How does a soldier get placed on orders for Drill Sergeant, Instructor, etc?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 10:05:40 -0400

So, I have been communicating with my branch manager and Drill Sergeant branch on and off for the last year, in order to be placed on assignment as a Drill Sergeant candidate. Was told repeatedly that my DEROS (7 Jan 2018) was too far out and should hear something about attending USADSA once my branch releases me. Well, literally 5 minutes ago I check my Outlook and am on assignment to Hood. Haha. Help.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jul 19 at 2017 10:13 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 10:13:20 -0400

Sorry Brother. Hope others can help but nothing those of us with RE-4Rs can do?

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Jul 19 at 2017 10:57 AM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 10:57:47 -0400

Really, REALLY bad luck. Some other Marines & i all rotated back with orders for Parris Island. They all went to DI school, I went to Marksmanship Instructor. I was last alphabetically... draw your own conclusions.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2017 11:35 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 11:35:01 -0400

Sometimes they're just DA select. Sometimes units will go around asking. When I was on Rear D in 2012 there was the G2 SGM asking females who wanted to go to Dril Sgt School because they needed females pretty bad.

I had gotten a reservation to go to AIT PSG school in 2013 but I found out I was pregnant right after so I couldn't go. I didn't ask for it just got DA selected.

So you're saying you want to go to drill sergeant school but you got orders to Hood instead? You could try talking to branch again or wait until you're at Hood. It's odd that if someone is wanting to go they wouldn't send you.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Jul 19 at 2017 3:15 PM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 15:15:32 -0400

ok - this is going to be a long shot, but when you get to hood, speak to the retention people, they should have, or know how to obtain, drill and recruiter applications. as for being placed on those type of orders, they do not come through your branch, they come through TRADOC

Response by 1SG Frank Boynton made Jul 19 at 2017 4:11 PM

1SG Frank Boynton — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 16:11:15 -0400

When I went I had volunteered for it. The process took me about 7 months from start to PCS to Ft Dix. Then another 3 months working as a hard hat waiting on my class date. Don't know how it works today.

Response by SFC Wesley Arnold, Jr made Jul 19 at 2017 4:24 PM

SFC Wesley Arnold, Jr — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 16:24:06 -0400

Unless your trying to figure out how you got pick without a request. Pretty simple actually 1) DA Select (nothing you can do for this one) 2) Request it through your unit with DA 4187 (if they still use those old dinosaurs) 3) Ask for a sit down with your CSM (tell them you're looking to strengthen you packet for SFC)
* Always keep your CoC in the loop you don't want to burn any bridges.
** Once you are on orders that's when you want to send out feelers for BCT / AIT / OSUT slots

Response by SFC Joseph Lumpkins made Jul 19 at 2017 6:24 PM

SFC Joseph Lumpkins — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 18:24:43 -0400

I know that times have changed since I retired ion 2002, but when I retired to Ft. Huachuca from Korea, I was told that I was going to the NCO Academy as a SGL for ANCOC, so when I showed up they were like you have to interview for threes positions with the commandant and I said well you had better talk to the MI Corps SGM becasue he is the one that selected me for this position.

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Jul 19 at 2017 8:12 PM

SGT Christopher Hayden — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 20:12:35 -0400

I think Instructor works a bit different, or at least in my case it did. When I PCS'd to Benning, my Orders were just the general "Replacement" and I could have ended up in TRADOC or 3ID on Kelly Hill. I ended up getting assigned to the 29th, and got slotted in as a Javelin School Instructor and had to attend TAITC.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jul 19 at 2017 8:14 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 20:14:17 -0400

Honestly I just asked.... Branch Managers seem to vary in terms of teamwork, but having said that, availability is a factor as well, and I don't discount that...

Response by Cpl John Barker made Jul 19 at 2017 11:03 PM

Cpl John Barker — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 23:03:44 -0400

You need to fist bump satan and kick a small child, at least that's how Marine's pick our Drill Instructors

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2017 7:25 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 19:25:22 -0400

I went to USADSA in 89 as a volunteer. 3 months ago my son, who is a SSG in Vilseck, was DA selected. He reports to Relaxin' Jackson at the end of Sep. He was also on an accompanied (Command sponsored) tour. He will be stationed at FTLW. Not sure how your gaining unit will treat your request.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2017 7:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 19:26:29 -0400

Contact HRC, Special Assignments for your MOS. Your orders can be cancelled out by Special Assignment.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2017 10:24 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 10:24:18 -0400

When I came down on orders to be an Instructor, my old unit was disbanding (159th CAB out of Ft. Campbell). I did not ask for orders to Eustis, but I figured that I was going to get them anyway, since I had 13 years in, two years in Korea, no TDA assignments, and 4 deployments. The direct route is to contact your branch manager.