What is the day-to-day of a Drill Sergeant like? How much leave do you get to take a year, days off, etc.?

2019-12-20T14:40:29-05:00

Hey im thinking about going on the trail as a ds,i just want to know what is the day to day life like as of right now because iknow things change. Also how much leave do you get to take a yr and days off stuff like that?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2019 3:15 PM

2019-12-20T15:15:57-05:00

My DS time is a little dated for sure. My time was from 06-08. Im sure some things have changed since then for sure. But pretty sure the battle rhythm is still similar. Your day will start early regardless of the phase of the cycle your in. While i was on the trail, every DS was present before we woke the PVT's before PT. We had meetings every morning about 0430, woke the PVT's at 0500. PT began at 0530. Chow was 0630. Training all day, sometimes until the evening. Red phase was the first 3 weeks of the cycle and had 100% of DS's present at all times. As we moved in to white phase the middle 3 weeks its stayed pretty similar to red because that is when we started BRM and were at the Range or training for the range every waking hour. It got a little better in the final phase as we would rotate DS's home before dinner chow, and once all of our tasks were completed for the day, turn it over to the DS that was on duty that night to complete. As far as leave went, most of the time we would try to schedule in between cycles or during the Xmas exodus. We didnt want to leave our battle buddies short during a cycle, sometimes things happened and we couldnt control it, illnesses, or deaths in the family happen, or BNCOC or ANCOC, but even schools were scheduled for the most part during cycle breaks, so as to not short our battle buddies. Cycle break lengths varied, mt longest cycle break was 10 days. shortest was the weekend. In the summer is when you will see those shorter breaks becuase thats when we got all the high school graduates or the juniors doing their split options. My DS time was the only time in my career where you never had anyone complain about having to pull duty all night becuase that was your time when the lights went out to do college classes and try to get a little rest and make sure no shenanigans were going on in the bays. Then you would have that day off once your battle buddies came in and took the PVT's to PT. Im sur eit has changed a little since my time, but the concept is still similar im sure. Good luck, it was the most rewarding time of my career, and the most demanding, just dont screw over your battle buddies. Then it will become even more painful than it already is.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2019 3:53 PM

2019-12-20T15:53:13-05:00

Long long hours, fast pace and an always changing environment.

Best FREAKING job in the Army!

The job will surely make you a better future SNCO or it will break you.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2019 3:31 PM

2019-12-21T15:31:56-05:00

I am currently a drill here at Benning. In all honesty I’m enjoying it so far. The hours are long and hectic but trust me when I say once you see your trainees march across that field you will accomplished or a rewarding feeling. I’m addition, it’s what you make of it. Best of luck to you.

Response by SPC Stewart Smith made Dec 22 at 2019 12:44 AM

2019-12-22T00:44:40-05:00

I always wondered how a DS could wake up before me and go to bed after me and still come in looking like a million bucks. Then they do that for two years. They must be highly disciplined.

Response by SPC Jeremy Babson made Jan 7 at 2020 7:14 AM

2020-01-07T07:14:41-05:00

Bear in mind if you do OSUT for the 12bs it's a little different than other Drill Jobs. Your privates don't leave you till they finish both basic and ait.

When I went through OSUT at Leonard Wood in 2003 we had 12Cs too that were still in highschool or some shit. They were a hot mess of drama.

I loved my drills. They got on my nerves and in my face like ducking a holes but all of them knew their job.

I had a blast learning at OSUT though I was sick as a dog and failing PT.

Make sure you keep tabs on flu season and get yourself inoculated if possible.
Those barracks I was in was a breeding ground for cold and Flu. I couldn't shake that virus and ended up with bacterial infection in my lungs. One time I coughed and a lugey flew out and hit one of my drills well shined boot. I was sure I was going to get smoked