Is it possible to go from E-4 to E-5 and directly go to Drill Sergeant school?

2019-10-21T15:45:31-04:00

I want to go from SPC to SGT but become a DS. I want to be On the Trail as fast as possible. How would I do that?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2019 3:46 PM

2019-10-21T15:46:59-04:00

In the reserves, yes. You have to be promotable and be granted a conditional promotion, complete the school, and then you are official.

Response by 1SG Frank Boynton made Oct 21 at 2019 6:45 PM

2019-10-21T18:45:10-04:00

Not in my day. You need a level of maturity that a newly promoted E-5 doesn’t usually have. If they allow it now, I would be very surprised. You need to have some leadership time first. A specialist doesn’t.

Response by SPC Jon Carpenter made Oct 21 at 2019 7:47 PM

2019-10-21T19:47:46-04:00

The are usually SSG and SFC in my experience. All my friends who were called to drill were all E6 (3)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2019 1:43 AM

2019-10-22T01:43:11-04:00

For males you have to be an E-6 unfortunately from what I’ve been told. I wish to be a DS as well. Speak to your chain of command and let them know your goals. I was given great advice, “always think two grades ahead.” For you that would be PFC/ SPC. Obviously have goals. Work towards those goals. But make sure you’re hitting your short term. Get that expert marksman badge. 270+ pt score above 500 ACFT score. As a 25B go get your A+ Net + Sec+. Get some college under your belt. Get your correspondence courses flowing. You’ll get where you want to be by doing the little things others don’t want to do.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2019 10:14 AM

2019-10-22T10:14:34-04:00

No offense, but you need to focus on learning your job. Not something that takes years of experience to get to. I understand, I was a team leader as an E-3 because they fired our E-5. (He was a transfer to the 82nd and couldn’t cut it.) Know your job. Know your bosses job. Know your bosses bosses job. Everything will fall into place. As the saying goes, focus on the 50m target, not the 300m or 500m Target.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 22 at 2019 10:37 AM

2019-10-22T10:37:02-04:00

Branch (assuming they are paying attention at all) is not going to send a brand new, inexperienced E5 to Drill School. The whole point of Drill Sergeants is to train future Soldiers. A brand new E5 doesn't even know how to how to be an NCO yet, much less have the experience and knowledge needed to be a Drill Sergeant.
That's how you end up on the cover of Army Times...

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 22 at 2019 12:33 PM

2019-10-22T12:33:52-04:00

Why don't you try to make it to E4 1st, and very damn seldom do they pick a new kid off the block to be a DI

Response by CPL Sheila Lewis made Oct 22 at 2019 12:57 PM

2019-10-22T12:57:49-04:00

I admire your motivation, and I too, have that level of motivation. Send me to DI school today!!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2019 6:57 PM

2019-10-22T18:57:52-04:00

Well considering the importance of a Drill, you wouldn't want to, and they wouldn't want you if you're a fresh SGT. You need experience as a NCO before you're ready to be Drill.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2019 12:36 PM

2019-10-23T12:36:42-04:00

It is possible in the reserves. You had to have completed BLC and be an E4 promotable before attending the course. However, I’ve seen other replies to this post that I tend to agree with. You should first have some leadership time as a sergeant. You should also be proficient in PRT and SMCT level 1 training. A Drill Sergeant has to be able to lead, train and mentor civilians straight off of the street and transform them into soldiers. Some of them have to be taught very basic things, like how to shave properly, or how to properly apply sunscreen. Some of them have never done laundry. It’s a profession in which you wear many hats. Make sure you’re ready before taking that leap.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2019 2:13 AM

2019-10-24T02:13:01-04:00

No. You have to request drill orders, and that takes time because the army has to vet you, and then sometime later you’ll get a school date. Then you have to build a packet and get a mental evaluation, then you go. A brand new sergeant shouldn’t be drill sergeant though in my opinion though. If you end up in AIT, you’re lacking experience that a more experienced NCO would have, if you end up in basic training, same deal. Someone who only has 10 level experience, and is unfamiliar with training/developing others, teaching classes, making packets, chaptering, counseling, planning training, making draws etc. you’d be doing a disservice to the Soldiers you’re training and your peers. Realistically though I guess it’s possible.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2019 9:55 PM

