What made your Drill Sergeant awesome?

I didn’t have Drill SGT’s in 1982 I had Drill Instructors mean as hell and all were NAM Combat Vets. Just like the NCO’s in my company after Boot Camp. My dad and uncles served in NAM and I learned a lot from those NCO in was an Honor to serve with them!

I should not comment on the horrible events I witnessed in Basic.

Senior Drill Instructor Staff Sergeant Taitano, MCRD San Diego 1981, platoon 1023. He couldn’t have been taller than 5’6” but his presence made him seem 7’ tall. I will always remember him standing in front of the school circle teaching what it means to be a Marine. One other image that sticks with me is when we were in the field at Camp Pendleton, sitting on the ground eating c-rats and he let us see briefly his other side—a smile and a few jokes before getting back to work. He showed us what it would mean to be part of the brotherhood once we earned the title of Marine.

The stories I could tell about Chief Lysle you would not believe...suffice to say the entire time in Basic Training RTC Great Lakes June -August 1987 were epic, I mean, 1940's WWII comedy type epic. The shenanigans the Chief got into with us, those we got into without him, those he bailed us out of...it was nothing short of unbelievable. I have to publish it in a book some day.

SSGT Walace, 1966, Ft Lewis, WA. I was drafted and shipped to Ft Lewis, WA. When we arrived, the Army was filling the 4th ID to deploy to Vietnam. SSGT Wallace told us on Day 1, your in the 4th ID and your going to Vietnam. He and all the other cadre were training us. I can't see anyone preparing anyone any better than he did. A true Soldier and Man....

The fact that he wasn't a Drill Sargeant and some limp wrist soldier. He was a Drill Instructor and a U.S. Marine.

He was a positive role model.

My drill sergeants were perfect human beings. First in, last out, high & tight and spit shined. An impossible standard set from day one to watching us leave on the bus to AIT. HOOAH!

To teach us how to throw a grenade, he put his hat in a stake, and said if anyone could hit it, there would be no punishment for us. We all tried to hit it, we all failed, but we became more accurate than we would otherwise. An example of motivation.