What advice do you have for someone joining the Reserves to be a drill sergeant?

2018-03-20T00:32:27-04:00

I am going to ETS in a few months and go into the reserves. I am taking a drill sergeant slot and wondering if anyone has any advice for me. Specifically reservists who have become drill sergeants.

Response by CSM William Payne made Mar 20 at 2018 1:39 AM

2018-03-20T01:39:08-04:00

Do you have specific questions?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 5:40 AM

2018-03-20T05:40:51-04:00

I also wonder how you will take a DI slot as E4. Do you mean you are going to try and join a training unit, and that they will send you?

I am pretty sure that going to drill instructor course is still a selection process. Part of the packet includes a letter from a commander at least O5, and demonstrated leadership ability and potential.

It will take some time to gain rank, as well as establishing your potential with your new unit.

I wish you all the best

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 6:47 AM

2018-03-20T06:47:49-04:00

Go into the Reserves as a 00G MOS it’s a immaterial MOs which includes Drill Sergeants and Instructors. The 104th TRNG DIV is the Best one to go into.

Response by SFC Jorge Diaz Caro made Mar 20 at 2018 1:02 PM

2018-03-20T13:02:04-04:00

Looks like your going to get a Conditional Promotion you will get lateral promoted to CPL or to SGT if you meet the requirements. The way it works is that they will promote you before you attend school and if you fail the Drill Sergeant Course you will loose your rank and get transferred to another unit needs of the army, if you pass the course you will retain the rank.

Now don't rely on that because your going to this unit you will get aromatically sent to the academy that isn't the case most of the time, they will interview you, and asses your leadership skills until you met a desired level of efficiency y leadership. If they do not think you are Drill Sergeant material they will not send you to the Drill Sergeant Academy. and normally you will take an APFT every drill weekend if you fail you're booted from the unit.

Things to be prepared for the Academy:
- Learn at least the first 3 modules of instruction by memory you will have to stand in front of your class and pitch it to them.
- Be on top of your APFT game. The standard on event execution on and performance in black and white found on AR 350-1.
- Be professional on and off duty as an NCO is a GIVEN but as a Drill Sergeant Is LAW the Campaign Hat strikes fear and turns heads.
- AR 350-1 is your Bible for training.
- Be prepared to conduct PRT every day. you may be assigned a day or it will be randomly pick the morning of.
- know that you are always being evaluated
-DONT DO DUMB SHIT

Response by CSM Clyde Gregory made Mar 20 at 2018 6:33 PM

2018-03-20T18:33:35-04:00

You will have to make sergeant first then you can go to reserve drill sergeant school 2 annual training one on each end and your drill weekends for a year you can do it

Response by SFC John Miskowiec made Mar 20 at 2018 9:44 PM

2018-03-20T21:44:02-04:00

You will complete most of the modules right there at your Drill home station on the weekends. The unit an put you in that slot at any rank below 1st Sgt. You can be assigned right out of basic Its the unit discretion. However you can't officially complete the modules or got on an AT as a drill until you are promoted. All the cadre slots in a Drill platoon are SSG and SFC but your unit can do whatever if they don't mind you out of the loop for along time. Doing most of the modules and one AT at a Drill school tales at least a year.

Response by CSM William Payne made Mar 21 at 2018 1:10 PM

2018-03-21T13:10:49-04:00

You may be in a drill sergeant slot, pending promotion to Sergeant. I don’t believe the reserves have a waiver any longer for promotable Specialist reservist to attend drill sergeant school since we considated into the one Army Drill Sergeant School back in the 2008 period. So you may have to be promoted to sergeant prior to attending the course. All drill sergeant candidates regardless of component are required to attend THE Army Drill Sergeant School at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, which is staffed by both Army and Army Reserve Cadre. So you will need to organize your civilian life accordingly for that absence.

There is excellent information about the school on the facebook site; The U S Army Drill Sergeant Academy.

Upon arrival at Fort Jackson for the Drill Sergeant Course, all Candidates must report to the United States Army Drill Sergeant Academy in Building 9576. There are Three 3-week phases, 9 weeks total. Phases must be completed in order. All phases must be completed in 18 months.