2019-10-24T21:55:42-04:00

Why do you want to become a Drill Sergeant?
To your question, it is possible, but unlikely. Once you are a SGT, WLC graduate, and have 4 years of service, you can apply if you meet the remainder of the requirements.
You're a few decades too late, t one point they had Drill Corporals.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Oct 25 at 2019 2:17 AM

2019-10-25T02:17:39-04:00

Once upon a time that was possible and was often done in the mid sixties. In those days we were so short of personel that many thing were done that are not normlly done in peacetime. However they were sort of picky about who they sent to the school.

Response by CSM Eric Biggs made Nov 3 at 2019 7:06 AM

2019-11-03T07:06:47-05:00

Technically possible, but highly unlikely. As a new SGT, you hardly have any experience has a leader or a trainer. Being a Drill Sergeant was one of my favorite assignments. Why are you in such a hurry to be a DS?

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Nov 3 at 2019 9:45 PM

2019-11-03T21:45:37-05:00

PFC Private RallyPoint Member Slow Down there Lad. Get a Little Experience Under Your Belt First. To Share Experience You have to Have Some. Authority is Great but You Have to Earn it First.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2019 6:24 PM

2019-11-13T18:24:34-05:00

As several have stated, yes, under certain circumstances it is possible. However, I concur with many who have recommended seeking experience. I knew very early on in my career that I wanted to be a DS, but I also knew that I wanted to be the kind of DS that trainees deserved. Seek first to be an expert on your basic soldiering skills, and in your MOS. Examine your motivation, ensure you are in it for the soldier, not for a cool hat or shiny (or subdued) badge. When you put on the hat it amplifies what you already are. If you are a hot shot in it for yourself you will become insufferable. If you are an experienced leader devoted to the welfare of those placed in your care, you will be the example new soldiers need. They will carry that with them throughout their career. I had both as I went through basic, and have worked with both during my career. I do not assert that I am in the second category, but that's where I've set my sights. If it is a long term career goal for you, that is fantastic. Take advantage of the opportunities in front of you now that will prepare you for the long term goal.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Nov 13 at 2019 6:32 PM

2019-11-13T18:32:54-05:00

You THINK you want to bevome a DS as soon as you pin hard stripes. You don't. Trust me. What you saw of your drills during basic was only the tip of the iceberg regarding what they actually did. You want to have time to identify your own personal leadership style, to understand how BN staffs work (things like how S1 works, what they CAN do, and what is out of their hands, just as an example), to understand what motivated different Soldiers, to learn and apply doctrine, to learn and applybregulations, and probably about 100 other things I can't think of right now.

Having a goal is good. Keep dreaming, keep working. But always temper your goals with common sense and objectivity.

Work hard, learn the Army, learn to lead, and consistently dialog with your leaders. Let them know your goals, and ask for their advice on how to get there. When you are ready, they will let you know.

Response by SSG Ronald Ralph made Jul 28 at 2021 2:31 PM

2021-07-28T14:31:02-04:00

In my day, you could volunteer to be a Recruiter or a Drill Sergeant as an E5, but there were certain qualifications you had to meet before being accepted. One was at least one year time in grade, a positive NCOER, a dang near perfect score on your APFT, be in the top 10% of your MOS, and be recommended all the way up the chain by your chain of command. Also, no UCMJ action as well.

Drill Sergeant School is no joke neither. It is much harder than Basic and AIT. Not everyone makes it through Drill Sergeant School. You’ll have to master all tasks, and be able to teach classes very batim out of Army regulations. Drill Sergeants go through very intensified training. It is not uncommon to hear them barking out orders and reciting classes to trees. I went to BNCOC and stayed in the same barracks as the Drill Sergeant Academy at Ft. Knox. I saw first hand how they trained. It’s not for the feint of hearted!!

Good luck, and continue to pursue your goals!!