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Catherine Rubeo

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Aug 2, 2024, 9:11:14 PM8/2/24

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Active Duty Soldiers that would like to volunteer for Active Duty Drill Sergeant opportunities should contact their HRC Branch/Talent managers. The HRC Active Duty Drill Sergeant Team receives Drill Sergeant nominations from Branch Managers on a quarterly basis. Additional Active Duty Drill Sergeant information can be found at: . The HRC Active Duty Drill Sergeant Team can be contacted at: (502) 613-5870 or usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.e...@army.mil.

Being a drill sergeant is one of the most demanding and difficult jobs in our Army, but it is also one of the most rewarding. A drill sergeant is a symbol of excellence in initial entry training, an expert in all warrior tasks and battle drills, lives the Army values, exemplifies the Warrior Ethos, and most importantly, is the epitome of the Army as a profession.

As a drill sergeant you are responsible for coaching, counseling and mentoring hundreds, if not thousands, of trainees as you transform them from a civilian volunteer to a combat-ready Soldier. You are all that your Soldiers know of the Army and they emulate everything you do. Just as you will always remember your drill sergeant, so will your Soldiers. It is up to you to provide a positive and rewarding experience as these young Soldiers begin their journey in the Army. What you do for them will impact them for the rest of their lives.

As leadership is an art, not a science, the academy must professionally train and develop drill sergeants of character that are capable of transforming civilian volunteers to Soldiers. The USADSA establishes standards, drives improvement and leads change to ensure drill sergeants produce Soldiers that are highly trained, disciplined, physically fit, mentally and spiritually tough, and morally grounded.

If you are interested in requesting USADT, please complete the attached DD Form 2536 and USADT Form 2536. Email the completed forms to the Military District of Washington Special Events desk at usarmy.mcnair.mdw.mbx.jtf...@army.mil. Once this request is officially processed, a representative from USADT will reach out to you to begin coordination.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Sytoi K. Warren, senior drill sergeant leader, adjusts the drill sergeant hat of Sgt. Yugi R. Moore, during a graduation ceremony at the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy in Fort Jackson, S.C., April 3, 2024. Moore was one of first Guardians to graduate from the academy. (U.S. Army photo by Robert Timmons)

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Sytoi K. Warren, senior drill sergeant leader, presents Space Force Tech Sgt. David P. Gudgeon his drill sergeant hat during a graduation ceremony at the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy in Fort Jackson, S.C., April 3, 2024. Gudgeon, along with Sgt. Yuji Moore, were the first Guardians to graduate from the school. (U.S. Army photo by Robert Timmons)

Tech Sgt. David P. Gudgeon, a new graduate from the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy's Class 006-24, marches up the aisle after receiving his drill sergeant hat during the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy graduation in Fort Jackson, S.C., April 3, 2024. Gudgeon was one of first Guardians to graduate from the academy (U.S. Army photo by Robert Timmons)

Drill sergeant hats wait to be awarded during the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy graduation in Fort Jackson, S.C., April 3, 2024. Two Guardians were the first service members from sister services to graduate from the academy. (U.S. Army photo by Robert Timmons)

Sgt. Yuji R. Moore, a new graduate from the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy's Class 006-24, waits to introduce himself and walk across the stage during a graduation ceremony at the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy in Fort Jackson, S.C., April 3, 2024. Moore was one of first Guardians to graduate from the academy. (U.S. Army photo by Robert Timmons)

Staff Sgt. Karina Flores (center) a U.S. Air Force Military Training Instructor is joined by members of the U.S. Army at Fort Jackson, South Carolina in Sep. 2023. Flores was selected to participate in a drill sergeant exchange program with the U.S. Army. (Courtesy Photo)

Staff Sgt. Karina Flores (center) is joined by U.S. Army Drill Sergeants at Fort Jackson, S.C., where she participated in the Joint Service Drill Sergeant Exchange, training recruits through a 10-week Basic Combat Training Course in September 2023. (Courtesy Photo)

Staff Sgt. Karina Flores is awarded the U.S. Army Achievement Medal by the 1st battalion 34th Infantry Regiment commander at Fort Jackson, S.C., in September 2023. Flores participated in the Joint Service Drill Sergeant Exchange where she trained recruits through a 10-week Basic Combat Training Course in September 2023. (Courtesy photo)

The selection process for the drill sergeant exchange program came about unexpectedly and swiftly for Flores. While she may not have been initially confident in her selection, she was unwavering in her commitment to perform to the best of her ability, showcasing the resilience and dedication characteristic of an Air Force Military Training Instructor. The drill sergeant exchange program was more than an exchange of drill instructors, it was also an exchange of experiences and valuable take-aways. One major takeaway for Flores from her time with the Army was their strategic emphasis on core values right from the start of their training.

