What all do I need to know become a Drill Sergeant?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 15:49:27 -0500

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2015 3:51 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 15:51:09 -0500

In short: EVERYTHING
SPECIFICALLY: those lessons that can only be learned in a two-way rifle range

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2015 3:57 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 15:57:50 -0500

Are you trying to figure out how to get the assignment or are you already on orders?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2015 4:01 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 16:01:46 -0500

The STANDARD! Being a Drill Sergeant isn't about knowing everything. What ever type of NCO you were before the trail the hat only amplifies it. Just get in the ADPs learn PRT and come with an open mind ready to lead The next generation! You're teaching 10 level task learn and master them! This well defend!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2015 4:53 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 16:53:16 -0500

Ok this may take a minute and its only going to scratch the surface. If you are afraid of public speaking, performing the task to show the correct way, unable to work extreme hours, then scramble a way to get out of this. Good luck with that though. 1st week is 120hrs (seriously I counted). There are 4 days as a DS. Monday, Sunday,CQ/staff duty, and sometimes comp day. Be on your game all the time. Don't build a character, be yourself 100% of the time. If you don't know how to do something, then find out! If it's a battle Drill or something like that, then stick your face in a book. Rely on your buddies to guide you through the SOP's that your unit has. You will be the new guy but that doesn't mean you won't be held accountable like a senior will. Some days you will be the only one, conduct yourself like your the boss and all they need is you. This will really be the most rewarding job ever. At the same time if you step on your own "gear" consider it career suigete. If your married, then prepare your family to adjust accordingly. Your personal life no longer matters. This is a long way from your 42A job. At least as a grunt I teach grunt things all day. This isn't prison where they will see that you are a rookie Guard. They will respect you and the hat and badge until you conduct yourself in a way that will make them feel otherwise. Know your modules for DS school. Download it from the internet. Embrace the suck of DS school. It's dumb and they harp on every little thing you do. In hindsight you will see that this is exactly how you will be with your privates. Don't let them slide on anything. Expect perfection. This will never happen but hopefully they will be as good as they can get for the short time you have them. If you do your job right, these kids will actually love you like a father, some kids will be tougher than others. You will have to tailor your interactions with them on a personal basis after red phase. You will find the ones that have authority issues because they were abused. You will have the privates that have never had a lick of responsibility in their life. Shit, kids will come out of the closet. It's a crazy life. Your affecting 220 kids every 9 weeks. Good luck message me if you need anything.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2015 9:19 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 21:19:45 -0500

Yell...loud

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 27 at 2015 11:18 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 23:18:21 -0500

Every single failure at DS School I have seen has been APFT failure. I am sure you have to 90 push ups to "get" 42.

Response by MAJ David Wallace made Nov 28 at 2015 8:14 AM

MAJ David Wallace — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 08:14:31 -0500

SSG Eddie Peters, lot of folks here are giving good info, especially SSG Lawrence Johnson. As an officer working with DSs and NCOS of all ranks in a Basic Combat Training battalion, I have to repeat what the Colonel said: get hot on PT!! We had a couple Drill Sergeant candidates dropped from school because they failed the PT run. Specifically, the run. I only remember 2 DSCs coming back for failing the modules.

Check out the BCT units in your area. Most will have a rigorous DSS School prep program to get you ready for school. Generally, you should have a mentor and other DSs that have already been on the trail. They will do everything within their power to get you ready for school.

BCT is a faced paced world; be ready to hit the ground running. The Drill Sergeant is the major "weapons system " of the BCT unit. Commanders and CSMs can either make or brake their careers based on Drill Sergeant strength. Be prepared to qualify as a Drill Sergeant within a year of joining your unit. Learn all you can about the BCT environment. It may just be the 'toughest job you'll ever love."

Best of luck to you! !

