What’s the process of reclassing to 11B and becoming a drill sergeant?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 15:10:09 -0500

So I’m currently serving in the Army Reserve as an MP and getting ready to go on deployment within the next 3 weeks in which I extended to go on the deployment . I’m looking into once I return from deployment going active duty and reclassing to 11B with Airborne. I also want to go Drill Sergeant. I’m not sure if I earned Drill Sergeant if I would be sent to Fort Benning or Fort Leonardwood. Any tips would be appreciated .

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Nov 25 at 2020 4:27 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 16:27:22 -0500

Simple, once you return from your deployment, contact a local recruiter. If the MOS is available (needs of the Army have always first) then you’re good to go. If not, sign for whatever is offered or wait until 11B is available, your choice. Now, the DS part, you need to at least be a SGT/E5 to volunteer.

Response by SFC Chuck Martinez made Nov 25 at 2020 6:26 PM

SFC Chuck Martinez — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 18:26:03 -0500

I am a retired Airborne Light infantryman Joe, In order to get into the reserves you had to go to basic training as well to the MP school. I can tell you that the 11B field is always wide open due to the constant need of infantrymen not only in the army but the Marine Corps as well. One thing that you have to do, is be released from the reserve status before the army or any other branch of service can process you into active duty status!!. SFC Chuck Martinez retired!

Response by SPC Bradly Martin made Nov 25 at 2020 7:00 PM

SPC Bradly Martin — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 19:00:09 -0500

Good on you for wanting to join the big boys. Good luck! Army always wants 11B. Should be too easy. Gotta get your 5 before drill volunteer

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 25 at 2020 11:21 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 23:21:36 -0500

You need to see an AD recruiter and work on enlisting AD as an 11B. You will need a conditional realease via A DD368 signed by the first GO in your chain of command. If your contract is almost up, you may just wait and you bypass all that. It is hit or miss for RC soldiers to be released as the RC gets no "credit" for putting you on AD. They get lots of negative attention when they lose an MOSQ soldier. Tyranny of the USR math. People post on here all the time it is taking 6-12 months to get approved. If you are coming off a deployment when you apply, then You are in as good a position as any to apply.

11 series are a high priority fill right now, from reading other posts.

The DS duty is a high priority fill on the AD side. If you make that desire known, you will be mentored to be prepared as soon as you are eligible.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2020 11:57 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 23:57:40 -0500

First things first. When you get back to CONUS work on getting a conditional release from your unit to go Regular Army. Then you'll have to do the back part of Infantry OSUT to reclass to Infantry. After that, get some experience and technical knowledge in your new MOS. Go to BLC and get promoted to sergeant. Then spend some time, at least 12-24 months, as a team leader and get some leadership experience in the infantry. Yes, you can get a waiver for DS as a sergeant, but it is really better to have rated squad leader time first. Get proficient at your job at the skill level 3 level before you start looking at broadening assignments.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Nov 26 at 2020 8:18 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 08:18:07 -0500

You are putting the cart before the horse if you are looking at doing both simultaneously. If you reclass to a new job field you will need to spend some time
in that field to gain profiency. Once you do that go ahead and hit the Drill Field but thinking you can lat move and go immediately into the drill field and be good at your job isn’t realistic.

Response by SSG Dennis O'Connor made Nov 27 at 2020 9:29 PM

SSG Dennis O'Connor — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 21:29:37 -0500

Pull your reins young grasshopper. Work on reclassing first. Get a few years under your belt as an 11B getting technically and tactically proficient. Earn the EIB. Get time as a team/squad leader. Then start thinking about DS duty. You're trying to bite off more than you can chew without choking.

Response by CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2020 6:36 AM

CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 06:36:13 -0500

The Army can't either send you to a ARNG RTI to do a MOS-T to reclass into 11B or they will send you to the SOI at Fort Benning. I have seen it both ways. There is a RTI in Oregon that conducts 11B MOS-T. As for Drill Sergeant, I think don't know much about that.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2020 2:39 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 14:39:26 -0500

Get ready to be treated like a PVT if you decided to become an 11B these DS at Ft. Benning is so different then back than.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2020 6:01 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 18:01:27 -0500

Why would you WANT to be a DS