What's a Reserve Drill Sergeant like?

I'm a drill sergeant in the 98th. My advice to E-4's is this. Stay in a line unit and become an NCO. Get some experience and some rated time. After a year or two join a drill sergeant unit. I'll be honest, these drill sergeant units are looking for numbers. You don't want to come in as an E-4 and be a candidate for 2 years waiting on NCOES so you can get promoted. Take your time, drill sergeant duty isn't going anywhere. Be an established NCO first.

We have an E-4 in my unit right now who has been there 2 years now. There is no funding for him to go to BLC. He's 22 years old and has never been in charge of anything as far as the Army goes. He's getting ready to transfer out of our unit to a line unit. His APFT is good, height and weight is good. He even knows the Drill Sergeant Creed and at least 6 modules. At the end of the day he is not an NCO. I don't like the idea of sending a newly pinned E-5 without any rated time to the Drill Sergeant Academy. He would get eaten alive. I hope I am making sense. Definitely get your E-5 and then after a little while go to a drill sergeant unit.

When I was a Drill Sergeant (1995-1998) every year we would do a "Training Base Expansion" where Reservists from the 98th Division would come to Fort Leonard Wood for their two weeks of ADT. For several months they knew what two weeks of 12B OSUT they would be there for and were very well prepared.

Each Platoon had two active duty Drill Sergeants. We also had an active duty XO, Supply, Armorer, and Training/OPS NCO. The Commander, 1SG and the additional Drill Sergeants (two and sometimes three in each platoon) were reservists.

They always did very well and I enjoyed working with them

I would also agree with others that it is best to stick with a line unit, become well-versed in your MOS, and then consider DS duty. By far, my time under the hat was the most rewarding period of my career thus far. Based on unit mission, you may see taskers come down giving you the opportunity to push for well beyond two weeks. I had a 6-month mission at Knox when the current LDAC barracks were BCT. Excellent mission! Also found training opportunities at Ft. Benning too for a year. Get experience. Stay motivated. Go Drill Sergeant.