Drill Sergeants, lend me your ears!

2014-02-12T12:38:27-05:00

.....Or rather lend me your advice.  I just got my DSS dates and am excited and ready to tackle this next challenge and chapter in my career, I've been studying the modules already but I would like to hear how the school was. -What are some things you wish you had prepared better for?-What kind of environment is the school house like?-What are some things that surprised you? Just general questions like that.  I don't report until October, so I have time to prep. Thanks for all your advice in advance!

Response by SSG Stephen Whittle made Feb 12 at 2014 12:41 PM

2014-02-12T12:41:55-05:00

Its really a simple school they are not going to teach you anything you dont already know.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Mar 25 at 2014 5:21 PM

2014-03-25T17:21:53-04:00

SSG - I will try and answer your questions as best I can:

What are some things you wish you had prepared better for?

Front-loaded stress. I knew it was going to happen, but didn't prepare nearly as much as I should have. If you're first as Student Leader, be prepared for the microscope and things to go wrong. Just about nothing you do will be right at first.

-What kind of environment is the school house like?

Depends on the phase. Red Phase - just like BCT. White Phase - they let up a little bit, but that threat of being rolled back to Red is still there. Blue Phase - pretty much like the tail end of ALC/BNCOC.

-What are some things that surprised you?

My ability to think on the fly. Perhaps I planned/anticipated things going wrong more than I thought. Not getting dropped the last day. I thought for SURE that was going to happen.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2014 3:26 AM

2014-03-26T03:26:24-04:00

SSG Barin, congratulations on being selected to attend DS School. Drill Sergeant Duty will be one of the highlights of your career. The best advice I can give in preparation for attendance is this.

Learn the DS Creed

Learn the history behind the Male and Female Headgear

Learn the symbolism of the badge

Familiarize yourself with TRADOC REG 350-6

Learn PRT

Learn the first 5 modules (thats what I did it made my life a little easier).

Make sure you can zero and qualify with iron sites you will go through all phases of BRM.

As far as the school, alot of classroom time but it mirrors going back through basic training so expect that environment.

The most surprising thing about the school was the lack of professionalism among the Cadre (I've heard CSM King squared that away though).

Good luck, I hope this helps.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2014 10:20 AM

2014-03-27T10:20:08-04:00

I am currently at DSS typing this right now in week 6. The more of the MOI's (not modules) that you know the better before you arrive. They are not as difficult as you might think. I didn't know any of them before I came and I haven't had any issues but then again I am very good at memorization. Know the Drill Sergeant Creed, NCO Creed, Soldier Creed, The complete Army Song (March Along, Sing Our Song; all of that) Every PLT here is like it's own DSS! Every PLT is completely different than the other in many aspects such as uniforms, what boots you wear (whether they are authorized or not; such as nike boots), whether the MOI's have to be verbatim or not. Pretty much like a different planet with each hallway. Also, know as much about D&C as humanly possible, as well as running and marching cadences. Read TC 3-21.5, formerly FM 3-21.5 as well as FM 3-22.9 but take it as face value because the RM (formerly BRM) program is changing and the FM does not reflect this change (it is changing in June). Be prepared to feel like you are in basic the first 3 days to a week (getting yelled at and everything). Make sure that you address everybody by rank or DS as appropriate with the greeting of the day. Everything else really isn't bad. Oh, and make sure to take time for yourself everyday, if not you will go crazy. Oh, the Female headgear (Bush Cap) is going away, soon everyone will be wearing the Campaign hat regardless of gender. Everything that you do at DSS is very basic, the point is to take you back to the basics because we have all gotten so far away from them, such as D&C. Before you come here make sure that all of your paperwork is in order atleast 1 month in advance! I waited till the last minute and it was a huge headache. Check, Check, and Triple check your paperwork and get it to your Re-assignmnets guy ASAP. Make sure that your Sponsorship Form gets filled out and you submit it up through your chain of command, it will help in getting pin point orders before you show up to school. That's about the extent of what I can offer. Good Luck! And always remember HTGS everyday (Hunt the Good Stuff) and stay positive.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2014 5:08 PM

2014-03-29T17:08:55-04:00

Answer to your first question.

Count Off Stack and take arms!

Second question

Be on your P's and Q's, use your vocabulary!

Lastly

NCO's who were lazy!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2014 12:17 PM

2014-03-31T12:17:53-04:00

I attended DS School back in 08. The only advice I will give you that you haven't gotten so far is to check your pride at the door. Go into it knowing that you have a lot to learn and put in the work. A bad attitude about having to do it will translate into poor preparation for assigned taks. I'm not sure how it is now but a poor attitude back then used to be grounds for dismissal from the course...which is a HUGE blow to your career. Embrace the suck and have a possitive attitude and you just may learn a thing or two.

Response by SFC Christopher Walker, MAOM, DSL made Apr 15 at 2014 9:34 AM

2014-04-15T09:34:35-04:00

Congrats on wanting to be a Drill Sergeant! I
recently came off the trail in July 2013 from Fort Benning. Here are a few tips
for school:

Study your modules! Know how to pitch the position
of attention, the hand salute and the rest positions at the halt (parade rest, stand
at ease, at ease and rest) before you get to school. Here is a link to the
video demonstration. http://vimeo.com/channels/524805

Know how march, call cadences, give PRT and pass the
APFT and HT/Weight. Believe it are not, there were NCOs that couldn’t march are
squad are call cadence. Many even fail the APFT and HT/Height.

This is not your typical NCOES school. Be on time
and in the right uniform EVERYDAY. You can be kicked out for any infraction.

Find a study group that really study. Some Drill
Sergeant Candidates would just party and party and wonder why they failed the
course.

Be prepared for a few cry babies. Yes, there will be
a lot of crying and complaining about everything from the Senior NCOs down to
the Sergeants. Separate yourself from those individuals immediately. Here is
the link to the DSS for all other relevant information. http://www.jackson.army.mil/sites/school/pages/127/Drill-Sergeant-School

Other than that, stay motivated and you will be a
changed individual once you receive your badge and campaign hat. Remember, you
will train thousands and thousands of recruits year round. You may not remember
them, but they will remember you. You will be their first impression of the
Army. Do it will pride and dignity. You don’t have to smoke or abuse a Soldier
to get them to do the right thing. Leading by example will show them what right
looks like. Whenever you get down time with your soldiers, share your stories
and mentor them. I found out that they will respect you more if you show them
that you care about their future in the military. Since leaving the trail, I
see at least two Soldiers a week that I trained. All of them thank me for sharing
advice, such as TA, medical, dental, counselings, etc. It is never too early to
share knowledge to these young Soldiers. They are the future of our nation and
our most precious resource.

D&C Training on Vimeo

These instructional videos, designed for the US Army Drill Sergeant School, provide useful instruction for all Soldiers who seek to improve their proficiency and…

Response by SFC Craig Dalen made Apr 15 at 2014 10:49 AM

2014-04-15T10:49:10-04:00

The biggest thing is the first 3 modules. The Position of Attention, the Hand Salute and Rest Positions at the Halt. The Drill Sergeant Creed and improving your PT score. Good luck and it is a great journey.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2014 9:34 PM

2014-09-23T21:34:40-04:00

reading all these hard challenging experienses really makes me want to do this! this is a great thread! all of you senior NCO's and DS that read this... Thank you. if i knew where my DS werer id thank them too what you guys do is totally increadible! thank you for training our boys good. im currently in the Cal Guard and thinking of switching to the army reserves so i can do this. do any of you know of a POC of a reserve DS unit here in California?

thank you.
very respectfully
SPC Piers, Justin