Who has more influence over a Private? A full bird Colonel, a Command Sergeant Major, or a Drill Sergeant?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 15:55:09 -0400

Who has more influence over a Private? A full bird Colonel, a Command Sergeant Major, or a Drill Sergeant? I say, a Drill Sergeant. Why? A COL calls to a PVT, the PVT will approach, assume attention, render a salute, and greet the COL appropriately. A CSM calls for a PVT, that PVT will greet the CSM, assume attention, execute parade rest, and gree the CSM. A Drill Sergeant calls a Private, and that Private will run full speed past the CSM without issuing a greeting of the day, speed past the COL without slowing to salute or greet the officer, and will report loud and thunderously to that DS.
What philosphical questions do you have to pose?

Invite others to respond by typing @name

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Apr 23 at 2015 12:57 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 00:57:30 -0400

PFC, Please check the cadence: Old King Cole was a merry old soul -------

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Apr 23 at 2015 4:05 AM

SFC Michael Jackson, MBA — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 04:05:37 -0400

A drill sergeant oh course. A private has little to no buffer from a Drill Sergeant. The other two, he has an NCO support to cry for help before he gets to the CSM or COL

Response by TSgt David L. made Apr 23 at 2015 8:15 AM

TSgt David L. — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 08:15:55 -0400

PFC Italino Pietrantonio,Nice! I love your answer. Too funny but probably is the most truthful!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 3:51 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 15:51:08 -0400

I agree Drill Sergeant. Not sure how it is now, but back in the day a Drill Sergeant was feared and respected.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Aug 20 at 2015 11:28 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 11:28:17 -0400

Who ever is the better leader, rank is immaterial in your scenario.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Aug 24 at 2015 11:46 AM

CPT Pedro Meza — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 11:46:07 -0400

I would like you to ask the same question to a Drill Sergeant, just let me know when because I will invite the Colonel, and the Command Sergeant Major.

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Aug 24 at 2015 11:52 AM

SSG Steven Borders — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 11:52:23 -0400

He better not run past a COL without saluting and not rendering some type of greeting to the CSM. LOL Because the DS would be down his throat for not rendering proper courtesies. Because the DS answers to them. Good questions though. LOL

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 4:44 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 16:44:25 -0400

I will win every time. My SGM just said the same thing. They will listen to the words of a SGM and COL, but those people will come and go. That DS on the other hand, well how does the cadence go "Everywhere I go there's a....

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 8:29 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 20:29:47 -0400

It's about respect.When I see a DS I see a teacher,mentor a disciplinarian.They are the first ones to mold us and motivate us.I don't see rank when I see a DS I see trainers of future professionals.....from a PRIVATES perspective

Response by CPL Eric Allen made Aug 25 at 2015 2:41 AM

CPL Eric Allen — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 02:41:22 -0400

When I was in I always listened to a DS. They are your teachers or just like your parents and to me my DS made me a man and had a real family. A CSM can help you thru a tough situation and show you the right path but as for a COL they will take you down a dark path and tell you stories and give you a HOOAH moment that last a minute. But a DS WILL MAKE YOU A SOLDIER.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Aug 25 at 2015 4:52 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 04:52:30 -0400

The only time a Drill SGT has influence over a private is during training. After that it is a SGT.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 5:13 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 05:13:38 -0400

I say the Drill Sergeant. The Drill Sergeant is one of the most important and impactful people each Soldier will ever meet. Everybody remembers their Drill Sergeant and most of what they learned from the Drill Sergeant. The Drill Sergeant is as close to a Soldiers foundation as someone who isn’t their parent could ever be. Colonels and CSMs have very little impact on a Soldiers life unless there is direct interaction with young Soldiers. No if ands or buts, I say Drill Sergeant.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Aug 25 at 2015 5:56 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 05:56:07 -0400

None of the above. That individuals first squad leader will likely be the person that determines whether that Soldier will be stellar or sub par for their career.

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Aug 25 at 2015 7:24 AM

PO2 Corey Ferretti — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 07:24:08 -0400

I would say it's not on that list. When I first got to my Battalion and was assigned to my squad and fire team. I looked to my Squad Leader and Fire Team Leader for advice and to see how I was to act. Now to choose from the list above I would choose the DS because he is the one that molds the private to how he will act for the future.

Response by SGT William Howell made Aug 25 at 2015 8:01 AM

SGT William Howell — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 08:01:12 -0400

Drill Sgt hands down. We all remember something our DS said to us and how to be a soldier.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Aug 25 at 2015 8:07 AM

SGT Richard H. — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 08:07:53 -0400

Absolutely the Drill Sergeant. The COL & CSM obviously have a much higher level of authority, but the question was influence. In the sphere of influence, neither of them even hit second place if there's a properly functioning NCO channel.

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Aug 25 at 2015 9:24 AM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 09:24:02 -0400

Well I say depends. The Private in basic is more afraid of the DS. I know I was. But once I hit PD it was the CSM!

Response by SPC David S. made Aug 25 at 2015 10:11 AM

SPC David S. — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 10:11:56 -0400

Having been smoked by more Drill Sergeant's than any COL's I'm going with DS.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 10:24 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 10:24:01 -0400

The other privates.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 2:27 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 14:27:10 -0400

Out of the three, a DS is the closer of the two, holding the most influence. Overall, anyone in my leadership who operates with any level of intelligence and mentorship will have my respect, my first PSG, who became my 1SG alway's will hold my respect, and if he were to tell me to jump, he's an NCO i wouldn't question, not because i'm mindless, but because i trust him whole heartedly to take care of me and the rest of his unit as best as he possibly can. All of my team leaders and squad leaders thus far have done the same and earned my undying respect for them just by being the leaders they naturally were.

Response by CSM Michael Poll made Aug 25 at 2015 2:36 PM

CSM Michael Poll — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 14:36:07 -0400

The Drill Sergeant has hands on a Soldier, just like a squad leader, now the CSM and the COL will be listened to, but the person that knows the Soldier best and interacts with them day in and day out will have the best influence on that Soldiers, that is why the Squad level leader is the most important person in the Chain of Command!

Response by MSG Antwine Marshall made Oct 12 at 2015 9:55 PM

MSG Antwine Marshall — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 21:55:09 -0400

Definitely the Drill Sergeant.

Response by SPC Steven Depuy made Feb 24 at 2022 11:58 AM

SPC Steven Depuy — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 11:58:18 -0500

Out of those 3, the DS. But we all know who it really is.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Feb 26 at 2022 12:46 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 12:46:46 -0500

Your Col and the Sgt Major will never know as a PFC that you even exist, but one of your DIs always knows who you are, where you are, what your doing. They hold immediate power to make you do handstands if they feel like it.