What kind of motivational methods and discipline techniques are Drill Sergeants using today, other than KP and recommending Article 15s?

2021-05-27T00:52:31-04:00

I was a drill sergeant during the heat of the Vietnam war. The draft was in effect and many of the draftees didn’t want to be in the military. In addition some of them with criminal activity were given a choice between going to jail or joining the military either by enlisting or requesting to be drafted. It was not fun maintaining discipline and motivating them to be the soldier they needed to be. Most of my time as drill sergeant there was only one DS per platoon and a field first. How many drill sergeants per company today on the average? I couldn’t find this info browsing the Internet.

My question is, what kind of motivational methods are being used today and what kinds of discipline techniques are used other than KP and recommending article 15?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2021 3:25 AM

2021-05-27T03:25:14-04:00

When I went through we had two drill sergeants and one senior drill sergeant per platoon in addition to a company 1SG, XO, and commander. Near the end of our cycle we got a fourth drill sergeant who was an observer as he was just about to start his first cycle as a drill sergeant.

I'm not sure what's being used right now, but it was a lot of PT when I went through as punishment. Hell our Senior even figured out how to use cool down exercises to smoke us.

Not at the range though. The range for people who were having trouble with their rifle, usually the guys who never had any experience or a negative experience with fire arms received extra attention. Not in a negative fashion either, they were very calm and instructive with them. I think they knew on some level the trainee was afraid of the weapon and needed to learn to not be, and that screaming at them wasn't going to fix it.

Everything else though, PT was the answer. I think some may have gotten extra CQ or fire guard shifts, not sure though. I never did, so lucky me. I vaguely remember a threat of article 15, but those are all BS as we found out near the end.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2021 8:10 AM

2021-05-27T08:10:40-04:00

SSG Frank Bova - now, NCO's and DS's use counseling statements to document behaviors and issues that could later lead to ART15's, but in the training environment the idea of a true ART15 is slim to none. They use extra PT, or extra duty such as CQ or extra fire guard shifts. They can use KP, but in most places that is all handled through contract workers now. With today's Army being all volunteer it shortens the list of shitbags that are only there because they have no other options. From what I have seen all Basic training platoons have one senior DS and two others, AIT Platoons will have one Senior DS and other NCO's to support as needed.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made May 27 at 2021 10:53 AM

2021-05-27T10:53:38-04:00

Some of them responded well to a more structured environment providing that environment was my job

Response by SSG Brian L. made May 27 at 2021 4:18 PM

2021-05-27T16:18:49-04:00

Here at Fort Benning we strive for 4 Drill per Platoon and often with a PL.. it may be almost too many at times as it tends to diffuse responsibility if they don't take ownership but at least we aren't spread as thin as Drill used to be. Those days had to be terrible. We don't do KP but we do article 15 and chapter when needed. I mean its vastly different dealing with volunteers than some of the trash you had to deal with. An informed motivated Platoon is easy to deal with, of course you come in hard for the first few weeks until they fall in line. Also Infantry OSUT is now 22 weeks! So theoretically after some time you can transition to more of a mentor teacher type of role ... of course they dictate how they get treated. If they act like adults I treat them that way. I want them smart and lethal by time they hit the force and do my best to separate the ones that cant/wont make it.

Response by 1SG Michael Anthony Gonzales made May 27 at 2021 4:56 PM

2021-05-27T16:56:01-04:00

I most effective approach is extra duty after supper; BN and CO area cleanup.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made May 29 at 2021 1:22 AM

2021-05-29T01:22:54-04:00

I had a speach I gave to my platoons on the first day. In that I told them I was not going to stand and yell all the time at them, instead I had (and I then reached for it) the power of the pen (holding my pen so they could see it). I told them with this pen I can affect the rest of your military career. I can write statements which will follow you everywhere you go. I then left a moment of silence to let the point set in. We all know lots of the paper work from basic gets thrown out, but the privates didn't know that. That was followed up with a counseling session with each one of them, and I calmly pointed out this was the paper work I talked about earlier. Yes there were those who needed a "little" more. PT was always good, but you had to find what "hurt" the private. Once I had a private with whom PT could not hurt him. Turns out he had been a life guard and was in super physical form. So you got to get to know them to find out what "hurts" them if you know what I mean.