Has any Officers commanded a Drill Sergeant Company or Detachment? How was the experience? Pros and cons?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 07:58:08 -0500

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Mar 8 at 2022 8:34 AM

LTC Eugene Chu — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 08:34:23 -0500

I was a basic training company commander from 2010-2011. On active duty, it can involve 80-100 hour duty weeks. You have long schedule, but you are home with family instead of being OCONUS. Although new recruits are physically weaker, you need to have a strong runner for A-group and balance PT needs.

Your experience will honestly depend a lot on who your chain of command is over you along with those under you. It was a bad experience for me, but it was due to the circumstances as opposed to the assignment. My situation involved a micromanaging battalion commander (i.e. abolished company graduation ceremony, required permission before imposing company level UCMJ, etc.) and overconfidence in my First Sergeant who previously mobilized, but did not adapt to new climate.

Response by LTC Eric Udouj made Mar 13 at 2022 11:38 AM

LTC Eric Udouj — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 11:38:43 -0400

Was the XO of an 11M OSUT USAR training company in 3-95 Training Support Division outside of FT Chaffee, AR- so not the same as the Drill Sergeant Cos that were in our sister BNs. One of the funnest experiences I had in my career - and great learning experience working with some of the finest NCOs ever had a chance to lead! Very different organization and focus - and yet one had to balance the platform skills of instruction with combat skills staying fresh and using the experience of the force to do both missions. I had a good CO CDR and an outstanding BN CDR who fully supported the training and the mission.