Who was your Drill Sergeant/Drill Instructor in Basic Training?

Now this was a while back but, there are those that you just can't forget. SSG Alicia, who wore mirrored sun glasses whether day or night! This was at Ft. Dix and, what I remember most, was his statement to us prior to moving to AIT Infantry. "You think you had it tough here? Wait until you get to Ft. Polk! Tiger Land, Home of the Infantry Soldier." What a piece of work he was! I learned to deal with each challenge as an opportunity for growth and advancement. Polk was a challenge.

I hate to admit it, but I don't remember any of their names, my memory sucks. As far as their impact though I do remember their actions. Looking back I am very thankful for the DS I had (though at the time I thought I had met the meanest people on the face of the earth). I joined right after 9/11 and our DSs stressed our training as life dependent whenever possible. They went above and beyond to make sure every recruit understood everything, even if it meant extra hours, breaking it down dummy style or dropping the DS attitude and explaining it on the level. They took there jobs very seriously, always remained professional and spoke directly and honestly.

A year after boot camp I found my boots kicking dirt in Afghanistan. During one patrol mission we partnered up with 10th Mountain and I found myself as the gunner in the lead vehicle. When I walked up for the mission briefing and meet the members of my truck (the 10th Mountain guys rolling with us), I froze when I realized one of them was a former DS of mine. He didn't recognize me personally, but started laughing when he saw my posture and expression, identifying that I must have been one of his recruits when he was on the trail. We ended up sharing quit a few great stories and I quickly realized then how much of the DS attitude is a show. I thanked him for his dedication to our training as that training on more then one occasion saved my life or the life of one of my brothers.

I don't recall his name but here's what I won't for get about him. I got hurt(knee injury) at the rifle range and he said I could go on sick call after we hiked back to the company. I went on night sick call, wound up with a ankle-to-hip cast on my leg and got sent to a profile platoon. His last words to me as he was signing me out of the company: "Too bad you screwed up!"

I had three, I can "see" all three,, but I remember DS Fountain.....In fact I remembered him so well, I emulated his leadership when I became a DS many years later.
Calm, until it was time to not be calm... letting others do the screaming daily. ..
Never mad, but sometimes disappointed.
Never abusive, but bringing pain as behaviour modification tool was a known result from intentionally being a dumb ass private in training. (So not an honest mistake while learning D&C, but sneaking food into the barracks, pointing a loaded rifle at other than down range.... sleeping in a "hidden" place while others do the work detail...ect ect ect.. willfully with intent screw ups... oh ya, bring it..

DS Thompson,gave me hell but was funny just as much as the hell he gave! Showed us what the true standard of what a soldier should be ! From our P.C to the boots..

"My uniform is to the standard,my mustache is to the standard,YOU are not to the standard! But I will get you there! Now get your ass in the front leaning rest"-DS Thompson

SSgt Fabini was our Senior DI. I ran into him at the Chow Hall in SOI (up the street from Horno where I was stationed) shortly after I pinned on Cpl. He had pinned on GySgt, and spotted me. He said "Kennedy?!? I'm not great with names, but I never forget one of my guys!" We sat down and chatted for a few minutes.

The USMC is BIG on leadership, and our DIs are shining examples.

My Drill Instructor would be impossible to forget. I had the same SDI (who was unforgettable too) and one of my two DI remained the same. The second one changed a few times for unknown reasons, I think health but not sure.

He was one of the most twisted, sadistic people I ever met. He taught me to get smart, fast. Move quickly, with purpose. Think fast, be ready, always. Precision was the only acceptable outcome, whether that was close order drill or marksmanship or squaring away the barracks. If you went outside the lines, the price was pretty heavy. His job was to make Marines in 13 weeks. Not easy.

I wasn't a career Marine but the lessons learned from Parris Island follow me to this day. I also learned a lot from other NCO's and Officers as I progressed. Parris Island is an indoctrination and can be brutal at times but they have to take an 18 year old civilian and turn him into a basically trained Marine, quickly.

I remember to this day going to the Confidence course for the first time and seeing him grab a rope in each hand and climb to the top with no use of his feet (no knots in the rope). Just hand over hand. I thought, holy sh%&, that guy is an animal.

Fear is a great motivator. He used it like a craftsman. He got more out of me than I thought I might have in short order. He also had a pretty good right cross.

It was 2008 and I was at Relaxin' Jackson having a fine and dandy time earning smoking sessions from the rest of my battle buddies. I had 3 DSs: Hodges, Brown, and Rasmussen. Each DS had his own leadership style, but it's DS Brown I remember the most. He never yelled. When he talked, we all shut up'd and listened. He gave orders and we executed. No yelling. Not in your face. Very confident, combat experienced, E-7. That's the type of NCO I want to become.

SSG Bertram and SGT Bryant summer of 1981. Without a doubt they're both retired by now.

I was split option. The next summer at AIT it was SFC Easters and SSG Gray.

It's been 45 years but I remember him well. I just can't remember his name.
C/14-4 4th platoon. Ft. Jackson, SC Oct. 1976 he always was saying "snatch your head out your a--" wonderful guy who several of my mates and I went back to visit with during our AIT at Ft. Jackson.