There are three Army Reserve Divisions with drill sergeants under the 108th Training Command (Initial Military Training), headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Basically in the eastern United States you have the 98th Training Division (Iroquois), headquartered at Fort Benning, Georgia. In the midwest and west, you have the 95th Training Division (Iron Men of Metz), headquartered out of Fort Sill, Oklahoma. And then there is the 104th Division (Timberwolves) (Leadership Training), which is located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, which has units spread out across the nation.

The mission of the 95th and 98th Divisions Drill Sergeant is to concentrate on augmenting the basic training base at Forts Jackson, Fort Benning, Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Sill. The 104th supports the ROTC Leadership training at ROTC Campuses around the country, at ROTC Camps over the summer and at the Military Academy at West Point.

Depending on where you live, it is possible that you could train at one of the BCT installations during some of your ADT periods, other than that there will be other taskers for you to do fulfill. During your Annual Training you will be assigned to augment training as an unit or as an individual augmented for an active component unit.

Good luck to you, being a drill sergeant is a demanding, yet rewarding assignment. If you decide to continue your career in the reserves until retirement, having done drill sergeant service will definelty give you a leg up on other competition for promotion. When you see SGMs and CSMs, look to see have many wear the Pumpkin Patch.

Let me know if I can answer any questions.

Response by SGT Carl Brown made Mar 21 at 2018 7:46 PM

2018-03-21T19:46:48-04:00

Drill SGT school for reserves is 1 year long. When I was in it was prior to 9/11 and Reserve units were not activated like recent history, and I had problems with Drill SGT's that had never been on Active duty. It eventually caused me to leave reserves.

Response by SGT Carl Brown made Mar 21 at 2018 7:51 PM

2018-03-21T19:51:18-04:00

Be prepared for a long Drill SGT school. School in the reserves is a year long. When I went through it was prior to 9/11 and like most reserve units at that time there were a lot of people that never served on active duty. I personally had issues with senior Drills calling cadence wrong and calling drill commands on wrong foot. It eventually caused me to leave reserves as I was one that wanted everything proper and right. I am sure it is not that was now since the reserves have been deployed after 9/11. I loved being a drill though, it was a great way to get out your frustration, took it out daily on barracks (if you know what I mean).

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2018 12:47 PM

2018-03-27T12:47:32-04:00

I entered reserve component as an E4 Spc after leaving active duty as well. I went in to a Reserve Drill Sergeant unit at Ft. Benning. I spent about a year training up for the USARDSS with my NCOs who were all DS. Got a lateral promotion to CPL, went to DSS, the made E5 within 60 days of successful completion.
That being said; learn the first three modules and be able to recite them verbatim. Learn PRT backwards and forward. Marching drills.
Work on your own PRT, weapon qual, and knowledge. Ask your NCO’s to quiz you and give you guidance. Volunteer to lead PRT, lead formations and the such.
If/ when you get to DSS hook up with a battle buddy if one is there from your unit or make one. Use that battle to help you study for your exams and modules; it can make a difference.

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made Apr 29 at 2018 10:44 PM

2018-04-29T22:44:26-04:00

I don't think anyone should be a drill sergeant without at least 5 years time in service. I recommend you go on AD as an Infantryman and service two enlistments (6 years) as an Infantryman. After 6 years you should be a SGT or, maybe and SSG. Then consider becoming a drill sergeant. On second thought - a drill sergeant should be a SSG who has successfully performed as a squad leader for two years. Experience counts - get some!

Response by SFC Kiettisak Bennett made May 26 at 2018 9:59 AM

2018-05-26T09:59:19-04:00

Have you been to DSA yet?

Response by SFC Kiettisak Bennett made May 26 at 2018 10:01 AM

2018-05-26T10:01:20-04:00

First thing first, recite Drill Sergeant Creed, higher PT, good NCOER, be prepare for long hours

Response by SSG DJitsu Crowley made Jan 31 at 2019 7:47 PM

2019-01-31T19:47:41-05:00

What is it specifically you’re looking for?

Response by SSG DJitsu Crowley made Jan 31 at 2019 7:57 PM

2019-01-31T19:57:28-05:00

What are you looking for specifically? The school itself is exactly the same as active now. There’s no distinction.