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 28 at 2015 9:44 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 09:44:49 -0500

Instill discipline, coach, mentor and counsel ( verbally rather than using a 4856, unless you are building a packet to separate) you Will work long hours, but like anything, more dedication you put in, better results at the end of the day. I had the pleasure of having my recruits from BCT all the way until they graduated AIT. As an OSUT DS you have those soldiers for up to 5 months. This gives you more time to train them and prepare them for their duty assignment. Here's a rule of thumb, if you are constansltly volunteering/ or voluntold to duty drive, take the sick call kids to the CtMC, do other admin tasks rather than teaching, doing the obstacles with them, or anything related to training then you need to stop what you are doing re-asses your priorities and figure out what you are doing wrong or not doing at all . If you are doing this just to " make the list" then this isn't for you, it's about improving the organization, teaching young adults how to do a job, and do it well. Become better members for our Army and society. Every BCT/OSUT company is different believe it or not, but your job as a DS is the same. Everyone one has good points but if you don't read, practice and ask questions all the good advice won't do any good. Good luck.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Nov 28 at 2015 10:31 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 10:31:28 -0500

A little about everything, a lot about some things, and expert in a few things, an ability to be honest, even when it hurts. And a little luck in getting good partners, great leadership and few trouble makers in your trainees.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 28 at 2015 11:36 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 11:36:22 -0500

Check out http://www.jackson.army.mil and find the link for the Drill Sergeant School under tenant units.

Response by SSG Jeffrey Landry made Nov 29 at 2015 12:15 PM

SSG Jeffrey Landry — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 12:15:47 -0500

The drill Sergeant creed, live the NCOS Creed, APF book inside out, be able to multi task, research, demonstrate Soldier leading skills, Army Regs

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Dec 1 at 2015 3:00 PM

Capt Brandon Charters — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 15:00:50 -0500

This is an excellent question SFC Private RallyPoint Member. I know the perfect guy to help answer
----> SFC Chad Sowash.

Response by SFC Chad Sowash made Dec 1 at 2015 4:54 PM

SFC Chad Sowash — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 16:54:35 -0500

You will be building soldiers - something to remember at all times. You will be performing the tasks and actually going through Basic with them during every single cycle. You need to embrace leadership, for example you should take Duty Week by the throat and own it. You're there before Joe wakes prepping for the day and for weeks you're there even after lights out - so you should probably remember the phrase MAX-DRILL. Understand and embrace the job of a Drill is the most important in the military. You ARE literally building the future. Last but not least, every cycle they will be 18 years old and YOU will be aging, but you cannot allow them to see it. Run, fight and train harder than anyone around you and your Joe's will remember you their entire life. FAIL Joe... Well, they'll remember that too...

Response by 1SG Ronald Rieck made May 13 at 2017 7:07 PM

1SG Ronald Rieck — Sat, 13 May 2017 19:07:24 -0400

This will date me, but I attending Drill Sergeant School in 1988 (May-July Ft. Sill, OK). I was the youngest candidate at 22 years old, and I found the school to be extremely challenging. We had a 20% failure rate, both because of being unable to modulate and APFT failures. 80% is memorization, so practice memorizing every chance you get. You will be amazed at how good your memory improves, so it'll happen, believe me. I made it through, and still look back at being a Drill Sergeant as the best job I ever had...Congrats on your decision!

Response by PFC Bradley Campbell made May 13 at 2017 7:53 PM

PFC Bradley Campbell — Sat, 13 May 2017 19:53:32 -0400

most of my drill sgts were in fantastic shape. i mean their PT scores were like the 18 to 21 year olds. and most of these guys were in their 30's.i did not mind the hardasses. what i did not like were the ones who take anything you fail or dont perform well at, as some kind of personal insult. the same poisonous toxic jerks we all dread serving with. SSGT White calling home to tell his wife to get at parade rest. and SSgt Duran having his 6 year old son dropping privates for no reason.....and SSG Rodriguez telling us "mens, dont forget your chower choes!" if you choose this, you better like your work. because you will be at work a lot. and tip of the hat to the real leaders, the ones who take complete idiots and turns them into just semi educated dumbasses. i never caught any of them wrong, they were always on their best game.

Response by SSG Eric M Hersh made May 27 at 2017 3:11 PM

SSG Eric M Hersh — Sat, 27 May 2017 15:11:39 -0400

hellos baby sitting coarse for 12 hours a day

Response by SFC Olivero Rodriguez made Jun 30 at 2017 2:05 PM

SFC Olivero Rodriguez — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 14:05:55 -0400

Don't worry you will learn it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2019 5:51 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 17:51:43 -0500

Reach out to your local DS units, we're looking for quality high speed NCO's. I'm in Western NY and have all the requirements.