Posted on Mar 11, 2015
SPC Training Room Nco
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Who has more influence over a Private? A full bird Colonel, a Command Sergeant Major, or a Drill Sergeant? I say, a Drill Sergeant. Why? A COL calls to a PVT, the PVT will approach, assume attention, render a salute, and greet the COL appropriately. A CSM calls for a PVT, that PVT will greet the CSM, assume attention, execute parade rest, and gree the CSM. A Drill Sergeant calls a Private, and that Private will run full speed past the CSM without issuing a greeting of the day, speed past the COL without slowing to salute or greet the officer, and will report loud and thunderously to that DS.
What philosphical questions do you have to pose?

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Responses: 24
SSG Infantryman
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I will win every time. My SGM just said the same thing. They will listen to the words of a SGM and COL, but those people will come and go. That DS on the other hand, well how does the cadence go "Everywhere I go there's a....
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SSG Infantryman
SSG (Join to see)
>1 y
Not to mention that DS has spent time molding and teaching that Soldier everything he know about the military. That private owes all of his knowledge and values to that DS. As far as a new private is concerned a DS is not enlisted or and officer he is GOD!
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1SG Senior Enlisted Advisor
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Edited >1 y ago
I say the Drill Sergeant. The Drill Sergeant is one of the most important and impactful people each Soldier will ever meet. Everybody remembers their Drill Sergeant and most of what they learned from the Drill Sergeant. The Drill Sergeant is as close to a Soldiers foundation as someone who isn’t their parent could ever be. Colonels and CSMs have very little impact on a Soldiers life unless there is direct interaction with young Soldiers. No if ands or buts, I say Drill Sergeant.
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SGM Steve Wettstein
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The only time a Drill SGT has influence over a private is during training. After that it is a SGT.
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SGM Steve Wettstein
SGM Steve Wettstein
>1 y
1SG (Join to see) - But what about after training?
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1SG Senior Enlisted Advisor
1SG (Join to see)
>1 y
SGM I understand your perspective but of the three options I went with Drill. I agree that the the Privates SGT has impact and can help develop the Soldiers under them. But the Drill is the one who gave that Soldier the baseline skills to build on and develop from. Not all SGT have as big an impact on Soldiers as the Drill always will. My two cents.
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SGM Steve Wettstein
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SGT Uewr Radar Operations
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
SGM Steve Wettstein While I partially agree with you, I also disagree somewhat. The DS is the first key NCO that a newly enlisted soldier comes in contact with, with an exception being the recruiter of course. The DS is the one that lays the foundation for a soldier, and instills the Army values into said soldier. For years to come, a soldier will always remember the things that a DS taught them. Now with that being said, I do not believe that a SGT will be the next major influence. I personally believe that it would either the platoon sergeant, or the section sergeant, with me leaning more towards the section sergeant. The reason I would lean more towards the section sergeant (E6) is because they're the ones really explaining in detail of the rights and wrong, what to do, and how to do it, and to me can explain in better detail what the SGT cannot, not because the SGT doesn't know, but simply because in most cases, the section sergeant has already "been there and done that" for lack of better words. Simply my opinion stated though!
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