Posted on Apr 30, 2016
SPC Combat Engineer
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Why can't Guardsmen become Drill Sergeants? Are there any opportunities to perform the duty temporarily (like an ADOS or AGR job)? I would love to train and mentor new soldiers some day as a leader and NCO. I would also LOVE to be an OSUT PSG for 12B (combat engineer) school. Is that any different than regular Drill Sergeant duty?
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Responses: 27
MAJ Military Personnel And Administrative Specialist
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I am not aware of an opportunity in the National Guard, however, it is available in the reserves. The US Army Reserves offers the same once a month training weekend and AT as the National Guard, but does have Drill Instructor units. They have ADOS opportunities but typically do their 2-4 week Annual Training on rotation in Basic Training units. More information available at: http://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/continue-serving/army-reserve-prior-service/army-reserve-drill-sergeants.html
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MAJ Military Personnel And Administrative Specialist
MAJ (Join to see)
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It all depends on what you want. I understand your commitment to your NG contract but if you want to be a drill instructor you will have to make a move. A retention NCO can help you make the request to transfer to the reserves. Good luck.
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CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR
CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR
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SPC (Join to see) - you could request to be released from your unit to transfer to the reserve component. A reserve recruiter can help you out. They will find a unit with a slot you get accepted and then get released from the NG unit and process in the reserves. They will then get you scheduled to attend Drill Sgt school. That one one of the better roles I held in the military. Extremely rewarding
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MSgt Electrical Power Production
MSgt (Join to see)
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Consider asking for a conditional release from your Guard unit to transfer to an Army reserve DI unit. Of course that is if you find one in your area or are willing to travel to closest one.
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SFC Readiness Nco
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
Although the NG doesn't have Drill Sergeants, there are instructor positions that you can do open vacancy applications. These positions generally are in support of MOS, OCS, and WOCS (at least in my state). You can also see if there is an opportunity for you to become instructor qualified while remaining in your current unit. I realize instructor qualification isn't a Drill Sergeant, but it may be an alternative to the conditional release
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1stSgt Sergeant Major/First Sergeant
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I have zero experience with Army Drill Sergeants, but multiple tours as a Drill Instructor. Why would the Army use a reservist as a DS. For Marines, being a Drill Instructor is a life style change that requires an amazing amount of time and effort. I don't think being a reservist allows that sort of commitment. A weekend a month and two weeks a year would not keep you in the shape needed for recruit training. I am not calling fat or out of shape, don't take it that way. I admire your drive and willingness to take the challenge of becoming a Drill Sergeant. Standing on your feet for 15 hours a day and yelling to be heard 12 hours a day is quite tiring. Those who have never done it will be surprised. Constant corrections take a lot out of you. Maybe you should look at going active.

Sir, I wish you best and as always, Semper Fidelis.
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CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR
CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR
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They use the reserve drill sergeants to augment the summer surge of trainees. You fall into active duty unit and train the new recruits
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CSM Command Sergeant Major
CSM (Join to see)
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Conceptually USAR Drill Sergeants are used the same way as any other Soldier in the Army. Army Reservist obligations are one weekend a month, two weeks a year. Unless we are talking about the past 15 years........
When we engaged in two ongoing conflicts, the USAR Drill Sergeants were called onto Active Duty to fulfill critical gaps that the Active Component couldn't fill. Companies completely comprised of Reserve Component Soldiers were called up because the Active Army Drill Sergeants were put into line units for deployment purposes. They were a very effective tool to continue training Soldiers throughout this period.
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SGT Observer   Controller/Trainer
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Having been a "Reservist DS' I can attest that the standards are upheld. Yes two days a month and three weeks in the summer (not two) , plus any additional duty time that comes up thru out the year. Yes the standards may be upheld to varying degrees by individual units. The unit that I was in upheld the standards as if we were Active duty on the trail. Unit goal was PT Scores were minimum 80% per event. Based at Ft. Benning we had ample opportunity to get involved with actual trainee's in a BCT/OSUT enviorment and augment the DS's on the trail. Admittedly I had the same preconceived ideas about the reserves as most active duty soldiers when I transitioned but with the right leadership and mentorship from my "Seniors" I not only excelled but made it thru DSS with minimal difficulty.
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1LT William Clardy
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SPC (Join to see), the underlying reason that there are virtually no drill sergeants in the National Guard is that the decision was made long ago that the Army National Guard would be composed of combat and some combat support units, while the Army Reserve provides the rest of the reserve-status "mix". Among other things, that means that all training divisions are Army Reserve units, while all combat divisions are National Guard units.
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