Posted on Jun 5, 2015
Who was your Drill Sergeant/Drill Instructor in Basic Training?
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Do you remember your Drill Sergeant, if not by name, could you describe his/her impact on training you, the mannerisms, the pet peeves, the swagger?
The impact of direct leadership during your earliest days in service help form the type of service member you will be throughout your career. That direct leadership changes very little as you progress. The more senior you become in service, the more distance you have between you and your immediate leadership however, that direct leader has a huge impact in shaping (mentoring) you. So, who was that Drill Sergeant/Drill Instructor and how that leadership impacted your career?
The impact of direct leadership during your earliest days in service help form the type of service member you will be throughout your career. That direct leadership changes very little as you progress. The more senior you become in service, the more distance you have between you and your immediate leadership however, that direct leader has a huge impact in shaping (mentoring) you. So, who was that Drill Sergeant/Drill Instructor and how that leadership impacted your career?
Mentorship
Drill Sergeant
Basic Training
Training Soldiers
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 333
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I know where EXACTLY you are headed CSM.
When I went through Basic I was 39/yo. So I only remember ONE. He was the ONLY ONE in the entirety of all of my TRADOC Cadre that was older than me, and only by months. I didn't gain anything from him. I didn't care. I was nearly 40 with 15 years on some of the Drills. I was there to just check the box, and get back to my USAR unit and civilian life.
Now.......... what I did take away from the experience was the inside look of Basic Training that many of you here wish you could have shared with your younger self. I was right there watching all the kids around me in complete AWE of these Drill SGTs. Of course they were. I was too of my mentors when I was in my late teen (a lifetime prior).
I digress. It was a remarkable experience at my age to witness all these horny rabbits being thrust into life in awe of every day's new experience.
Some of my interactions with my basic training peers were just kind of like an out of body experience. I had to stay in my lane as just another trainee, but at 39 y/o I could see every train wreck the Cadre were lining up. There was nothing I could do about it either.
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Let me wrap this back around to the CSM's primary intent. What I did take away from the experience was the observation we now as leaders wield over our very young subordinates. It's NOT a function of our professionalism or capabilities but how we as human beings develop and mature into functioning adults when we are young.
For one, there were more than a few Cadre in my TRADOC that were pieces of crap individuals. They were in a job they didn't want to be, and they were just trying to get through the day. Health and welfare of trainees was merely a nuisance to them. However, many of the kids still held them on high.
When I left my company command position I got a reminder of that influence. A pair of young soldiers entered my office to wish me luck in my future position and they were appreciative to everything I did for them. I was touched, I didn't really do anything more than the minimum and wondered why they were getting all emotional. Then it hit me, oh, I'm now the guy in that position of leadership/mentorship. For them, I was their first real unit commander once out of TRADOC. I pinned them to PV2/PFC/SPC etc... Some of them I pinned as NCO's.
So I am appreciative to be given a rare opportunity to see how young adults can be molded and try and remember my place in the system to not throw that influence away.
When I went through Basic I was 39/yo. So I only remember ONE. He was the ONLY ONE in the entirety of all of my TRADOC Cadre that was older than me, and only by months. I didn't gain anything from him. I didn't care. I was nearly 40 with 15 years on some of the Drills. I was there to just check the box, and get back to my USAR unit and civilian life.
Now.......... what I did take away from the experience was the inside look of Basic Training that many of you here wish you could have shared with your younger self. I was right there watching all the kids around me in complete AWE of these Drill SGTs. Of course they were. I was too of my mentors when I was in my late teen (a lifetime prior).
I digress. It was a remarkable experience at my age to witness all these horny rabbits being thrust into life in awe of every day's new experience.
Some of my interactions with my basic training peers were just kind of like an out of body experience. I had to stay in my lane as just another trainee, but at 39 y/o I could see every train wreck the Cadre were lining up. There was nothing I could do about it either.
**************
Let me wrap this back around to the CSM's primary intent. What I did take away from the experience was the observation we now as leaders wield over our very young subordinates. It's NOT a function of our professionalism or capabilities but how we as human beings develop and mature into functioning adults when we are young.
For one, there were more than a few Cadre in my TRADOC that were pieces of crap individuals. They were in a job they didn't want to be, and they were just trying to get through the day. Health and welfare of trainees was merely a nuisance to them. However, many of the kids still held them on high.
When I left my company command position I got a reminder of that influence. A pair of young soldiers entered my office to wish me luck in my future position and they were appreciative to everything I did for them. I was touched, I didn't really do anything more than the minimum and wondered why they were getting all emotional. Then it hit me, oh, I'm now the guy in that position of leadership/mentorship. For them, I was their first real unit commander once out of TRADOC. I pinned them to PV2/PFC/SPC etc... Some of them I pinned as NCO's.
So I am appreciative to be given a rare opportunity to see how young adults can be molded and try and remember my place in the system to not throw that influence away.
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I don't remember names, it was in early 75, but they were very good at what they did with out all the extra motivation you hear about. They did the yelling thing at times to keep us on our toes, but with a determination to get us to move, stay motivated and give them your ell plus. You did want to let them down for the fear of becoming a failure. I did my basic in Ft Jackson, AIT in Ft Polk and it was a learning experience that I will never forget to strive to give it your all.
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My Drills were DS Robinson, DS Goodell, amd DS Johnson. They were all crazy and cool in their own different ways. DS Johnson called everybody stud lol....
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Drill Sergeants
SFC. Babtiest
SSG. Tomilinson
SFC. Ziebarth
Ft. Jackson S.C. D co. 3/13
1999 "FOURTY ROUNDS!"
SFC. Babtiest
SSG. Tomilinson
SFC. Ziebarth
Ft. Jackson S.C. D co. 3/13
1999 "FOURTY ROUNDS!"
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A-2/1 Nov-Jan 84-85 SDS SFC Angel Trjulio; SSG's Anderson, Tennity, Lopez; SGT's Peterson, Dickerson, Brown, Campbell..
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A 5/15 Cav
SDS Morgan
DS Carney
DS Cartwright
Very strict, ridiculous attention to detail. Created great Scouts
SDS Morgan
DS Carney
DS Cartwright
Very strict, ridiculous attention to detail. Created great Scouts
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