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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MCRD Parris Island, SC
4th Bn November Co Plt. 4035 Aug 12, 2003.
Senior Drill Instructor SSgt. Denizard-Pabon
Drill Instructor Sgt. Martin
Drill Instructor Sgt. Haskins - Hall
Drill Instructor Sgt. Camp
Drill Instructor Sgt. Rosen
4th Bn November Co Plt. 4035 Aug 12, 2003.
Senior Drill Instructor SSgt. Denizard-Pabon
Drill Instructor Sgt. Martin
Drill Instructor Sgt. Haskins - Hall
Drill Instructor Sgt. Camp
Drill Instructor Sgt. Rosen
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This was only about 6-7 years ago, but mine was Staff Sgt. Michael Shoup.
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BTC JB Jones. Had a way of slapping your feet in the rack with a yardstick that was more painful than physics allow. Like lightning, you didn't want to hear and feel it at the same time. That was 44 years ago.
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I don't have a clue, that was 42 years ago. All I remember about my DI is he was fat and during formation on the company street, he would lean up against the window sill and bark instructions. His pet pea was, when he called someone to the front of the platoon, they had to crawl like a worm. E-7-2. Ft. Jackson. '73-'74.
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SFC Istvan Nagy
It was 35 years ego, but I remember all of our drill sergeants, SSG Yosida, and SSG Caraballo. My unit was D-1-2 at Ft Leonard Wood, MO. Essayons!
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Senior Drill Instructor Gunnery Sergeant Greenfield
Drill Instructor SSG Schliesman
Drill Instructor SSG Redfearn
Drill Instructor SGT Martin
Drill Instructor SSG Schliesman
Drill Instructor SSG Redfearn
Drill Instructor SGT Martin
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SSG Copowitz, although I am sure that is nowhere close to how it is actually spelled. Alpha Company, 5th Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment @ FLW in October 1989.
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SSG Maxwell Henry. Fort Knox, KY 1984. I still walk like he did and use some of his stories when I talk to my kids.
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Yes, I remember and will always remember my drill sergeants especially DS Westley. He was the one I looked up to the most. Even though all the drill sergeants in the other platoon thought we wouldn't succeed. They had faith in us and smoked us more than any other platoon. I'm successful because of him. My other 2 drill sergeants DS Elliot, DS Grui. I still remember other DS in the company but I still wonder why the 1SG used to alway come and talk to me. I think it was because I was a handful coming from the ghetto of California and they seen potential. First time they seen me I was sagging in BDUs lol. The 1SG was 1SG Wints hopefully I spelled that right. C 82nd Chemical BN (OSUT) January 2000-June 2000.
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Oh, remember them BOTH, very well. Names and personalities. The platoon Sergeant [E-7] tried to throw me out of the Army, in fact. Didn't know this at the time, but the other one [E-6] told me on Graduation Day. I not only appreciated (and still do, appreciate) him for giving me a fair chance, but know that the first one would have found a way to do it, had he not had to go to Master Fitness School during our cycle! :-( Was I a 'bad' soldier? Not according to the 2nd-in-command Drill. It seemed like the first one decided he didn't 'like' me from day 1. Very unprofessional, in retrospect. A (good) leader must be impartial, despite any (personal) likes or dislikes/personalities!
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Mine was SSgt Harriet McFadden. And I'd still try my utmost to kick open the gates of Hades if she told me to.
I tried to emulate her example of leadership. Cool and professional in both public view and private. She had a way of speaking barely above a whisper when we messed up that made us feel like we were only about 1" tall but could be heard on the far side of the base when praising us for finally getting something perfect.
She tried to mold each of us into quiet professionals whatever our final job code was to be. Hopefully, I haven't disappointed her overly much.
I tried to emulate her example of leadership. Cool and professional in both public view and private. She had a way of speaking barely above a whisper when we messed up that made us feel like we were only about 1" tall but could be heard on the far side of the base when praising us for finally getting something perfect.
She tried to mold each of us into quiet professionals whatever our final job code was to be. Hopefully, I haven't disappointed her overly much.
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