

What needs to happen is During AIT Leaders should be developing soldiers through a crawl walk run phase to meet the expectations of them when they reach their respective Duty Stations. You start soldiers off on the right foot, with how to start their Army Career. and the rest will fall in place.

The hidden elephant in the room isn’t really about Drill Sergeants vs Platoon Sergeants. Upper echelons of command like to point the fingers at the lower levels as the problem, but they seldom look in the mirror and asked what they could do better. Having been a Drill Sergeant from 1989-1991 and most of that in an AIT environment, the chain of command sets the climate for acceptable soldiering and behavioral issues. Some company commanders were tough as nails and set very high achievable standards. Drill Sergeants had very few disciplinary issues to deal with because the soldiers knew the COC wouldn’t tolerate undisciplined behaviors. Another company commander and 1SG took over and they set an entirely different climate. One of being overly caring towards the IET soldiers and very little trust of the Drill Sergeants. We had no idea why that was as we’d always had top company awards, very high graduation rates, and few, if any, Field Grade AR 15’s and Chapter’s. Unfortunately, the incoming COC lasted about 4 months before the CO and 1SG were relieved. During those 4 months, it was hell. Soldierization was basically nonexistent. PT was more or less optional as nothing happened to repeat offenders (and they knew it). Sure, we could yell and do other Drill Sgt things to try and get them back in order and under control, but the CO and 1SG didn’t have our backs. We, as a group, went to the BN CSM. Once he and the BN CDR got involved, the CO and 1SG were history.

Here’s the point, contrary to the notion that Drill Sergeants can walk on water and shit ice cream (which I’m not saying is impossible), but the entire chain of command needs a closer look if NCO’s as a whole aren’t achieving or appearing to achieve expected results.