Flores says her family has been a pillar in her life and are at the center of everything she does; and adds what has helped her through her military career is sticking to her values and morals her parents have instilled in her and remaining humble and gracious.

For some Soldiers, a selection email to serve as a drill sergeant can be as pleasant as going to the dentist, but for Army Staff Sgt. Jacob Arellano, 344th MI BN Company A drill sergeant, the email to serve was the call he was waiting for.

After accountability, Staff Sgt. Jonathan Hernandez, 344th MI BN Company A drill sergeant said students are developed during physical training, marched to the schoolhouse, monitored going to lunch, overseen traveling to their platoons after school and checked again for their 8:30 p.m. curfew.

Letter From the Editor: From time-to-time sensitive topics worthy of deep discussion come up. Because of their sensitivity, the only way to address them is in a cohesive and productive way, through open dialogue. The NCO Journal endeavors to start that dialogue with Command Sgt. Maj. Robert M. Theus' article "Drill Sergeant Misconduct: Analyzing and Tackling a Critical Recruitment Issue." The article delves deep into the subject. This piece is quite long so we decided to split it into two parts. In Part 1, the author explores drill sergeants, who they are, where they came from, how much responsibility truly lays on their shoulders, training issues, and the senior leadership environment. Part 2 takes a deeper dive into the program, looks at the root causes of drill sergeant misconduct and the author's proposed solutions to remedy the issues.

Drill sergeants are charged with training, educating, and caring for every new Soldier who joins the service. In 2019 alone, 83,000 recruits enlisted in the U.S. Army and conducted their initial training under the direction of drill sergeants (South, 2019, para 16).

To ensure new Soldiers receive the best possible training and have a positive first impression of the Army and its leadership, only the best noncommissioned officers (NCOs) serve as drill sergeants. Unfortunately, despite high selection standards, there are still cases of counterproductive leadership that lead to drill sergeant misconduct during Initial Entry Training (IET).

Drill sergeant misconduct has a negative impact on U.S. Army readiness and contradicts the people-first strategy. Misconduct cases also contribute to first-term Soldier attrition rates higher than the other U.S. military branches (Marrone, 2020, para. 3).

According to U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) (2019), drill sergeant misconduct "Undermines that trust of the American public by violating Army Values, disrupting military order and discipline, and destroying a positive training environment" (p. 159). So critical is the drill sergeant misconduct issue that it requires further analysis to understand the problem more thoroughly.

Drill sergeant candidates are selected from the best NCOs across the force. The selection process is critical because the position is identified and listed as of significant trust and authority, a list that also includes sensitive positions like recruiter and Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) (Department of the Army [DA], 2019a, p. 82).

Drill sergeants are also the first U.S. Army representatives with whom new Soldiers interact during their most critical period in the service (DA, 2019a, p. 81). Therefore, selected candidates must first meet 17 prerequisites, including a background check, a behavioral health evaluation and at least four years of time in service (DA, 2019a, p. 84).

The Drill Sergeant Academy trains and educates future drill sergeants. The nine-week-long course consists of three phases designed to mirror the three Basic Combat Training (BCT) phases (TRADOC, 2020, p. 12). To graduate, candidates must complete IET Soldier requirements. In addition, they must pass oral and written assessments designed to measure their knowledge of regulations governing the drill sergeant program, IET and drill sergeant duties and responsibilities. Finally, they are certified when they arrive at their IET unit and again one year later (TRADOC, 2020, p. 21).

The IET environment is characterized by its fast-paced operational tempo, long hours, and stressful tasks. Drill sergeants serve in an IET unit at least 24 and no more than 42 months (TRADOC, 2020, p.20). The typical IET organizational structure consists of 12 drill sergeants serving across four platoons in a training company. Each platoon has one senior drill sergeant who is personally responsible for two other drill sergeants, their daily activities and professional development. Additionally, a company commander and first sergeant hold overall responsibility for everyone and everything in the company. They serve as the senior leaders in the company and play an essential role in fostering an ethical climate.