Which duty is more difficult, Drill Instructor/Drill SGT/MTI/Co Cmdr or Recruiting Duty?

MSgt George Cater — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 20:32:03 -0500

Response by SGM Jeff Bullard made Feb 2 at 2017 8:37 PM

SGM Jeff Bullard — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 20:37:03 -0500

OSUT Drill Sergeant

Response by SFC George Smith made Feb 2 at 2017 8:41 PM

SFC George Smith — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 20:41:34 -0500

I know many Guys would say Drill Sgt...

Response by CPT Jim Schwebach made Feb 2 at 2017 8:43 PM

CPT Jim Schwebach — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 20:43:37 -0500

Was only ever able to fill one of those positions but that one, rifle company commander, was the best job, military or civilian, I ever had.

Response by SFC Wesley Arnold, Jr made Feb 2 at 2017 9:02 PM

SFC Wesley Arnold, Jr — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 21:02:15 -0500

The all can be difficult in their own ways as related to their branch. As a DS I thought it was rough at the time doing back to back BCT from 01-03 when everyone had heavy serge ... talking to others that were OSUT sounded a bit rough too. At least I got to ship mine off for a new batch where OSUT got stuck with them for XX months base on MOS. Bottom line I'm glad I didn't have to mess with all the 'off post passes', and have to worry about them getting in trouble downtown

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Feb 2 at 2017 9:57 PM

SSgt Dan Montague — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 21:57:58 -0500

I did know one Marine who did both. He said they both have their challenges. Neither are easy. But, recruiting was the hardest of the two.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2017 9:59 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 21:59:03 -0500

Having done both.

Recruiting is by far more difficult.

As a Drill, just about everything is written down in explicit detail on how to do it, things you've done before, and you're in familiar territory. You're trusted. You're respected by everyone.

In Recruiting... You're largely alone, expected to "figure it out", and there is never a real success. You're away from what you've known your whole career, and you're a salesman- we all know damn well how much we appreciate random strangers calling us at all hours, working mall kiosks, and tracking us down in person to sell us something we don't want- and how we'd treat them.

Each has their challenges. But for me, being a Drill was far, far less stressful and much more rewarding.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Feb 2 at 2017 10:08 PM

SFC Pete Kain — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 22:08:01 -0500

Recruiting Duty, you start each month with a new mission and no authority over applicants except persuasion. I hated it.
Still hate the damn phone.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Feb 2 at 2017 10:37 PM

MSgt George Cater — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 22:37:27 -0500

I was lucky enough to do both. DI as a Sgt/SSgt then Recruiting as a Gunny. I used to totally p/o a 1stSgt friend who was a DI at San Diego while I was at PI, by telling him Recruiting was tougher by far. We said in the Corps that it was 36 one month tours in the only unit in constant contact with the enemy. And no prior military MOS preps you for sales. On the other hand, to be a good DI, you must only be a good Marine NCO with everything expected of that title. Be squared away, follow the training schedule & regulations, be firm, fair, and demand the best from those under you.

Both are rewarding, especially on the promotion board. Glad I did both.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Feb 3 at 2017 8:40 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 08:40:46 -0500

Honestly, I would guess Drill Instructor. Boot camp was fun. It was tough. It was stressful, but at the end of the day I knew they were shaping me into a better version of myself so I can look back on it with fond memories.

I've seen pictures and video clips of DI school and honestly I don't know how they can handle it. Being a Sgt or a SSgt who has been in 8-12 years already being treated like a Recruit again. I honestly think I would go mad.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Feb 3 at 2017 10:06 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 10:06:01 -0500

I think the only way you will get that answer is if someone has done ALL of those duties and can compare each under the same variables.

I thought being DS was VERY challenging, but I did not think it was hard... I FELT being a detailed recruiter would have been both challenging and HARD . My perception is I would not like the job,,based on my observation and feedback from those doing it..So I avoided it ..at all costs. I joked once with my branch manager who told me my next job may be Detail recruiter,,and i said Id slash wrists.. he said that wont work, we will just wait till your healed and assign you any way... I told him I meant Id slash his wrists....... I got orders to DS school the next week.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Feb 3 at 2017 11:01 AM

SFC Stephen King — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 11:01:23 -0500

USAREC is and will always be in it's own self the hardest duty. The United States Army Recruiting Command is end all be all. Speaking only as a result of 5 yrs on the bag. Harvest duty ever on my family especially.

Response by 1SG Al Brown made Feb 3 at 2017 12:47 PM

1SG Al Brown — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 12:47:17 -0500

Recruiting - 95-98, mentally evil, hours, pressure and relentless chain of command. 1SG w/ 12 Drill Sergeants 04-05, physically brutal with tremendous mental recall and sleep deprivation. DS's that extend for an extra year are either exceedingly special, or nuts, or both.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2017 5:33 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 17:33:03 -0500

All of them!

Response by SCPO Michael Tanner made Feb 8 at 2017 7:18 AM

SCPO Michael Tanner — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 07:18:09 -0500

I am one of the few people to get stuck with all three, Recruiting Duty, RDC, School House) and I will say without a doubt that recruiting was the hardest. Your on 36 or 48 individual tours because every month there is something different. From the different requirements the command wants as far as who you can put in that month to the recruit getting cold feet before shipping out to boot camp, to losing applicants to MEPS because they failed the physical or popped on a drug test. As a RDC, those recruits were there all I had to do was train them. Don't get me wrong the hours are extremely long and you literally go to boot camp every 9 weeks yourself all over again but at least i didn't have to go find them and sell a product that I knew would better there lives. School house was good and not as stressful as boot camp but you still put a lot of hours in there also.

Response by SFC James Beasley made Feb 8 at 2017 8:36 AM

SFC James Beasley — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 08:36:29 -0500

Recruiting duty and Drill Instructor duty both require lots of hours and dedication. Unlike DI duty though, recruiters are trying to sell intangibles to a public where less than 1% will actually serve. During my three years of Recruiting duty I found it very difficult to convince people that what I was telling them about the Army was true. Often times it might take several visits before they would commit. Hats off to the Drill instructors because they have a tough job as well converting these young people into Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Air Force recruits.

SFC James Beasley
U.S. Army retired

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Feb 8 at 2017 3:19 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 15:19:54 -0500

I would guess that I was in the MTI category being in that I was a patrolling instructor at Ft. Polk after I returned from Vietnam in 1967 ,personally I feel all the other duties were more difficult than mine,the hardest part of my duty was to make sure that I gave the AIT trainees all the proper training in my field and give whatever advice from what I experienced during my tour. I hope and pray that some of my instructions helped them get back home.

Response by MSG SAMS1E / GCSS Prep Pishner made Feb 8 at 2017 5:14 PM

MSG SAMS1E / GCSS Prep Pishner — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 17:14:27 -0500

Being a mechanic in a combat zone connecting a towbar to a burning tank while in a firefight any questions

Response by SGT Walter Lester made Feb 8 at 2017 5:57 PM

SGT Walter Lester — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 17:57:57 -0500

being a Drill Sergeant is the toughest job I ever had. The phrase says ;Be all you can be covers what a Drill Sergeant has to be. You are a Jack of all trades

Response by 1SG Jack Crutcher made Feb 9 at 2017 8:47 PM

1SG Jack Crutcher — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 20:47:04 -0500

Look at it this way, as a drill sgt, no matter what person off the street or out of high school a recruiter send you, you have about 13 weeks to turn it into a soldier, then send that soldier to a company cdr.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2017 9:37 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 09:37:39 -0500

I wear a lot of veteran/ military apparel. Most of my wardrobe has something to do with units that I served in or are veteran related. I wear a lot of my old Army PT t-shirts as well as unit specific shirts and others. I have pride in my service and the fact that I am a veteran. But of course to each his own.

Response by 1SG Frank Boynton made Nov 26 at 2018 11:22 PM

1SG Frank Boynton — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 23:22:07 -0500

Recruiting is my vote. I knew enough who did it and hated every minute of it. I in the other hand loved being a Drill Sgt and would have enjoyed even more if it had been any place other than Ft Dix. But when you love a thing, like I did being on the trail you deal with the good and bad. Most (95%) is good. So you overlook the crappy parts. It was by far the job I needed in my career at the time when I was struggling with deciding whether to get out or go for the 20.

Response by 1SG Michael Brooks made Dec 2 at 2018 6:39 AM

1SG Michael Brooks — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 06:39:43 -0500

Recruiting is toughest job.Every time you pick up the phone , go to the store, church You are The Face of the Army. You always have to be "ON" . it is tough.